VOA Radiogram weekend schedule

This weekends program schedule remains unchanged.

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC)
Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Sun 1300-1330 6095 kHz
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.
(Kim Elliott/VOA)

Blog Logs

*Sign-On /  Sign-Off*   // station heard on parallel frequency / all freqs kHz

Logs edited for clarity

All times UTC

Australia
6080, Radio Australia 1945-2026. Target area is Asia and tune-in to sports updates to station ID at 2000. World news commencing at 2001. Pacific island news, and political campaigns update. Interviews about French government and Noumea (New Caledonia) relations. ID at 2015 to morning news round-up. Item with interview about Papua New Guinea plans to increase use of English across the country to  items on Fiji political forums on island developments. // 9500 (SIO 444). Soccer talk/interview at 2026. Gayle Van Horn, NC/GT/Hong Kong)

Indonesia
4749.982, RRI Makassar. Presumed this station monitored 1010-1045. Music program by lady host with comments between her selections. Announcer's comments at 1035, amid very poor signal quality. (Chuck Bolland, FL/HCDX)

9680.01, RRI Jakarta, 1040-1050. Male/female hosting music program. Signal was good as program continued. (Bolland/HCDX)

Malaysia
5964.7  Klasik Nasional via Kajang // 9835 kHz (Sarawak FM also via Kajang). Live coverage of the
annual Qur'an *International Level *("Peringkat Antarabangsa") recitation competition (Tilawah Al-Quran); at 1314 UT again with ten minute segments of reciting from the Qur'an. Announced reciters name and country ("India", "Indonesia", etc.); both frequencies fair-good, slightly out of sync. Looks like this could be a regular feature this week! (Ron Howard-CA-USA, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews July 1/Top News 1122)

North Korea
9425, // 9875, 11635, 11910, 12015. 2010. Korean Central BC Station. Male/female trade news items in presumed Korean, including several mentions of Pyongyang. No sign of // 7210(to Africa). Upbeat Korean vocals at 2038 to 2042. Instrumental orchestral music to 2026. Lady announcer's talk and more mentions of Pyongyang. Martial music 2047 (presumed national anthem and ID's as part of sign-off routine) to 2049. Open carrier past 2055. (Gayle Van Horn, NC/GT/Hong Kong)

Papua New Guinea
3260, NBC Madang, 1212:31.* Broadcasting again after being off the air yesterday. Mentioned "Saturday night" in Tok Pisin/Pidgin. Suddenly off by timer. By far the strongest PNG heard today. (Ron Howard, CA/WWDXC/Top News)

3325  NBC Bougainville, 1303:21.* Much better, DJ with dedications/requests of pop sings. Tok Pisin/Pidgin, heard as early as 1217. Signal poor and mixing with RRI Palangkaraya. Suddenly off by timer. (Ron Howard, CA/WWDXC Top News)

3385, NBC East New Britain, 1200:34.* Usual series of advertisements in both English and Tok Pisin/Pidgin. DJ in Tok Pisin/Pidgin with pop songs  (Ron Howard, CA/WWDXC Top News)
 
3204.96, NBC Sandaun. Better than usual reception. Tok Pisin/Pidgin and some English. At 1246 UT asking listeners to call in with the answer to "After how many years would you celebrate your silver
anniversary?". One caller said "100 years!" "News Roundup" in English ended at 1307, followed by commercial announcements. Pop songs (Pacific Island songs and pop songs - "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow" by Fleetwood Mac, etc.). Enjoyable!**  (Ron Howard, CA/WWDXC Top News)

Summer schedule updates

Transmitters via France, Germany, Kuwait, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and United Kingdom

Summer A-13 of Radio Liberty / Radio Farda / Radio Free Afghanistan/Radio Mashaal

All times UTC


0000-0130  7585 IRA 250 kW 310 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
0000-0200  5860 IRA 250 kW 315 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
0030-0230  5940 BIB 100 kW 105 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
0030-0400  7280 NAU 250 kW 105 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
0130-0230 15690 IRA 250 kW 310 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
0200-0430  5860 KWT 250 kW 088 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
0230-0300 17670 KWT 250 kW 070 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Free Afghanistan
0230-0300 17690 UDO 250 kW 300 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Free Afghanistan
0230-0330 13860 UDO 250 kW 300 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
0230-0530  9760 LAM 100 kW 104 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
0230-1030 15680 IRA 250 kW 332 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
0230-1100 15690 IRA 250 kW 315 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda

0300-0330 17670 KWT 250 kW 070 deg to WeAS Dari Radio Free Afghanistan
0300-0330 17690 IRA 250 kW 332 deg to WeAS Dari Radio Free Afghanistan
0300-0400  7435 LAM 100 kW 055 deg to EaEUR Russian
0300-0400  7445 BIB 100 kW 105 deg to CeAS Avari/Chechen/Chercassian
0300-0400  9740 LAM 100 kW 092 deg to CeAS Avari/Chechen/Chercassian
0300-0400 11965 LAM 100 kW 075 deg to EaEUR Russian
0300-0400 17770 PHT 250 kW 021 deg to FERu Russian
0330-0430 17670 KWT 250 kW 070 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Free Afghanistan
0330-0430 17690 IRA 250 kW 332 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Free Afghanistan
0400-0500  6075 BIB 100 kW 063 deg to EaEUR Belarussian
0400-0500  6105 LAM 100 kW 055 deg to EaEUR Belarussian
0400-0500  7435 LAM 100 kW 055 deg to EaEUR Russian
0400-0500  9480 LAM 100 kW 055 deg to EaEUR Russian
0400-0500 11965 LAM 100 kW 075 deg to EaEUR Russian
0400-0600 12130 KWT 250 kW 078 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Mashaal
0400-0600 15560 NAU 250 kW 090 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Mashaal
0400-0600 15740 UDO 250 kW 300 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Mashaal
0400-0830  7220 KWT 250 kW 058 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
0430-0530 17670 KWT 250 kW 070 deg to WeAS Dari Radio Free Afghanistan
0430-0530 17690 IRA 250 kW 332 deg to WeAS Dari Radio Free Afghanistan
0430-0830 13860 LAM 100 kW 092 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
0500-0600  9480 LAM 100 kW 055 deg to EaEUR Russian
0500-0600 11850 LAM 100 kW 055 deg to EaEUR Russian
0500-0600 17780 KWT 250 kW 035 deg to FERu Russian
0530-0600 17670 KWT 250 kW 070 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Free Afghanistan
0530-0600 17690 UDO 250 kW 300 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Free Afghanistan
0530-1000 17630 IRA 250 kW 315 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda

0600-0630 17670 IRA 250 kW 340 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Free Afghanistan
0600-0630 17690 UDO 250 kW 300 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Free Afghanistan
0600-0700  9480 LAM 100 kW 055 deg to EaEUR Russian
0600-0700 11850 LAM 100 kW 055 deg to EaEUR Russian
0600-0700 17780 KWT 250 kW 035 deg to FERu Russian
0600-0900 12130 KWT 250 kW 078 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Mashaal
0600-0900 15360 NAU 250 kW 090 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Mashaal
0600-0900 15740 UDO 250 kW 300 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Mashaal
0630-0700 17670 IRA 250 kW 340 deg to WeAS Dari Radio Free Afghanistan
0630-0700 17690 UDO 250 kW 300 deg to WeAS Dari Radio Free Afghanistan
0700-0730 15090 KWT 250 kW 070 deg to WeAS Dari Radio Free Afghanistan
0700-0730 17690 UDO 250 kW 300 deg to WeAS Dari Radio Free Afghanistan
0730-0830 15090 KWT 250 kW 070 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Free Afghanistan
0730-0830 17690 KWT 250 kW 070 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Free Afghanistan
0800-1000 15130 BIB 100 kW 065 deg to EaEUR Russian
0800-1000 17770 UDO 250 kW 030 deg to FERu Russian
0830-0930 15090 KWT 250 kW 070 deg to WeAS Dari Radio Free Afghanistan
0830-0930 17690 KWT 250 kW 080 deg to WeAS Dari Radio Free Afghanistan
0830-1030 17880 LAM 100 kW 104 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
0830-1100  7435 KWT 250 kW 058 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda, addit.
0900-1000 12130 KWT 250 kW 078 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Mashaal
0900-1000 15360 KWT 250 kW 070 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Mashaal
0900-1000 15740 UDO 250 kW 300 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Mashaal
0930-1030 15090 KWT 250 kW 070 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Free Afghanistan
0930-1030 17690 KWT 250 kW 080 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Free Afghanistan
0930-1230 15680 UDO 250 kW 300 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
1000-1100 12130 KWT 250 kW 078 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Mashaal
1000-1100 15360 IRA 250 kW 334 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Mashaal
1000-1100 15740 UDO 250 kW 300 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Mashaal
1000-1100 17630 UDO 250 kW 300 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
1030-1130 15090 KWT 250 kW 070 deg to WeAS Dari Radio Free Afghanistan
1030-1130 17690 KWT 250 kW 080 deg to WeAS Dari Radio Free Afghanistan
1030-1300 17880 IRA 250 kW 300 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
1100-1200 12130 KWT 250 kW 078 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Mashaal
1100-1200 15320 UDO 250 kW 304 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Mashaal
1100-1200 15360 IRA 250 kW 334 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Mashaal
1100-1200 15690 IRA 250 kW 332 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
1100-1400  7435 KWT 250 kW 058 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
1100-1700 12005 IRA 250 kW 315 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
1130-1230 15090 KWT 250 kW 070 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Free Afghanistan
1130-1230 17690 KWT 250 kW 080 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Free Afghanistan

1200-1300 12130 IRA 250 kW 340 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Mashaal
1200-1300 13745 LAM 100 kW 055 deg to EaEUR Russian
1200-1300 15285 LAM 100 kW 077 deg to EaEUR Russian
1200-1300 15320 UDO 250 kW 304 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Mashaal
1200-1300 15360 IRA 250 kW 334 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Mashaal
1200-1300 17770 UDO 250 kW 351 deg to FERu Russian
1200-1400 15690 BIB 100 kW 085 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
1230-1330 15090 KWT 250 kW 070 deg to WeAS Dari Radio Free Afghanistan
1230-1330 17690 KWT 250 kW 080 deg to WeAS Dari Radio Free Afghanistan
1230-1430 15680 LAM 100 kW 104 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
1300-1400 13745 WOF 300 kW 075 deg to EaEUR Russian
1300-1400 15285 LAM 100 kW 077 deg to EaEUR Russian
1300-1400 15460 LAM 100 kW 053 deg to EaEUR Russian
1330-1400 15090 KWT 250 kW 070 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Free Afghanistan
1330-1400 17690 KWT 250 kW 080 deg to WeAS Pashto Radio Free Afghanistan
1400-1430 15090 KWT 250 kW 070 deg to WeAS Dari Radio Free Afghanistan
1400-1430 17690 KWT 250 kW 080 deg to WeAS Dari Radio Free Afghanistan
1400-1500  9595 IRA 250 kW 340 deg to CeAS Tajik
1400-1500 11825 BIB 100 kW 088 deg to CeAS Turkmen
1400-1500 11975 KWT 250 kW 078 deg to CeAS Tajik
1400-1500 12025 LAM 100 kW 055 deg to EaEUR Russian
1400-1500 13615 KWT 250 kW 046 deg to CeAS Uzbek
1400-1500 13745 WOF 300 kW 075 deg to EaEUR Russian
1400-1500 15180 ISS 250 kW 090 deg to CeAS Turkmen
1400-1500 15460 LAM 100 kW 053 deg to EaEUR Russian
1400-1500 15480 LAM 100 kW 077 deg to CeAS Uzbek
1400-1600 15470 BIB 100 kW 085 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
1400-1800 11540 IRA 250 kW 315 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
1500-1600  6105 LAM 100 kW 055 deg to EaEUR Belarussian
1500-1600  9520 BIB 100 kW 063 deg to EaEUR Russian
1500-1600 11780 UDO 250 kW 308 deg to CeAS Turkmen
1500-1600 11900 LAM 100 kW 075 deg to CeAS Avari/Chechen/Chercassian
1500-1600 11975 BIB 100 kW 085 deg to CeAS Tajik
1500-1600 13615 NAU 250 kW 090 deg to CeAS Avari/Chechen/Chercassian
1500-1600 13745 LAM 100 kW 068 deg to EaEUR Russian
1500-1600 15180 LAM 100 kW 077 deg to CeAS Turkmen
1500-1600 15460 LAM 100 kW 053 deg to EaEUR Russian
1500-1600 15630 ISS 250 kW 090 deg to CeAS Tajik
1500-1700  7270 BIB 100 kW 063 deg to EaEUR Belarussian
1530-1730  9390 UDO 250 kW 300 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
1600-1700  5995 NAU 250 kW 060 deg to EaEUR Russian
1600-1700  6105 NAU 250 kW 060 deg to EaEUR Belarussian
1600-1700  7555 UDO 250 kW 313 deg to CeAS Uzbek
1600-1700  9760 KWT 250 kW 078 deg to CeAS Tajik
1600-1700  9840 LAM 100 kW 075 deg to CeAS Russian
1600-1700 11780 KWT 250 kW 046 deg to CeAS Uzbek
1600-1700 11845 BIB 100 kW 063 deg to EaEUR Russian
1600-1700 11975 BIB 100 kW 075 deg to CeAS Tajik
1600-1700 15470 NAU 250 kW 105 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
1700-1800  5930 NAU 250 kW 090 deg to EaEUR Belarussian
1700-1800  5995 BIB 100 kW 063 deg to EaEUR Russian
1700-1800  6105 LAM 100 kW 055 deg to EaEUR Belarussian
1700-1800  9840 LAM 100 kW 075 deg to CeAS Russian
1700-1800 11805 BIB 100 kW 063 deg to CeAS Russian Caucasus Echo
1700-1800 11845 BIB 100 kW 063 deg to EaEUR Russian
1700-1800 15530 LAM 100 kW 077 deg to CeAS Russian Caucasus Echo
1700-2400  7585 IRA 250 kW 310 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
1730-2230  5860 KWT 250 kW 088 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda

1800-1900  5995 BIB 100 kW 063 deg to EaEUR Russian
1800-1900  9840 LAM 100 kW 075 deg to CeAS Russian
1800-1900 11760 LAM 100 kW 055 deg to EaEUR Russian
1900-2000  5995 BIB 100 kW 063 deg to EaEUR Russian
1900-2000  7475 UDO 250 kW 335 deg to EaEUR Russian
1900-2000  9840 LAM 100 kW 075 deg to CeAS Russian
2000-2100  5995 BIB 100 kW 063 deg to EaEUR Russian
2230-2400  5860 IRA 250 kW 315 deg to WeAS Persian Radio Farda
(DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov-BUL, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Aug 5)
(WWDXC/Top Nx 1127)

VOA Rolls Out New Mobile App

VOA Rolls Out New Mobile App With News in 43 Languages

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Getting the latest news from VOA's many language services just got easier with the launch of new mobile and tablet apps that work on iPhones, iPads, and Android devices.

"Everything is available in one place now," says VOA Director David Ensor. "This is a big step forward, and these apps open up the Internet to a new generation of mobile users."

Chinese, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, English and more - they are all there at the touch of a button on two of the world's most popular mobile platforms.

The Apple iOS and Google Android apps are free and provide the latest news and information in text, audio, and video. You can even pick your favorite stories and download them for offline viewing to watch or listen later when wireless reception is poor.

Content is divided by region as well as topic, with special news sections on science and technology, health, and entertainment. Users can customize the fonts and content for 43 of VOA's languages, and the apps are designed for touch interactivity, so that you can easily change stories by swiping across the screen like you are reading a newspaper or magazine.

 "Another feature we are very excited about is the capability the apps give to citizen journalists who can now use their mobile phones to directly share photos, audio, text or video with VOA editors in Washington, who can post them to any of our language service websites," Ensor says. Users can also share their favorite stories on Facebook and Twitter.

On the technical side, the app can prioritize content for users in areas with slow connections or expensive data rates, says Will Sullivan, the Mobile Project Manager with the Broadcasting Board of Governors' Office of Digital Design and Innovation, which spearheaded the rollout of the app.

"This app allows you to switch to a low bandwidth mode, so, for example, in parts of Africa where connectivity is slow and data charges are high, users can get our content streamlined for their needs," Sullivan says.

Additionally, the Android version of the app has integrated functionality with proxy server connections, so audiences can get unfiltered VOA news in countries where the Internet is censored by the government.

To download the iPhone and iPad app, which offers news in 43 VOA languages, go to the Apple iTunes Store. To download the Android app, which includes 33 VOA languages, go to the Google Play Store.
(VOA)

Tribute to WYFR-The Early Years in Boston

The early shortwave station, 2XAL was on the air first from the Hotel McAlpin in New York City as a portable unit back in the year 1925.  Then two years later, a fixed shortwave transmitter rated at ½ kW was co-sited with the mediumwave unit WRNY close to the waterside on Hudson Terrace at Coytesville in New Jersey.  This area these days is taken up by a busy highway running along the edge of the Hudson River. The wireless experimenter & entrepreneur William S. Lemmon formed his own Shortwave Broadcasting Corporation with offices in the County Trust Building in New York City.  On June 26, 1931, the Federal Radio Commission granted Lemmon a Construction Permit to transfer shortwave station W2XAL to Boston with a power of 15 kW.  The station was moved from Coytesville New Jersey to its new location in Boston three weeks later on July 18.
The new location for the shortwave facility was on the 2nd floor of the two storey building operated by the Shortwave & TV Laboratory at 70 Brookline Ave in Boston.  The FRC sanctioned a combination of the two organizations, Lemmon’s Short Wave Broadcasting Corp with the Shortwave & TV Labs operated by the young TV experimenter Hollis Baird.  Baird was appointed as the Chief Engineer for the Walter Lemmon shortwave stations.
Actually, the power of the re-engineered shortwave transmitter was reduced to 5 kW, the four shortwave towers for the curtain antennas were interspersed among the already standing TV towers, and the station was on the air with an amended callsign.  Lemmon requested a similar callsign for the new location, and thus W2XAL became W1XAL.  The main operating frequency during this era was 6040 kHz. The on-air date at the new Boston location was October 26, 1931 and live experimental programming was produced in the Harvard University Club at 374 Commonwealth Avenue.  The offices and studios for experimental relay station W1XAL were housed in seven bedrooms on the fifth floor of the University Club and these were converted to radio usage.  A year later, shortwave W1XAL & mediumwave WEEI signed an agreement, approving a tandem relay of the mediumwave programming for a total of five hours daily on that same shortwave channel 6040 kHz.
Interestingly, Walter Lemmon filed a stay order with the FRC back at this time, requesting that mediumwave WIOD in Miami Florida be denied a license to install their own shortwave relay transmitter.  However, the FRC denied the Lemmon request, and WIOD did go ahead and establish their own shortwave relay station W4XB.  Give another half a dozen years, and WIOD closed its shortwave station W4XB in Florida and they delivered the equipment for incorporation into the Lemmon shortwave station up along coastal Massachusetts.
In 1933, the company name for the Boston shortwave station was changed to the more familiar World Wide Broadcasting Corporation, and the station began to develop its own schedule of programming and this included many educational programs prepared by university personnel.
In 1935, the 5 kW transmitter was rebuilt to 10 kW, and an additional 3 kW auxiliary transmitter was licensed and installed.
Interestingly in December 1936, an international radio monitor living in the United States heard their multi-renovated main transmitter that had been upgraded over the years (from ½ kW up to 5 kW and then up to 10 kW) on the air with a new callsign W1XAM, though it was in use for just the one evening only.  Apparently the FCC considered that all of these renovations to the main W1XAL transmitter required the issuance of a new callsign, a sequential listing from W1XAL to W1XAM.  This additional callsign was never taken into regular usage.
During the next year or two, the main transmitter was upgraded again, this time to an output power of 20 kW, and four main channels were in use: 6040, 11790, 15250 & 21460 kHz.  An additional antenna system was installed to give coverage to Latin America.  At this stage, according to researcher Michael Kent Sidel, it was estimated that the regular audience tuned in to station W1XAL was ½ million listeners.
On February 1, 1937, station W1XAL introduced a series of short programs in Special English for the benefit of listeners who were not fluent with English as their second language.  These special programs are understood to be the first usage on shortwave of programming in a specialized simple form of English.
In 1938, studios & offices were transferred from the Harvard University Club at 374 Commonwealth Avenue to the nearby Brownstone Building at 133 Commonwealth Avenue, a location that was provided by a benefactor.  The shortwave station retained the usage of this new location right up to 1951, a period of some 13 years.
Radio station W1XAL was closed on July 21, 1939 for the installation of new equipment and a new antenna system at a new location.  Then, when it was reactivated at its new location at Hatherly Beach Scituate a little over month later on August 25, it signed on with a new callsign; W1XAL became WSLA, and a series of test transmissions commenced.
That is the story on another occasion when we take another look at the lengthy series of events associated with this historic shortwave station in Boston.
(AWR/Wavescan/NWS232)
photo/QRZ.com

Monitoring clandestine stations

E-SAT Radio
(from monitoring July 18-28 from unknown transmitter location)
1700-1800 15365 to EaAF Amharic Mon
1700-1800 15385 to EaAF Amharic Tue
1700-1800 15370 to EaAF Amharic Wed
1700-1800 15390 to EaAF Amharic Thu
1700-1800 15375 to EaAF Amharic Fri
1700-1800 15360 to EaAF Amharic Sat
1700-1800 15380 to EaAF Amharic Sun
All frequencies are jammed by Ethiopia with broadband DRM-like white noise.

Dimtsachin Yisema
(from monitoring Jul 18-28 from unknown transmitter location)
1930-2000 15160 to EaAF Amharic Mon
1930-2000 15180 to EaAF Amharic Tue
1930-2000 15170 to EaAF Amharic Wed
1930-2000 15155 to EaAF Amharic Thu
1930-2000 15165 to EaAF Amharic Fri
1930-2000 15175 to EaAF Amharic Sat
1930-2000 15150 to EaAF Amharic Sun

All frequencies are jammed by Ethiopia with broadband DRM-like white noise.
(DX MiX Nx, Ivo Ivanov-BUL, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews July 29)
(WWDXC/Top NX 1126)

Radio Australia replaces former Indonesian frequencies

Effective from 21 July, Radio Australia shifts former Indonesian frequencies, to their English service as follows.

All times UTC

English
1300-1430  9475 SHP 100 kW 329 deg to SoEaAS, ex Chinese
1300-1430  9965 HBN 100 kW 318 deg to EaAS,ex Chinese
1300-1430 12085 SHP 100 kW 329 deg to SoEaAS, ex Chinese

2200-2330  9610 DHA 250 kW 105 deg to SoEaAS, ex Indonesian
2200-2330 11695 SHP 100 kW 329 deg to SoEaAS, ex Indonesian
0000-0030 17750 SHP 100 kW 329 deg to SoEaAS, ex Indonesian
0400-0500 17800 HBN 100 kW 270 deg to SoEaAS, ex Indonesian
0400-0530 17750 SHP 100 kW 329 deg to SoEaAS, ex Indonesian
(DX MiX Nx, Ivo Ivanov-BUL, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews July 29)
(WWDXC/Top Nx 1126)

Blog Logs

*Sign-On /  Sign-Off*   // station heard on parallel frequency / all freqs kHz

Logs edited for clarity

All times UTC

Albania
9850, Radio Tirana Shijak 2340-0000.* Male announcer in listed Albanian. Local music to national anthem and station interval signal at sign-off. Signal was fair. (Scott Barbour-NH/Cumbre DX)

Argentina
15345, RAE Buenos Aires 1915. Presumed Italian programming with talk and local music. SINPO 33333.
(Giroletti/DXW 485)

Bolivia
4716, Radio Yura Yura 0027-0039. Spanish programming with indigenous music and ballads. Canned announcements at 0030. Signal poor (Scott Barbour-NH/Cumbre DX).

5580.34 Radio San José, San José de Chaquitos 2350-0010. Spanish talk with deep signal fades. SINPO 25212 (Petersen/DXW 485)

6025, Radio Patria Nueva, La Paz 2205-2235. Newscast to ads in Spanish and Quechua for Toyota Motor "visit the virtual sheet of the taxpayer and participate in the growth of Bolivia...still growing." Feature-"Bolivia Informa" to station ID. SINPO 33333 (Arrunátegui/DXW 485)

6134.85, Radio Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 0050-0105. Spanish announcement to three IDs with station frequency announcement. Pop music and additional commercials. SINPO 35343 (Petersen/DXW 485)

6154.92, Radio Fides, La Paz, 0105-0115. Spanish programming announcement to music. SINPO 25232. (Petersen/DXW 485)

Brazil
3364.95 Radio Cultura Araraquara ID jingle by female chorus at 0012:40 between Brazilian pop songs. "Could It Be Magic" by Barry Manilow. Additional promo at 0023 and into pop song. Nice clear full canned ID. Surprised it was as easy as it was to ID. (Dave Valko,PA/HCDX)

4865.00, Radio Verdes Florestas, Cruzeiro do Sul, 2347-0015. Non-stop music without ID, but local time announcement. Also heard at 0950-1015 with religious program including messages and music. No ID heard, SINPO 44444. (Arrunátegui/DXW 485)

4985.00, Radio Brasil Central, Goiânia, 2310-2320 Portuguese religious preaching, SINPO 35232 // 11815 (SINPO 45333) (Petersen/DXW 485)

5014.90, Radio Cultura, Cuiabá, (tentative), 1025-1045. Signal fade out before program ”Cristo es Amor.”, Commercials and religious program ”Alegría del Señor Aquí en la ciudad de Cuiabá, A todos los pueblos lindos del Amazonas”, but no direct ID heard. Promo for ”Iglesia Pentecostal Dios es Amor”, SINPO 22222. (Arrunátegui/DXW 485)

5939.88 Voz Missionaria 0940:10. Mailing aaddress by male announcer over soft music. Canned ID at 0942:10 with announcer ending with singing ID jingle (Dave Valko/PA/HCDX)

6000 Radio Guaiba 2329. Portuguese talk from announcer with mentions of Sao Paulo. Additional mentions of Guaiba strongly emphasized at end of sentence. Station break at 2334:30 for nice ID promo, then right back to male announcer. One of the tougher Brazilian and not heard in a very long time. Glad to finally get an ID on it. (Dave Valko, PA/HCDX)

Colombia
5909.95, Alcaraván Radio, Lomalinda, 0005-0015. Spanish announcement to Colombian pop music, SINPO 35243. (Petersen). Also heard at 0447-0558, with Latin American songs, SINPO 24322. (Méndez/DXW 485)

6010.21, La Voz de tu Conciencia 0917. Same English/Spanish religious program heard here last winter. Announcer talking about having to go down to Colombia to see how the money was being used in case the Canadian government looked at their books!! Then she corrected herself saying that wasn't the real reason she went down. (Dave Valko, PA/HCDX)

Ecuador
6050.00, Radio La Voz de los Andes (HCJB), Quito, 1126-1150. Religious program from Radio Transmundial, ID: “Gracias HCJB ", ”HCJB appreciates your contribution, do us an immense joy.” News commentary about the project Puyando-Tumbes. SINPO 44444. (Arrunátegui/DXW 485)

India
9910, AIR Aligarh 2256-2302. Indian music to interval signal at 2258 into presumed Hindi service. Signal poor and not much to work with. Lost signal shortly after 2300. (Sscott Barbour-NH/Cumbre DX)

Indonesia
4869.92, RRI Wamena, 1115-1120. Station ID at 1116: ”Radio Republik Indonesia...”, SINPO 34333. (Wagai). Also heard at 1308-1348 with non-traditional Ramadan format with long segment of love songs in English (“Endless Love”, “Love Hurts”, “You Are the One I Love”). Mostly fair. On Th Aug 01 at 1235-1300, weekly edition in English of KGI with Ana and Kevin; KGI jingles, some pop songs, short segment in Bahasa Indonesia. Talk on Australian contributions to Indonesia, gave address (“Kang Guru Indonesia, Post Office Box 3095, Denpasar, Bali”) and e-mail (kangguru@ialf.edu ) “see you next week right here on this same station with KGI, Kang Guru Indonesia”; poor with heavy summertime QRN. Very pleased to hear this program again! Audio at https://app.box.com/s/qbji9ni9wrlg55gy24pc . (Howard)

Papua New Guinea
3260, NBC Madang with relay of NBC National R programming, 1209-1247. Promo for the syndicated USA (Florida) show that plays Caribbean gospel music (reggae, calypso, hip hop gospel), “I'm Stacy Rose. Join me this Sunday at 10AM and again at 9PM right here on the Voice of PNG, 90.7 FM, for two hours of the best Caribbean Gospel Music this side of the sun … all right here on Island Praise with me, Stacy Rose, Sundays at 10AM and again at 9PM, right here on NBC National Radio, the Voice of PNG, 90.7 FM”, in Tok Pisin with program of listeners calling in to answer questions read on air, “The Voice of yesterday, today … 40 years of broadcasting in Papua New Guinea, NBC National Radio, the Voice, the Voice, 90.7”; running well past their normal sign off time, almost fair. Also heard Aug 01 until 1218*. (Howard/DXW 485)

Rwanda
11800 Deutsche Welle relay via Kigali. Signal on at 1959:12, then end of promo, double time ticks. Station ID in English and news intros. Male announcer's news for a poor/fair signal. Also on //11865 (also via Rwanda but a little weaker), 15275 good. (Dave Valko,PA/HCDX)

United Arab Emirates
9855, Radio Australia relay via Dhabbaya 2322-2339. English service with male/female duo with program interview. Station ID in passing at 2330. Program preview and news headlines. SIgnal poor in LSB-ECCS. (Scott Barbour-NH/Cumbre DX)

Ecos del Torbes’ International Day - UPDATE

Jeff White of WRMI, has added an additional transmission as follows: 
Thursday August 8, 2013 - 0200-0300 UTC on 9955 WRMI /Radi Miami International + streaming audio at www.wrmi.net 

Dear DX friends:
We want to celebrate with you the “Ecos del Torbes’ Internacional Day.” It’s a very popular Venezuelan radio station which has been on the air for 66 years non-stop. In the past, it also broadcast on shortwave and it was a very popular shortwave station among the international audience as well as for DXers from around the world.

We will broadcast a Spanish language program with very interesting features on it. It will broadcast simultaneously through medium wave 780, shortwave 9955 kHz on WRMI, as well as on the internet. Please take note. Our shortwave schedule for this program

The schedule will be:
August the 09th at 02.00 to 2.30 UTC on 9955 kHz. (*)
August the 10th at 22.30 UTC to 23.00 UTC on 9955 kHz.

(*) Note: This transmission is for the Friday Aug. 9 in America
All correct reception reports can be sent through www.ecosdeltorbes.net
There is a link on the page and you can leave your personal data and your reception report there. Then, we’ll send you the eQSL verification card.

Despite this program is in Spanish, we’re sure many DXers from non-native Spanish speaking countries will enjoy some features of it as well. This special program is sponsored by The International DXers Friendship Club, CDXA INTERNACIONAL in Venezuela, WRMI Radio Miami International in the United States and support staff working in Ecos del Torbes.
C.DX.A – Internacional Coordinators for the “Ecos del Torbes’
Internacional Day”, in San Cristóbal, Venezuela:
Dr. Ricardo Benvenuto ricardobenvenuto@hotmail.com
Ing. Alejandro Benvenuto alebenvenuto@hotmail.com

This program is offered to you as a preamble to the celebration of IV COLOMBO-VENEZUELAN DXers MEETING (EDXCV-2014) in Barinas, Barinas State, Venezuela on January 5 and 6 which you are cordially invited.

For addiitonal information send email to:
http://edxcv.blogspot.com/
IV-EDXCV-2014 Coordinators:
Ing. Santiago San Gil González americaenantena@yahoo.com
Tec. Freddy Gamboa Rivas freddygambo@gmail.com
Our Home DX blog is: http://diexismovenezolano.blogspot.com/
Our E-mail: cdxainternacional@yahoo.com
(Jeff White/WRMI)

(DSWCI/SW News July 2013)

Uruguay's shortwave scene dismal

The current scene for shortwave broadcasting in Uruguay is still painful, as it has been for most of its history.

Monitoring indicate that there are no active stations at the present time.

The unofficial 5900v Em. Chaná, from Tacuarembó disappeared several months ago, after the closure of the FM Community station that was its main enterprise. As a matter of fact it was one of thirteen communitarian low power stations that were closed in that department in late 2012, by telcom authorities.

The shortwave outlets for Radiodifusión Nacional del Uruguay (the National Broadcaster which is next to abandon its historic denomination of SODRE) have been inactive for a long time. The last was CXA4 on 6125, but after they exhausted their stock of tubes, even the ones donated by its own officials, they have dropped broadcasts. The current transmitters, built by the technicians, use 4 "813" tubes each. Technically any valve can be adjusted similar to the 813, 4/400, 4/1000, 3/500Z, etc... There are even fairly cheap Russian or Chinese in the market. The problem is that for a regime of continuous service that set of 4 tubes lasts only for about six months. A project for a solid state transmitter has been considered, but it has no funding to build it.

Radio Sport 890 / Radio Sarandi in 6045, keeps the transmitter under the same parameters. The problem is currently in the antenna and they expect the tower man "adismal' time to undergo into repair," said the technical manager, to our request.

Both Universo 6055 (CWA148, Castillos) and La Voz de Artigas, CXA3 on 6075 (heard last summer), remain irregular and have not been monitored in the region lately.

6155 Banda Oriental, dormant for years, certainly does not operate this channel due to high power consumption bill that means to their owners along with its MW. It is certainly not easy the economic situation for these stations. Similarly occurs for 6010/9650 Em. Ciudad de Montevideo.

Oriental on 11735 and 9595 Monte Carlo, directly said, should not hold any interest at the time, and since the end of their broadcasts many years ago, despite they keep being listed in the WRTH for they still keep these transmitters in their sites, though muted.

In conclusion, the only one that could be reactivated soon appears to be 6045 Sport 890/Sarandí. (Nigro in DXplorer)

(DSWCI/DX Window 485)

National Holiday QSLing

Here is a neat little tip you may not have thought about when planning your listening schedule. All countries have national holidays, but have you considered listening to them on their special day or holiday? Listeners may find special programming or extended broadcast hours to honor that special day, holiday or event. Many listener's take advantage of this excellent opportunity by sending reception reports for the particular country on this special holiday.

Don't forget to mention in your station correspondence any special event or holiday you may have heard mentioned during the broadcast. The QSL Manager or other staff member will likely appreciate your interest in their country, and may send some extra memorabilia your way.

August begins my exclusive month-by-month listing of national holiday/independence days to assist you in monitoring various national celebrations. I have also added the country capital name and any variant spellings of the name as part of this listing. Entries marked with an asterisk (*) are national holidays. This list works very well, whether as a shortwave listener or an amateur radio operator.

August
National Holiday/Independence Day Date Country Capital

Cook Islands Constitution Day* 1st Monday Avarua
Benin Independence/National Day* (from France) August 1 Porto-Novo
Switzerland Founding of the Swiss Federation* August 1 Bern
Macedonia St. Elijah's Day and Ilinden* August 2 Skopje
Niger Independence (from France) August 3 Niamey
Burkina Faso Independence (from France) August 5 Ouagadougou
Iran Constitution Monarchy Day* August 5 Tehran
Bolivia Independence Day* (from Spain) August 6 La Paz
Jamaica Independence Day* (from UK) August 6 Kingston
Cote d'Ivoire Independence Day* (from France) August 7 Yamoussoukro
Bhutan Independence (from India) August 8 Thimphu
Singapore Independence Day* (from Malaysia Federation) August 9 Singapore
Ecuador Quito Independence Day* August 10 Quito
Chad Independence Day* (from France) August 11 N'Djamena
Central African Republic Independence (from France) August 13 Bangui
Pakistan Independence (from UK) August 14 Islamabad
Bahrain Independence (from UK) August 15 Manama
Congo Republic Independence Day* (from France) August 15 Brazzaville
India Independence (from UK) August 15 New Delhi
Liechtenstein Assumption Day* August 15 Vaduz
North Korea Independence (from Japan) August 15 Pyongyang
South Korea Liberation Day* (from Japan) August 15 Seoul
Cyprus Independence (from UK) August 16 Nicosia (Lefkosia)
Gabon Independence (from France) August 17 Libreville
Indonesia Independence Day* (from Netherlands) August 17 Jakarta
Afghanistan Independence Day* (from UK control) August 19 Kabul

Estonia Independence (from Soviet Union) August 20 Tallinn
Hungary St. Stephen's Day* August 20 Budapest
Latvia Independence (from Soviet Union) August 21 Riga
Russia Independence (from Soviet Union) August 24 Moscow
Ukraine Independence Day* (from Soviet Union) August 24 Kiev (Kyyiv)
Belarus Independence Day* (from Soviet Union) August 25 Minsk
Uruguay Independence Day* (from Brazil) August 25 Montevideo
Moldova Independence Day* (from Soviet Union) August 27 Chisinau (Kishinev)
Azerbaijan Independence (from Soviet Union) August 30 Baku (Baki, Baky)
Turks and Caicos Island Constitution Day* August 30 Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
Kygyzstan Independence Day* (from Soviet Union) August 31 Bishkek
Malaysia Independence/Malaysia Day* (from UK) August 31 Kuala Lumpur
Trinidad and Tobago Independence Day*(from UK) August 31 Port-of-Spain
(Gayle Van Horn/World QSL Book)

Electronic QSLing...the list grows!

Best of the Best - QSL Tips - Electronic QSLing
Several years ago, as the internet began to take off and set the hobby on fire, I made a prediction to friends and hobbyists. I predicted electronic QSLing would become a standard used by broadcasters to offset the cost of high postage. As crazy as it seemed in 2000, it has become a reality, much to the dismay of many a collector who prefer a personal reply, including myself.
Electronic QSLing via email has become an alternative trend used by shortwave, clandestine, pirate and utility stations. Unfortunately, the list broadens each month (as do the tempers!) and now include clandestine, pirates, utility,medium wave and FM.
Why not consider using my cut and paste method to electronic QSLing? Using your favorite word processing program, cut and paste your email verification into a blank page. Adjust the font size, or use a decorative style, graphics, or add color to the text. Colored or acid free designer paper is readily available at office supply or discount chain stores. Slipped into a top-loading document protector, it improves the appearance over a stale email message.
Is free one of your favorite words when it comes to cost-cutting in your radio hobby? Sending reception reports via email is an alternative. There is no postage cost, creative enclosures, the threat of postal theft, or funny looks from a postal clerk.
Not sure on AM/FM or utility electronic reporting? Try using a google search at http://www.google.com with the call, station name or frequency, and you may just find a website with an email link.
Electronic QSLing may not be the preferred response, but surely it is better than none at all. Get creative and keep me informed of your replies!
(Gayle Van Horn/Teak Publishing)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2013 Jul 29 0846 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
#
#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 22 - 28 July 2013

Solar activity was low. The largest flare of the week was a C3/Sf from Region 1800 (S08, L=162, class/area=Dao/220) at 28/1223 UTC. Region 1800 was the largest, most magnetically complex (beta-gamma), and most productive region on the visible disk this week. The remaining regions were generally small and docile in comparison. While a few coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed throughout the week, analysis suggested none were Earth-directed.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels from 22-25 July and again on 27 July. Remarkably, 25 July marked the last day of a 16 day streak of high electron flux
levels which began on 10 July.

Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to unsettled levels throughout most of the week, with the exception of 25-26 July. On those two days, planetary conditions reached active levels with a single period of minor storm conditions at high latitudes. The increased activity came in response to the onset of a recurrent,positive-polarity, coronal hole high speed stream. Quiet to unsettled levels returned on 27 July and lasted through the end of the period.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 29 July - 24 August 2013

Solar activity is expected to be low with a chance for M-class (R1 radio blackouts) flares through the period.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels through 02 August, and and again after 22 August in response to recurrent coronal hole high speed streams.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels throughout the forecast period, barring any geoeffective transient features. There is a chance for active levels on 03-04 August and again on 21-23 August in response to recurrent coronal hole high speed streams.

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

:Issued: 2013 Jul 29 0847 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 2013-07-29

#

#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest

#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index

2013 Jul 29     110           7          2

2013 Jul 30     120           5          2

2013 Jul 31     120           5          2

2013 Aug 01     115           5          2

2013 Aug 02     115           8          3

2013 Aug 03     115          12          3

2013 Aug 04     110          12          3

2013 Aug 05     110           8          3

2013 Aug 06     110           5          2

2013 Aug 07     105           5          2

2013 Aug 08     110           5          2

2013 Aug 09     105           8          3

2013 Aug 10     105           8          3

2013 Aug 11     105           8          3

2013 Aug 12     105           5          2

2013 Aug 13     100           5          2

2013 Aug 14     105           8          3

2013 Aug 15     105           8          3

2013 Aug 16     105           5          2

2013 Aug 17     105           5          2

2013 Aug 18     105           5          2

2013 Aug 19     100           5          2

2013 Aug 20     100           5          2

2013 Aug 21     100          10          3

2013 Aug 22     100          15          3

2013 Aug 23     100          10          3

2013 Aug 24     100           5          2

(NOAA)

Blog Logs

*Sign-on /  Sign-Off*   // station heard on parallel frequency

Logs edited for clarity

All times UTC

Angola
4949.748  Radio Nacional de Angola, Mulenvos, Luanda. From southerly winter condition area. Poor signal for Portuguese programming from female announcer, and readable at 0318. (W Bueschel, Germany/HCDX)

Bolivia
6134.879, Radio Santa Cruz, 2347-0030. Male's Spanish comments as "Bonker" does it's thing on this frequency.  At 2354 lady joins host briefly, followed by "canned" promotionals to local commercials and station ID. Signal improved 0030. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

6154.90, Radio Fides ,La Pas at 2255. Spanish programming from male/female duo, followed with music. Signal was not strong ,but the audio was fair. Best on my Collins 390a. (Maurits Van Driessche
Belgium/HCDX)

China
9820, Beibu Bay Radio. Have noticed, that everyday this station begins broadcast about 15 minutes before the start of the transmission at 0945. (Dave Valko,PA/Cumbre DX)

Clandestine
6003, Echo of Hope. Station finally in the clear without jamming. Alternating talk at 1010 by male/female duo in Korean. Very brief soft choral music, presumably ending the feature, followed by another feature with additional talk from announcer. Choral singing at 1023:55, then Korean music with a possible intro by male/female and chats. Dramatic orchestral music at 1029, followed by station identification over choral music again. Easy traditional Korean songs music at 1030 with brief announcements. Signal stead to 1100, then faded. Even when Voice of the People is not jammed, this has  always been jammed. Wish I would've been there at the 1000 (Valko)

Indonesia

9680.05, RRI Jakarta. Indonesian pop music from male ho0st at 0914 tune-in. Many station promos with IDs from 0919-0924 including one with mentions of "life style" and "family" at 0921. More music pops tunes. Audio suddenly dropped out, just following a promo, and lasted for nearly an hour from 0933:46 - 1028:12. Resumed  with program already in progress. Must have been having technical problems (Valko). 

Oman

9760, Radio Sultanate of Oman. Station on prior to 0000 this evening. Usual Big Ben chimes, station ID and text from male announcer in Arabic. News headlines. Signal was good, but modulation low (Valko)

Seychelles

12095, BBC relay for Seychelles and Woofferton, UK at 1958. Close of World Business Report program, station promo, then off at 1959:29. Power increased at 1959:46, then time check, fanfare, station ID and "Newsround" program. Segment began with announcement on new royal birth for Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. (Valko)

Singapore
9740, BBC relay at 1000 with bells interval signal, time ticks, station identification and newscast. (Valko)

Thailand

8743USB, Bangkok Meteorological Radio. Audible at 1032 end of info by male in Thai, followed by station interval signal. Announcer again at 1034  with mentions of "broadcasting", and "kilohertz." Interval signal repeated at 1038, then lady announcer's recorded station ID/info at 1039.  Even though the IS was clear, the voice was difficult to copy. Back to interval signal at 1042, then announcer again in Thai (Valko)

Monitoring Times is Closing - but Teak Publishing is NOT !

From Bob Grove, Publisher of Monitoring Times magazine:

"After 33 years of publishing the most informative and lauded magazine on monitoring the radio spectrum, Judy and I are finally going to retire. We are grateful for the dedicated efforts of our fine staff of writers for the excellent work which has kept MT alive for all these years. While we know the discontinuation of MT, with our December issue, will be a disappointment to our readers and writers alike, we realize that a combination of a down-turned economy, as well as the ready availability of free listening and technical information on the Internet, has reduced sales and subscriptions throughout the market place. I would like to thank you personally for your knowledge, your dependability, and your professionalism in making MT the publication that is most often referred to in the radio monitoring hobby. It is a legacy that we have all inherited."

And now from Gayle Van Horn, W4GVH, Frequency Manager and QSL Report Editor:

After 25 years this month writing the QSL Report column, and 20 years as the Frequency Manager of Monitoring Times, I have no plans to set aside my dedication to the radio hobby or to the friends I have established during time period. You have not seen the last of me, this blog or my active twitter feeds or our publishing company - Teak Publishing. Larry and I are working on some very interesting publication projects for not only the military monitoring community "worldwide," but I have some things in the works for the shortwave broadcast listening community as well. So please stay tuned to this blog, and to Larry's Milcom Monitoring Post blog for future announcements in the coming months. To all of you who contributed to my 25 year writing career with MT, and all the great friends that I have met and corresponded with I want to say thank you. Thank you for your support, kind words, material and everything that contributed to some amazing radio material published in the pages of Monitoring Times. This is only a goodbye to MT at the end of this year, but if you are interested in the military monitoring stay tuned to Larry's Milcom Monitoring Post and Shortwave Central blog. I will continue to post on this blog, timely shortwave material here and on my Twitter account.

 Gayle Van Horn@QSLRptMT
Larry Van Horn@MilcomMP         http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/

VOA Radiogram schedule for July 20-21

Because of  deadlines associated with my audience research work at VOA, I have not yet had a chance to respond to or even to read most of your emails from the weekend of 13-14 July. But I will. As soon as possible.

Last week during the broadcasts on 5745 and 6095 kHz, we employed the Optimod audio processor that is typically used during VOA voice broadcasts. The purpose of this experiment was not to determine if the Optimod would improve the decoding of the modes, but if it would have any negative effect. If future VOA voice broadcasts include short segments of digital text, the audio processor would almost certainly be used.

I certainly noticed it was easier to hear what I was saying during my voice introduction to the show. On 6095 kHz, however, even though the signal was strong in northern Virginia, I noticed several errors with the MFSK32 when usually there are no errors. That may or may not be related to the use of the Optimod. I look forward to analyzing your reports to find out if there were similar results.

One anomaly from last weekend's show was that, for me at least, in the plain-text Spanish-language greeting to a shortwave listeners meeting in Mexico City, the accents displayed correctly, but in a VOA Spanish news story later, the accents did not display correctly. The mystery is discussed here: voaradiogram.net/post/55797046544/the-mystery-of-the-missing-accents

Some of you were impressed with the performance of last weekend's surprise mode: MT63-1000 long interleave, especially as it was mixed with music. For that reason, VOA Radiogram for the weekend of 20-21 July will include a VOA News story in the MT63-2000L mode (200 wpm), followed by the same story in the MFSK64 mode (240 wpm).

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, 20-21 July 2013:

2:20  MFSK16: Program preview   

4:31  MFSK16: VOA News about quartz glass for data storage

2:04  MFSK32: Image of data stored in silica glass

3:59  MFSK32: VOA News about end of India's telegram service

2:42  MFSK32: Image of sign at telegram office

2:53  MT63-2000L: VOA News about new materials for solar cells

2:32  MFSK64: Same VOA News about new materials for solar cells

1:10  MFSK32: Image of molecularspace.org logo

1:08  MFSK16: Closing announcements

1:11  Surprise image 

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com .

Especially helpful are...

1) Audio samples of poor reception nevertheless resulting in a successful decode of text modes.

2) Reception on less expensive portable shortwave radios. Please also share your advice on feeding the audio from your portable radio to your PC and eventually to your decoding software. If use of the earphone jack mutes the radio's speaker, how do you listen to the program? Do you use an external sound card? Any other tips and tricks?

3) Of course, resume listening on and decoding from your transceivers and high-end receivers if reception on portable radios proves unsuccessful. 

Thanks for listening and decoding.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott

Producer and Presenter

VOA Radiogram

radiogram@voanews.com 

http://voaradiogram.net

Twitter: @voaradiogram

Weekend programming schedules

Radio City
Saturday July 20
08.00 to 09.00 UTC on 9510 kHz via IRRS, also at 19.00 to 20.00 UTC on 1485 kHz  via Radio  Merkurs in Latvia with a weekly separate program

Every 4th Saturday
12.00 to 13.00 UTC  via Hamburger Lokalradio on 7265 kHz
Due to very poor propagation the June HLR programme will be repeated.

The email address remains citymorecars@yahoo.ca    
Thank you!


Hamburger Lokalradio via MVBR Saturday and Wednesday:
06.00 to 08.00 UTC on 7265 kHz   
08.00 to 11.00 UTC on 6190 kHz
11.00 to 15.00 UTC on 7265 kHz
All reports to:    redaktion@hamburger-lokalradio.de   Thank you!


Good Listening!
73s, 
Tom Taylor

Ethiopia and Eritrea A13 schedule updates

Broadcast daily unless otherwise indicated, target areas and languages as noted

All times UTC

0300-0400 on  7235vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amh/Oro/Tig Radio Ethiopia
0300-0400 on  9565vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amh/Oro/Tig Radio Ethiopia

0300-0500 on  9715 ASD 100 kW / non-dir to ERI  Amh/Afar/Ar/Somali VOBME-2

0300-0600 on  5950/5980 GEJ 100 kW / ND to ETH  Tig/Afar VOTigray Revolution
0300-0600 on  6030 GEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Oromo Radio Oromiya
0300-0600 on  6090 GEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Oromo Radio Amhara
0300-0600 on  6110 AAB 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amharic/Oromo Radio Fana
0300-0600 on  7175-7195 ASD 100 kW / ND to ERI  Amh/Afar/Ar/Somali VOBME-2
0300-0600 on  7200 GEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amh/Oro/Tig Radio Ethiopia
0300-0600 on  7205 ASD 100 kW / non-dir to ERI  Tigrinya VOBME-1

0300-0600 on  7210 AAB 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amharic/Oromo Radio Fana
0300-0600 on  9705 GEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amh/Oro/Tig Radio Ethiopia

0400-0430 on  7235vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Tigrinya VOPeace & Democracy
0400-0430 on  9565vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Tigrinya VOPeace & Democracy
0430-0600 on  7235vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amh/Oro/Tig Radio Ethiopia
0430-0600 on  9565vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amh/Oro/Tig Radio Ethiopia
0500-0600 on  9715 ASD 100 kW / non-dir to ERI  Amharic Ginbot 7 Dimts Radio

0600-0900 on  5950/5980 GEJ 100 kW / ND to ETH  Tig/Afar VOTigray Revolution
0600-0900 on  6030 GEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Oromo Radio Oromiya
0600-0900 on  7175-7195 ASD 100 kW / ND to ERI  Amh/Afar/Ar/Somali VOBME-2
0600-0900 on  7200 GEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amh/Oro/Tig Radio Ethiopia
0600-0900 on  7205 ASD 100 kW / non-dir to ERI  Tigrinya VOBME-1

0600-0900 on  7235vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amh/Oro/Tig Radio Ethiopia
0600-0900 on  9565vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amh/Oro/Tig Radio Ethiopia
0600-0900 on  9705 GEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amh/Oro/Tig Radio Ethiopia
0600-0900 on  9715 ASD 100 kW / non-dir to ERI  Amh/Afar/Ar/Somali VOBME-2

0700-0800 on  7235vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Somali Radio Ethiopia
0700-0800 on  9565vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Somali Radio Ethiopia

1200-1500 on  7235vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Som/Afar/Ar Radio Ethiopia
1200-1500 on  9565vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Som/Afar/Ar Radio Ethiopia

1400-1500 on  9715 ASD 100 kW / non-dir to ERI  Amharic Ginbot 7 Dimts Radio

1500-1600 on  7235vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Ar/Tig/Afar VofDem.Alliance
1500-1600 on  9565vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Ar/Tig/Afar VofDem.Alliance

1500-1800 on  5950/5980 GEJ 100 kW / ND to ETH  Tig/Afar VOTigray Revolution
1500-1800 on  6030 GEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Oromo Radio Oromiya
1500-1800 on  6090 GEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Oromo Radio Amhara
1500-1800 on  6110 AAB 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amharic/Oromo Radio Fana
1500-1800 on  7175-7195 ASD 100 kW / ND to ERI  Amh/Afar/Ar/Somali VOBME-2
1500-1800 on  7200 GEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amh/Oro/Tig Radio Ethiopia
1500-1800 on  7205 ASD 100 kW / non-dir to ERI  Tigrinya VOBME-1
1500-1800 on  7210 AAB 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amharic/Oromo Radio Fana
1500-1800 on  7220 ASD 100 kW / non-dir to ERI  Amh/Afar/Ar/Somali VOBME-2
1500-1800 on  9705 GEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amh/Oro/Tig Radio Ethiopia
1500-1800 on  9715 ASD 100 kW / non-dir to ERI  Amh/Afar/Ar/Somali VOBME-2
1500-1800 on  9820 ASD 100 kW / non-dir to ERI  Amh/Afar/Ar/Somali VOBME-2

1600-1700 on  7235vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  English Radio Ethiopia
1600-1700 on  9565vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  English Radio Ethiopia

1700-1800 on  7235vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  French Radio Ethiopia
1700-1800 on  9565vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  French Radio Ethiopia

1800-1830 on  7235vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Tigrinya VOPeace & Democracy
1800-1830 on  9565vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Tigrinya VOPeace & Democracy

1800-2100 on  6110 AAB 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amharic/Oromo Radio Fana
1800-2100 on  7200 GEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amh/Oro/Tig Radio Ethiopia
1800-2100 on  7205 ASD 100 kW / non-dir to ERI  Tigrinya VOBME-1
1800-2100 on  7210 AAB 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amharic/Oromo Radio Fana
1800-2100 on  9705 GEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amh/Oro/Tig Radio Ethiopia

1830-2100 on  7235vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amh/Oro/Tig Radio Ethiopia
1830-2100 on  9565vGEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  Amh/Oro/Tig Radio Ethiopia
(DX Re Mix News 790 via Ivo Ivanov/HCDX)

Radio Ethiopia audio link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmqkOi-h1ZU

Radio Hargeysa summer schedule

Somalia

Radio Hargeysa



All times UTC

0330-0500 on  7120 HAR 100 kW / non-dir to SOM  Somali
0500-0630 on  7120 HAR 100 kW / non-dir to SOM  Somali, irregular
1230-1400 on  7120 HAR 100 kW / non-dir to SOM  Somali, irregular
1500-1900 on  7120 HAR 100 kW / non-dir to SOM  Somali
(DX Re Mix 790 via Ivo Ivanov/HCDX)

You Tube audio link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woNuwGVP0AM

Weekly propagation forecast bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts

:Issued: 2013 Jul 15 0430 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
#
#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 08 - 14 July 2013

Solar activity was low. The largest flare of the period was a C9/Sf at 08/0122 UTC from Region 1785 (S09, L=7, class/area=Ekc/570 on 08 July). This region was responsible for the majority of the C-class flares during the period. Region 1787 (S15, L=348, class/area=Eai/230 on 09 July) was the second most prolific flare producer and is credited with a C4/1n flare at 10/0643 UTC. The remaining regions were relatively small and inactive. A 12-degree filament occurred at 09/1400 UTC resulting in an Earth-directed coronal mass ejection (CME) with an estimated  speed of 400 km/s. Another slow-moving CME with a potential Earth-directed component was observed at 12/1824 UTC, however, the quality of available coronagraph imagery prevented meaningful analysis. The remainder of the week was devoid of potentially geoeffective events. 

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels on 10 - 14 July and was at moderate levels before that. A peak flux value of 22,500 pfu was reported on 12 July at 1850 UTC. 

Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to minor (NOAA Scale G1) geomagnetic storm conditions during the week. An Earth-directed CME which left the Sun on 06 July arrived at the ACE spacecraft at approximately 09/1958 UTC. A 25 nT sudden impulse was subsequently recorded at the Fredericksburg magnetometer at 09/2049 UTC. By 09/2359 UTC, the geomagnetic field had reached active levels, and by
10/0257 UTC, minor (NOAA Scale G1) geomagnetic storm conditions were observed. Minor (G1) storm conditions prevailed for two periods, after which, active to unsettled conditions were observed. The College magnetometer (high latitude) reported major (NOAA Scale G2) geomagnetic storm levels. The following day, there was an isolated minor (G1) storm period nestled among otherwise quiet to active conditions. By 12 July, the field had returned to mostly quiet levels when a co-rotating interaction region (CIR) ahead of a small negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS) arrived. By 13 July, the diffuse remnants of the CME from 09 July had arrived, bringing Bt values at the ACE spacecraft to 17 nT. Bz remained positive for the majority of 13 July, so, with the exception of a single active period, the geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Active conditions returned on 14 July, after an extended period of southward Bz, reaching about -10 nT.  Minor (G1) to Major (G2) storm levels were observed at high latitude. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 15 July - 10 August 2013

Solar activity is expected to remain low with a slight chance for isolated low (R1) radio blackouts throughout the period. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels from 20 July through the end of the month due to a coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at active to minor (G1) storm conditions early on 15 July due to transient passage, decreasing back to quiet to unsettled levels with a chance for active conditions for the remainder of 25 July. Generally quiet to unsettled conditions are expected to persist until 17 - 21 July, when a recurrent CH HSS is expected to bring unsettled to active
conditions with a chance for minor (G1) storm conditions. Generally quiet to unsettled conditions are once again expected until 25 - 27 July, when another recurrent CH HSS is expected to bring active to minor (G1) storm conditions with a chance for major (G2) storm conditions. 

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2013 Jul 15 0430 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC contact on the Web
# http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
#
#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
#                Issued 2013-07-15
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2013 Jul 15     125          12          3
2013 Jul 16     120           8          3
2013 Jul 17     120          10          3
2013 Jul 18     125          15          4
2013 Jul 19     125          15          4
2013 Jul 20     125          15          4
2013 Jul 21     120          15          4
2013 Jul 22     110           8          3
2013 Jul 23     105           5          2
2013 Jul 24     100           5          2
2013 Jul 25     100          18          4
2013 Jul 26     105          30          5
2013 Jul 27     110          10          3
2013 Jul 28     110           5          2
2013 Jul 29     120           5          2
2013 Jul 30     125           5          2
2013 Jul 31     130           5          2
2013 Aug 01     135           5          2
2013 Aug 02     135           5          2
2013 Aug 03     130           5          2
2013 Aug 04     125           5          2
2013 Aug 05     125           5          2
2013 Aug 06     125           5          2
2013 Aug 07     125           5          2
2013 Aug 08     125           5          2
2013 Aug 09     120           8          3
2013 Aug 10     120           5          2

(NOAA)

Tunisia summer schedule update

Radio TV Tunisia has updated their summer schedule. Broadcast daily, target areas as indicated

All times UTC

0357-0456   17735 SFA 250 kW / 100 deg to N/ME Arabic, ex 0257-0506
0457-0556   7275 SFA 500 kW / 340 deg to WeEu Arabic, ex 0357-0626
0657-0756   7335 SFA 500 kW / 265 deg to NoAf Arabic, ex 0557-0806
1557-2006   17735 SFA 250 kW / 100 deg to N/ME Arabic, cancelled
1657-2126   7225 SFA 500 kW / 340 deg to WeEu Arabic, cancelled
1857-2306    7345 SFA 500 kW / 265 deg to NoAf Arabic, cancelled
(DX Re Mix News 790 via Ivo Ivanov)