DX Stamp Service - April Specials

Dear Customer,
Below are specials for April 2014.
Check out the added bonuses on US discounted postage and DX supply special offers.

If you need a current stamp list or supply list, I can email it to you.



I also have a list of the countries we stock that have issued their own international forever stamps, yours for the asking too.
 
NEW RATES: CORRECTION!
UK rate increases from 88p to 97p on March 31st per latest listing on Royal Mail website. This is their 10g International Mail rate for outside Europe. Rate to Europe will also be 97p but to Europe it covers 20g.
1,28 GBP will cover 20g rate as previously emailed. Glad they are keeping the 10g rate which can easily cover the return of a QSL card.
 
MAKE UPS: UK 9p makeups are 20c each.

NEW PRICES: UK now $1.90 up from $1.70. UK covers England, Wales, Scotland and No. Ireland.
Thailand now $1.20 down from $1.50
Kazakhstan now $3.50 up from $2.50 due to rate almost doubling.
Brazil now $2.00 up from $1.80, stamps in route from new supplier, order processed in 2 days...my 2 previous suppliers...nothing after 2+ months...
 
STAMPS IN STOCK AGAIN: Thailand!! (but they sent all low values! Suggestion, enclose stamps with your QSL rather than trying to affix stamps to return envelope. They must be working with Panama Post)

STAMPS ON BACK ORDER: Argentina, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Morocco, Poland, Switzerland and Uzbekistan.

BACK ORDERS will now be sent with your next stamp order, unless I have several to send you.  Am losing money by sending out one at a time. Sorry.
 
U.S. DISCOUNT POSTAGE DEALS!!

APRIL SPECIAL, BUY 200 UNITS DEDUCT $5.00!!!

Save Big on your domestic mailings when you plaster your envelope with colorful stamps.

49c Units
  2 stamps
  3 stamps
  4 stamps
  5 stamps

x 100
 $46.00
 $43.00
 $42.00
 $41.00

x 200
 $89.00
 $84.00
 $81.00
 $78.00

x 400
 xxx
 $161.00
 $157.00
 $154.00

(3 stamps means 49c unit made up in 3 stamps such as 22c, 22c and 5c)

MORE U.S. POSTAGE for SALE!!

Excess of 20c stamps, want some?

$50 in 20c stamps-$43    $100 for $80    $200 for $150
   
For US postage deals, payment by   CREDIT CARD NOW ACCEPTED!!

 No charge for shipping US postage deals to US addresses. ORDER NOW!
 
 APRIL  2014  DX  STAMP  SPECIALS
    3 Canada-$3.90          2 Latvia-$2.00         3 Japan-$3.90
3 France-$3.90       3 UK-$5.10
2 Finland 1st Kl.-$3.00     3 Finland 2nd Kl.-$3.00
Finland 1st class is priority rate
 2nd class is economy rate, it goes airmail too and saves you a bit!    
     
APRIL  2014  DX  SUPPLY  SPECIALS
200/200 European Air Mailers and Air Returns -$40.00
200/200 Stateside Mailers and Returns - $19.00
2 Standard QSL Albums - $40.00

Buy 2 DX Supply Specials...Deduct $5.00!!

 Priority Mail Shipping Rates: Orders up to $16.00 add $6.50, orders from $16.01 to $40.00 add $9.00, orders from $41.00 to $100.00 add $15.00. orders from $101.00 to $150.00 add $20.00, orders over $150.00 add 15%. When ordering supplies and stamps, the stamps ride free, just use supply total to figure shipping costs. Shipments to Canada and overseas ship at a greater cost. (01/2014)

Stamps Only Orders: Just add $1.00 P&H for posting to USA, add $2.00 for posting to Canada.

73, bill

William Plum
12 Glenn Road
Flemington, NJ 08822
908 788 1020
908 782-2612 FAX
Email: plumdx@msn.com

Amateur Radio Special Events: April 2014

This is sampling of Special Expeditions and Events on amateur radio. Events are open to amateur radio operators, and shortwave listeners. QSLing may include special event cards, certificates or both. QSLing information or requirements are as indicated in each post.  

All times listed are UTC

April 1-3
7P, Lesotho. Peter, EI7CC, will once again be active as 7P8PB from Maseru. Activity will be limited because he will be on a family holiday and will  operate when circumstances permit. He will be operating from his brother- in-law Gerry's station, 7P8CC (home callsign EI8CC). QSL via EI7CC, by the  Bureau or direct. Logs will be uploaded to LoTW immediately upon his return  to Ireland. If possible, Peter may try to upload them while in Lesotho.

April 1-5
D4, Cape Verde. Lukas, HB9EBT, will be active as D44TEG from Tarrafal, located in the northern part of the island of Santiago (AF-005), in the Sotavento Islands group of Cape Verde, to April 5th. Activity will be on 20-10 meters using CW, PSK and RTTY. QSL via HB9EBT, direct or by the Bureau.

April 1-6
Sun n Fun International Fly-In & Expo. 1422-1420, W4S, Lakeland, FL. Sun n Fun.  28.325 21.250 14.250. QSL. Bob Flynn, 1281 Forrest Hill Dr, Clearwater, FL 33756.  Special Event station for Sun n Fun Fly-In held at Linder Field (KLAL) Lakeland, FL.  Walk up and on air Pilots/HAMS. Many Pilots are HAMS and working a Special Event  Fly-In station which are very few, it is enjoyed by all. wa4oab@gmail.com

April 1-8
FR, Reunion Island (Reminder). Guy, F5MNW, will once again be active as  FR/F5MNW from Saint Leu to April 8th. Activity will be on the HF bands using only CW. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the Bureau.

April 1 - 10
OzarkCon KON, 0800-0400, Pittsburg, KS. 4StateQRP Group. 7.122 7.030 14.060 3.564. QSL. Willam Lawson, 711 E 31st St, Pittsburg, KS 66762. This is the annual QRP Forum hosted by the 4State qrp Group. We have used the Special Event call of K0N for many years. www.4sqrp.com

April 1-23
9N, Nepal. Andy, UA3AA, is now active as 9N7AA from Nepal until May 23rd. He states, "My present location has some serious RFI issues that affect my ability to hear the calling stations. The noise is 59+, so please be patient with me and forgive me if I don't answer. I do not participate in LoTW or e-QSLing. Direct QSLs only, no Bureau cards. No IRCs. U.S. stations - SASE + 1 USD, all others - SAE + 2 USDs. Donations welcome. NT2X is not my QSL Manager, he only administers the QRZ.com page on my
behalf. My sincere 'thanks' to Satish, 9N1AA, and his assistant Uttam for assistance in obtaining my 9N7AA license." Activity has been on 160/80/30/20/12/10 meters CW.

April 2-3
Preparedness Summit. 1700-2030, N4P, Atlanta, GA. Oklahoma City-County Health Department,
Southwest Utah Public Health Department, Kennehoochee Amateur Radio Club, Cobb County ARES,
and National Association of County and City Health Officials. 28.365 21.365 14.265 7.265. QSL.
Andrew Roszak, NACCHO, 1100 17th St NW, 7thFl, Washington, DC 20036. The five listed organizations have come together to enhance communications capabilities within public health agencies and healthcare  coalitions through a series of webinars, a licensure class, an exam session, conference presentations  and this special event, operating from the exhibit hall at the Preparedness Summit. nacchopreparedness.org/?p=378

April 2-14
5J0, San Andres (Update). Operators Robert/N7QT, Melanie/AB1UH, Hugh/W4VAB and Guy/N7UN will be active as 5J0X from San Andres Island (NA-033) between April 2-14th. Activity will be primarily holiday style (suitcase mini- DXpedition) on 80-10 meters using CW, SSB and PSK. Elecraft transceivers
and amplifiers will be used. Portable antennas will be used from the Villa location and from nearby beaches. QSL direct to N7QT. No eQSLs. IRCs are acceptable. ARRL Bureau cards are acceptable. Direct QSLs with 2 USDs will be returned via international postage otherwise via the ARRL Bureau. Logs will be uploaded during the operation to Clublog and to LoTW shortly after the mini-DXpedition.

April 4
Platoon 382 Hall Dedication Ceremony. 1745-2000, N4C, Fredericksburg, VA. Marine Corps
Amateur Radio Club. 3.885. QSL. Richard Corrigan, 12 Maggie Ct, Fredericksburg, VA 22406. This station will be operating a WWII USMC tactical radio utilized by USMC Navajo Code Talkers during the Island Hopping Campaign. Corporal Chester Nez the last surviving member of Platoon 382 (First Platoon of USMC Navajo Code Talkers) is the Guest of Honor. This station will be operating A.M. Voice from 1745 UTC to 2000 UTC. Station will be operating as designed max PEP W n0rmc2651@gmail.com

April 5
819 Steam Locomotive. 1600-2100, K5DAK, White Hall, AR. Pine Bluff Amateur Radio Club. 14.250. Certificate & QSL. Glenn Wolf, N5RN, 210 S Estates Cv, White Hall, AR 71602. Please send a #10 envelope with 2 ounces of postage to N5RN (address good on QRZ) to receive a QSL and information about the Arkansas Railroad Museum and the 819 Steam locomotive. www.pbarc.net

April 5
The Dent County Raiders - Missouri QSO Party. 1800-2359, W0S, Rural Dent County, MO. The Dent County Raiders WA0JCO WA0IYY K7RMJ. 21.380 14.250 7.220 3.825. QSL. WA0JCO, 6954 Winona Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63109. Operating from The Mark  Twain National Forest in Dent County, MO. MO QP Rules: w0ma.org/mo_qso_party.htm.

April 5-6
Mustang Island On The Air. 1400-0200, N5T, Port Aransas, TX. BVARC - Project X Contest Team. 7.285 14.285 21.385 28.450. QSL. Project X Contest Team, 15547 Stoney Fork Dr, Houston, TX 77084. The Project X Contest Team will activate Mustang Island in Texas (NA-092) during the Texas State Parks on the Air Event, from 14:00 UTC on Sat, 05-Apr-14 to 02:00 UTC on Sun, 06-Apr-14.
Visit our web site at www.mustangislandontheair.com and follow us on Twitter @mustangisland1. We will post updates on operations, photos and video. QSL via Direct - US Stations SASE. Non-US 2 Greenstamps or 1 IRC plus SAE. LOTW: Logs will be uploaded to LOTW after the event www.mustangislandontheair.com

April 5-17
CE0Y, Easter Island. Victor, CE1WFN, will be active as CE0Y/CE1WFN from Easter Island. Activity will be on the HF bands. QSL via his home call sign direct.

April 11-17
Georgia QSO Party 1000-2357, N4G, Atlanta, GA. Southeastern Underground Radio Fellowship. 14.070 7.035 SO-50. QSL. W4TI, PO Box 422261, Atlanta, GA 30342. Work historic DeKalb county, Georgia, EM73, during the GQP either on HF digital (PSK-31) or via Satellites! All stations will receive a special edition QSL card. w4ti.com

April 12
Annual Calico Fort Arts and Craft Festival 1400-2000, W4C, Ft Deposit, AL. The Jim Bell Wireless Association. 146.67 FM; DSTAR Reflector 58B. QSL. George Milligan, AK4GN, 1507 Ramer Grady Rd, Ramer, AL 36069. The purpose of this station is to demonstrate the benefits of Amateur Radio to the public. JBWA will demonstrate communication capabilities and will provide educational materials and briefings in the areas of Emergency Communications, Storm Spotting and general Public Service. For the children, we will have coloring books. With hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of attendees, Calico Fort is one of the oldest, largest and most popular arts and crafts fairs in the South. This outdoor show, on 6 acres, has
adjacent parking and plenty of fun for everyone. So come and enjoy our southern hospitality. The proceeds benefit community projects. For more information, visit http://calicofort.com/index.php. www.k4tns.org

April 12
USS Midway Decommissioning 1992 1600-2300, NI6IW, San Diego, CA. USS Midway (CV-41) Museum. 14.320 7.250; PSK 14.070; D-Star REF001C. QSL. USS Midway Museum Radio Room, 910 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101.

April 12
Bayou Teche Black Bear Festival 1500-2000, W5BMC, Morgan City, LA. Bayouland Emergency Amateur Radio Service. 14.260 7.260. QSL. Jackie Price, KA5LMZ, 1412 Maple St, Morgan City, LA 70380. Fourth year to operate from the beautiful banks of Bayou Teche in Franklin, Louisiana.

April 12
General Hardee's Retreat 1330-1730, NC4AR, Trinity, NC. Tri-County ARC. 145.29 7.210. Certificate. NC4AR, PO BOX 747, Trinity, NC 27370. Follow instructions to receive certificate. www.nc4ar.org

April 12
74th Anniversary of Bletchley Park (UK) Timely Decrypt of German Enigma Radio Message Apr 12, 0001-2359, N7E, West Point, UT. Enigma World Code Group. 28.450 21.400 14.270 7.250. QSL. Bruce Culp, EWCG, 660 N 2700 W, West Point, UT 84015.

April 12-13
Anniversary of the Sinking of the Titanic 1200-0100, W4S, Clinton, TN. KC4RD. 21.335 14.235 7.265 3.985. QSL. Jim Womack, 617 Black Oak Rd, Clinton, TN 37716. kc4rd@arrl.org

April 12-13
102nd Titanic Special Event Station 1400-1400, N0SAP, Nixa, MO. Area Amateurs. 21.265 14.265 7.265 3.865. Certificate. David Beckler, 1137 W Crane Dr, Nixa, MO 65714. n0sap@yahoo.com

April 19
Old Greenville Black Powder Rendezvous Special Event Station 1200-2359, KD0MRV, Greenville, MO. Greenville Amateur Radio Club. 14.269 7.284. QSL. Danny Jaco, 174 Walnut St, Greenville, MO 63944. www.no0n-garc.com

April 19-20
SPARC 45th Anniversary 1700-2100, VE3SPR, Leamington, ON. Sun Parlor Amateur Radio Club. 14.205 7.220. Certificate. Terry Greenwood, 3392 Baby St, Windsor, ON B9C 1L4, CANADA. Main operation will be the weekend of the 19th April but the call is good for the whole month of April 2014 some of the club members may activate the call off and on during the month. For a certificate send QSL card and
$5.00 to VE3TMG call is good on QRZ.com. If you want to save $5.00 I can email the certificate send a valid email with your QSL card. www.thesparc.ca

April 25-26
Jackson, MO Bicentennial Special Event Station 1500-2300, W0QMF, Jackson, MO. Southeast Missouri Amateur Radio Club. 28.450 14.260 7.260 3.950. QSL. SEMO Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 98, Jackson, MO 63755. semoarc.org

April 25-27
Earth Day from Earth, Texas 2200-2359, W5E, Lubbock and Earth, TX. Lubbock Amateur Radio Club. 7.290. QSL. Gary Harrold, WA5TED, 2110 69th St, Lubbock, TX 79412. The Lubbock Amateur Radio Club will once again return to Earth to celebrate Earth Day operating as W5E.

April 26
Cape Cod Mini Maker Faire - Radio Demo 1400-2000, K1PBO, Hyannis, MA. Barnstable Amateur Radio Club. 14.270 SSB. Certificate. No Print QSLs, Please go to:, www.barnstablearc.org for a personalized, downloadable certificate or QSL card.. barnstablearc.org

April 26
Commemorating the Life and Heroic Actions of Railroad Engineer John Luther (Casey) Jones 1300-2100, WF4Q, Jackson, TN. West Tennessee Amateur Radio Society. 14.250 14.240 7.250 7.240. Certificate. WF4Q Special Event, PO Box 3382, Jackson, TN 38303. aa5xo@rocketmail.com. Logs will be uploaded to eQSL and LoTW.. sites.google.com/site/westtnars/home

April 26-27
Boy Scouts of America Lincoln Trail Hike 1400-2000, N9L, Springfield, IL. Sangamon Valley Radio Club. SSB 14.230 7.260; CW 14.030 7.030. QSL. Sangamon Valley Radio Club, C/O American Red Cross, 1045 Outer Park Dr, Springfield, IL 62704.

April 27
Two Modern Popes Now Saints 1600-2000, ND8GA, Gates Mills, OH. Gilmour Academy Amateur Radio. 146.55 21.255 14.255 7.255. Certificate. Ken Kane, KG8DN, Gilmour Academy, 34001 Cedar Rd, Gates Mills, OH 44040. Gilmour Academy celebrates the dual canonization in Rome today of Pope John 23rd and Pope John Paul 2nd. Each worked effectively to serve the church and the world while "opening the doors" to lay people and youth. Mail a hard-copy QSL card to Gilmour with your email address to receive an emailed certificate.  https://sites.google.com/a/gilmour.org/gilmour-amateur-radio-club

******************************************
IOTA / Islands on the Air

April 1 - May
AS-101 French operator, David, has been operating as HS0ZLU from Koh Phangan Island, in Thailand. He will be active until May 2014. Activity will be mainly on the 10 and 20 meters bands, but he will also be on 80/40/17/12m, and use SSB and PSK. He uses an Icom IC-706 MKIIG into a long wire of 10 meters in length (Diamond W8010 20-10m) and a long wire of 20 meters in length (for 80-40m). QSL via the address on QRZ.com. NO Bureau QSLs. For more details, see http://hs0zlu.wordpress.com

April 1-11
LY24, Lithuania (Special Event). Jonas, LY5A, will operate as LY24A between to April 11th. Activity is to commemorate the 24th anniversary of Lithuanian independence restoration. QSL via his home callsign, direct
or by the Bureau.

April 11-14
EU-038.  Operators Marc/PD7YY and Jan/PE1GNP will be active as PH38EU from Terschelling Island. Activity will be on 40/20/17/15/12/10/2 meters  using SSB. QSL via PD7YY or PE1GNP, direct or by the Bureau.

April 26-May 3
EU-010.  Camb-Hams will be active as GS3PYE/P from the Isle of Lewis. The Camb-Hams have been activating the Scottish Isles each year since  2008 and will be traveling to the Isle of Lewis in the Scottish Outer Hebrides in 2014. Thirteen operators will be active on all bands and many modes from 4m to 80m, 2m and 70cm for Satellites, and 2m and 23cm for EME. The HF bands will be covered by five
simultaneous stations, while the 6m and 4m stations will have a great take-off towards the UK and Europe from the island's northern tip in IO68 square. 2m and 23cm EME will be available with a portable low-ERP Yagi system, mainly focused on JT modes. 2m and 70cm will be available for portable satellite operations.
Contest operations will take place in the RSGB 70MHz UKAC on April 29th. The group will be active on the major social net- works before, during and after the trip. You can check on progress or interact with the operators via their blog at dx.camb-hams.com or through Twitter, Facebook and YouTube [links below]. Previous trips have generated some great audio and video recordings of the GS3PYE/P signal from around the world. Please E-mail skeds-2014@camb-hams.com to arrange schedules on the more challenging bands and modes. VHF and EME schedules will also be made via ON4KST and N0UK's EME Chat. All
links are available via dx.camb-hams.com, twitter.com/g3pye, facebook.com/CambHams and youtube.com/CambHams.

April 27-May 11
JD1, Ogasawara. Harry, JG7PSJ, will once again be active as JD1BMH from Chichijima Island (AS-031). Activity will be on 40-10 meters using CW,  SSB and RTTY. QSL via the Bureau to JD1BMH or direct to JG7PSJ. Visit  his web page for more details at: http://sapphire.es.tohoku.ac.jp/jd1bmh
http://jd1bmh.zxq.net

April 5-6
NA-092. Members of the "Project X Contest Team" will be activating Mustang Island (USI TX-011S, Nueces County, Texas) as N5T between April 5-6, and during the "Texas State Parks on the Air". The "Project X Contest Team" does have a Twitter and Web page at: http://www.mustangislandontheair.com
htpp://twitter.com/@mustangisland1 Added Notes: Also look for the "Project X Contest Team" to
be in the CQ WPX SSB Contest from Cullinan Park Sugar Land, Texas, March 28-30th. QSL direct via the address on www.QRZ.com. Logs uploaded to LoTW after the event.
(ARRL/Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin # 1153/1154)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2014 Mar 31 0422 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 24 - 30 March 2014

An X1/2b flare (R3 radio blackout) on Saturday, at 29/1748 UTC, brought solar activity to high levels for the week. Region 2017 (N10, L=143, class/area=Dsi/160 on 27 Mar) had evolved from a simple beta to a beta-delta spot the day before. By the 29th it had grown to a beta-gamma-delta magnetic configuration. The X-flare it produced was accompanied by several radio emissions including a Castelli-U signature with 110,000 sfu on 245 MHz, a 360 sfu Tenflare at 29/1746 UTC, and a Type II sweep at 28/1753 UTC. An assymetrical halo coronal mass ejection (CME) was associated with the event and visible in LASCO/C2 coronagraph imagery beginning at 29/1812 UTC. Analysis of SOHO and STEREO coronagraph images suggested this CME was moving at 558 km/s with most ejecta directed north of the
ecliptic. 

On Friday, Region 2017 produced an M2/Sn flare at 28/1918 UTC associated with a Type II sweep at 28/1918 UTC (528 km/s). The speed obtained through analysis of coronagraph imagery was consistent with the Type II estimate. Another M2/1n flare was observed from this region at 28/2351 UTC. It was also associated wth a Type II sweep at 28/2350 UTC (857 km/s). Analysis of SOHO and STEREO coronagraph
imagery suggested the CME was moving at approximately 600 km/s. 

Finally, Region 2017 produced an M2/1n flare on Saturday at 30/1155 UTC accompanied by a Type II sweep at 30/1152 UTC (879 km/s). Analysis of SOHO and STEREO coronagraph imagery suggested the CME was moving at approximately 500 km/s. Region 2014 (S15, L=168, class/area=Ehi/290 on 27 Mar) was the largest of the 12 regions on the disk during the week, and was responsible for seven C-class
events. Region 2010 (S13, L=203, class/area=Dac/230) was the second largest region on the disk and responsible for 12 C-class events, second only to Region 2017 in productivity. 

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. However, the greater than 10 MeV proton flux at geosynchronous orbit was enhanced following the X1/2b flare on 29 March and reached a peak of 3.2 pfu at 29/2230 UTC. The flux was returning to normal levels at the time of this report. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal levels all week. 

Geomagnetic field activity remained at mostly quiet to unsettled levels during the week. The exception was a couple of active periods early on 26 March. A shock observed in ACE SWEPAM data at 25/1925 UTC announced the arrival of the 23 Mar CME. Solar wind speed increased from approximately 375 km/s to 500 km/s and the total field was enhanced from +2 nT to a maximum value of +13 nT. The Bz component turned southward following the arrival with a maximum southward deflection of -10 nT at 25/1938 UTC, and then became variable in the +9/-8 nT range. Solar wind speed reached a maximum of 554 km/s at 26/0049 UTC before decreasing to end of period values near 410 km/s. A geomagnetic sudden impulse was subsequently observed at the Hartland magnetometer (23 nT) at 25/2009 UTC. Unsettled conditions ensued from 25/1800-2400 UTC while active conditions (Below G1-Minor) occurred during the 26/0000-0300 UTC and 26/0600-0900 UTC periods. Later in the week, a rare geomagnetic crochet was observed - a minor nT deviation (17 nT at Boulder) in the H-traces of the magnetometers which were in the sunlit portion of Earth during the X-flare on 29 March described earlier. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 31 March - 26 April 2014

Solar activity is expected to be low with moderate events likely through the forecast period. 

There is a slight chance the greater than 10 MeV proton flux will exceed 10 pfu during the first week of the forecast period as Region 2017 rotates around the west limb. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal levels through the forecast period. 

The geomagnetic field is expected to be at unsettled to active levels on 1-3 April, with minor storm periods possible on 2 April in response to the arrival of the several CMEs described above. The remainder of the forecast period should see mostly quiet to unsettled conditions in the absence of any new transient features. 

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2014 Mar 31 0423 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 2014-03-31
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2014 Mar 31     145           5          2
2014 Apr 01     145          12          4
2014 Apr 02     140          28          5
2014 Apr 03     140          10          4
2014 Apr 04     140           5          2
2014 Apr 05     140           5          2
2014 Apr 06     135           8          3
2014 Apr 07     140           8          3
2014 Apr 08     140           5          2
2014 Apr 09     140           8          3
2014 Apr 10     140           5          2
2014 Apr 11     140           5          2
2014 Apr 12     135           5          2
2014 Apr 13     135           5          2
2014 Apr 14     140           5          2
2014 Apr 15     145           5          2
2014 Apr 16     150           5          2
2014 Apr 17     150           8          3
2014 Apr 18     150           8          3
2014 Apr 19     155           8          3
2014 Apr 20     155           5          2
2014 Apr 21     155           5          2
2014 Apr 22     155           5          2
2014 Apr 23     145           8          3
2014 Apr 24     145           8          3
2014 Apr 25     145           8          3
2014 Apr 26     145           5          2

(NOAA)

Last two broadcast days for Voice of Russia

RUSSIA

Final shortwave schedules of Radio Voice of Russia on Mar.30/31, 2014 

All times UTC

0600-0700 on 13800 MSK 040 kW / 260 deg to WeEu English DRM
0600-0700 on 21800 IRK 250 kW / 152 deg to AUS  English

0700-0800 on 13800 MSK 040 kW / 260 deg to WeEu English DRM
0700-0800 on 21800 IRK 250 kW / 152 deg to AUS  English

0800-0900 on  9850 KLG 015 kW / 220 deg to WeEu English DRM Ch1
0800-0900 on  9850 KLG 015 kW / 220 deg to WeEu Russian DRM Ch2
0800-0900 on 13800 MSK 040 kW / 260 deg to WeEu English DRM
0800-0900 on 21800 IRK 250 kW / 152 deg to AUS  English

0900-1000 on  9850 KLG 015 kW / 220 deg to WeEu German DRM Ch1
0900-1000 on  9850 KLG 015 kW / 220 deg to WeEu English DRM Ch2

1000-1200 on  9850 KLG 015 kW / 220 deg to WeEu German DRM Ch1
1000-1200 on  9850 KLG 015 kW / 220 deg to WeEu English DRM Ch2
1000-1200 on 13805 IRK 250 kW / 180 deg to SEAs English
1000-1200 on 13860 IRK 250 kW / 152 deg to EaAs Chinese

1200-1300 on  7235 IRK 100 kW / 110 deg to EaAs Japanese (5965)
1200-1300 on  9850 KLG 015 kW / 220 deg to WeEu English DRM Ch1
1200-1300 on  9850 KLG 015 kW / 220 deg to WeEu Russian DRM Ch2
1200-1300 on 13805 IRK 250 kW / 180 deg to SEAs Vietnamese
1200-1300 on 13860 IRK 250 kW / 152 deg to EaAs Chinese

1300-1400 on  7235 IRK 100 kW / 110 deg to EaAs Japanese (5965)
1300-1400 on  7300 IRK 015 kW / 224 deg to SoAs Hindi DRM
1300-1400 on  9850 KLG 015 kW / 220 deg to WeEu English DRM Ch1
1300-1400 on  9850 KLG 015 kW / 220 deg to WeEu Russian DRM Ch2
1300-1400 on 13805 IRK 250 kW / 180 deg to SEAs English
1300-1400 on 13860 IRK 250 kW / 152 deg to EaAs Chinese

1400-1500 on  7300 IRK 015 kW / 224 deg to SoAs Urdu DRM
1400-1500 on  9850 KLG 015 kW / 220 deg to WeEu English DRM Ch1
1400-1500 on  9850 KLG 015 kW / 220 deg to WeEu Russian DRM Ch2

1500-1700 on  6035 IRK 250 kW / 180 deg to SEAs English
1500-1700 on 12035 MSK 040 kW / 260 deg to WeEu German DRM

1700-1800 on  9800 KLG 015 kW / 220 deg to WeEu French DRM
1700-1800 on  9820 IRK 015 kW / 224 deg to SoAs English DRM
1700-1800 on 12035 MSK 040 kW / 260 deg to WeEu German DRM

1800-1900 on  9800 KLG 015 kW / 220 deg to WeEu French DRM
1800-1900 on 12035 MSK 040 kW / 260 deg to WeEu German DRM

1900-2000 on  9800 KLG 015 kW / 220 deg to WeEu French DRM
2000-2100 on  6155 MSK 040 kW / 260 deg to SoEu Spanish DRM
2100-2200 on  6155 MSK 040 kW / 260 deg to SoEu English DRM

(DX Mix Nx 845/29 March 2014)

16 Gwendoline Street returns to shortwave

Just to let you know that 16 Gwendoline Street is back on shortwave, with an hour long special celebrating 50 years of Radio Caroline, over here in Europe. I have been on 1368 medium wave to Central and southern Europe since last year.

 

Anyway, the program can be heard on Friday 28th March at 1900 UTC on 7290 kHz (also on 1368 in central Europe), and Saturday 29th March at 0900 UTC on 9510.

The programs are also streamed at www.nexus.org/mp3

(Stephen Jones)

Message from Malaysia to Amateur Radio Operators

          The Malaysian Amateur Radio Emergency Service Society (MARES/9M4CME) is calling all ham radios particularly in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Seychelles, Thailand to participate in the search and rescue of the missing aircraft, Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER bearing registration 9M-MRO flight MH370.

          The flight has gone missing from ATC radar at 1.21 am local time 8 March 2014.  Search & Rescue SAR was initially done within the vicinity of the South China Sea.  However, new confirmed evidence recently revealed has shifted the SAR activities to the vicinity of Malacca Strait, Andaman Sea, Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. This is a huge area to cover roughly 21,000 sq km.  To date, SAR efforts have the combined assets from at least 14 countries involving more than 50 aircraft and 30 vessels making it the single largest SAR mission ever.

          In light of the multinational effort that is undertaken, and also in view of the many rumours of the plane crashing or landing in islands within the SAR area, MARES is calling all ham stations, especially those from the countries within the search area, to participate in a daily reporting session.  The objective is for ham operators to provide any sightings, information or evidence that might help the authorities to find the missing MH370.  Details are as follows:

          Daily Check-in and reporting session will be done at UTC 1300 hrs - 1500 hrs on 14.250 MHz and 21.250 MHz (+- QRM)

          Any urgent message beyond the specified DX session time shall be communicated via email to emergency@mares.org.my

          All information and evidence obtained will be forwarded to the Malaysian Department of Civil Aviation and Malaysian National Security Council by MARES.

          On behalf of Malaysia, MARES would like to thank in advance all participating stations for their time and effort in helping us find the missing 9M-MRO / MH370.  Let us all do our part in this moment of crisis.

          Please do spread this effort to stations and clubs you think might be helpful in our effort.

Thank you, and 73s,

9W2FG on behalf of MARES.

Yours sincerely,

Jose Jacob, VU2JOS

National Institute of Amateur Radio 

Hyderabad, India

(AWR?Wavescan 265)

AWR Wavescan Summer Broadcast Schedule

Adventist World Radio - Wavescan

Effective: March 30, 2014 - October 25, 2014

UTC Call   kHz kW Station  Location Country

Sun 0900 AWR  9790 100 Media Broadcast  Nauen (Italian DX Program)
1530 AWR 15670 250 Media Broadcast  Nauen Germany
1600 KSDA 11865 100 Adventist World Radio  Agat Guam
1600 AWR 11995 125 SLBC  Trincomalee Sri Lanka
2200 KSDA 15435 100 Adventist World Radio  Agat Guam
2230 KSDA 15320 100 Adventist World Radio  Agat Guam
2330 KSDA 15320 100 Adventist World Radio  Agat Guam
Mon 0200 KVOH  9975  50 Voice of Hope  Los Angeles California USA
0400 WRMI      9955  100 Radio Miami Int  Okeechobee Florida USA
1200 WRMI      9955 100 Radio Miami Int  Okeechobee Florida USA
1415 WRMI      9955 100 Radio Miami Int  Okeechobee Florida USA
Tue 0430 WRMI      9955 100 Radio Miami Int  Okeechobee Florida USA
Wed 1400 WRMI      9955 100 Radio Miami Int  Okeechobee Florida USA
Thu 0300 WRMI      9955 100 Radio Miami Int  Okeechobee Florida USA
Fri 0415 WRMI      9955 100 Radio Miami Int  Okeechobee Florida USA
Sat 1630 WWCR2 12160  100 Worldwide Christian  Nashville Tennessee USA
(NWS 265/25 March 2014)           Spaceline Bulgaria

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2014 Mar 24 0438 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
#
#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#

Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 17 - 23 March 2014

Solar activity was at low to moderate levels. Low levels were observed from 17-19 March with the majority of the C-class flare activity originating from Regions 2010 (S15, L=202, class/area Dac/180 on 23 March) and 2014 (S14, L=169, class/area Dsc/190 on 23 March). Solar activity reached moderate levels on 20 March due to an isolated M1/1f flare at 20/0356 UTC from Region 2010. The event was associated with a Type II (572 km/s) and Type IV radio sweeps as well as a non Earth-directed coronal mass ejection (CME). Solar activity was once again at low levels on 21 March. By 22 March, moderate levels were reached again with an impulsive M1/1f flare at 22/0702 UTC from Region 2011 (S07, L=280, class/area Dho/300 on 22 March). Low levels returned on 23 March with multiple C-class flares observed including a long duration C5/Sf flare at 23/0348 UTC from Region 2014. Associated with this flare was a CME (estimated speed of 768 km/s) with the majority of the ejecta directed off the east limb, however there appeared to be an Earth-directed component that is expected to arrive late on 25 March to early on 26 March. 

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal levels throughout the period. 

Geomagnetic field activity was generally at quiet levels throughout the period with quiet to unsettled periods observed on 21 March due to prolonged periods of southward Bz. By 22 March, a rise in solar wind speed and temperature was observed at the ACE spacecraft just after a solar sector boundary change into a positive (away) sector.

This was indicative of the onset of a positive polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). Solar wind speed increased from approximately 350 km/s to 530 km/s and remained near 480 km/s through the end of the period. Total field measurements reached 10 nT initially during the onset of the CH HSS, however it decreased to near 5 nT by 23 March. Only quiet conditions were observed on 22-23
March. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 24 March - 19 April 2014

Solar activity is expected to be at low levels with a chance for M-class flares through 25 March and again from 15-19 April. From 26 March through14 April, moderate levels are likely with a chance for X-class flares as old Regions 1996 (N14, L=052) and 2002 (S19, L=326) return to the visible disk. 

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal to moderate levels. 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to unsettled conditions on 24-25 March, 30 March-01 April, 09 April, and again on 7 April due to CH HSS activity and recurrent prolonged periods of the southward Bz component. Late on 25 March to early on 26 March, the 23 March CME is expected to deliver a glancing blow to the geomagnetic field causing quiet to active conditions on 26 March. 

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2014 Mar 24 0438 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 2014-03-24
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2014 Mar 24     155          10          3
2014 Mar 25     155           8          3
2014 Mar 26     160          12          4
2014 Mar 27     155           5          2
2014 Mar 28     155           5          2
2014 Mar 29     150           5          2
2014 Mar 30     145           8          3
2014 Mar 31     145           8          3
2014 Apr 01     150           8          3
2014 Apr 02     150           5          2
2014 Apr 03     145           5          2
2014 Apr 04     145           5          2
2014 Apr 05     150           5          2
2014 Apr 06     155           5          2
2014 Apr 07     160           5          2
2014 Apr 08     160           5          2
2014 Apr 09     155          10          3
2014 Apr 10     150           5          2
2014 Apr 11     145           5          2
2014 Apr 12     140           5          2
2014 Apr 13     145           5          2
2014 Apr 14     145           5          2
2014 Apr 15     150           5          2
2014 Apr 16     150           5          2
2014 Apr 17     150           8          3
2014 Apr 18     145           7          2
2014 Apr 19     140           7          2

(NOAA)

Frequency Update - International Shortwave Broadcast Guide: March 22, 2014

The following is the final frequency update for the 2013-2014 Winter - International Shortwave Broadcast Guide. The 684 page Teak Publishing shortwave radio hobby e-book can be purchased at Amazon.com for US$4.99. The e-book is available at:
http://http://www.amazon.com/International-Shortwave-Broadcast-Winter-2013-2014-ebook/dp/B00H8X7LHM/

The 2014 Summer - International Shortwave Broadcast Guide, will be available at Amazon. Additional information on it's availability will be forth coming.

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

County/Station
Language
Hrs/freq/info

Algeria, R Algerienne
French
0600-0605  7295af (add)

Algeria, R Algerienne/Holy Qur'an
Arabic
0605-0658  7295 (ex 0600-0658 5865af)

Armenia, VO Armenia
Greek
1615-1630  4810me (add)

Bangladesh, Bangla Betar
Bengali
1915-2000  13860as (ex 7250as)
English
1745-1800  13580eu (ex 7250eu)
1800-1900  13860eu (ex 7250as)
Nepali
1315-1345  9455as (ex 15105as)

Belgium, The Disco Palace
English
1530-1600  DRM  12115 (delete/broadcast cancelled)
1600-1630  DRM  12115 (delete/broadcast cancelled)

Clandestine, Clandestine, BBN/Berekah BC Network R
 (from 09 Mar)
Amharic
1900-1930  fas  15155af (check 15160, 15165)

Clandestine, Democratic VO of Burma
Burmese
1430-1500  11560as (ex 6225as)
1500-1530  11560as (ex 6225as)

Clandestine, Eritrean Forum (ex R Medrek)
Arabic
1700-1800  stwf 11720af  (add)
1800-1900  Sat  11720af
Tigrinya
1700-1800  tfs  11720af (ex hfas)

Clandestine, JSR Shiokaze/Sea Breeze
Japanese/Korean
1330-1400  Sat/Sun  6135as (ex 5985as)
1400-1430  Sat/Sun  6135as (ex 5985as)

Clandestine, N Korea Reform R
Korean
1300-1400  9380as (delete/broadcast cancelled)
1400-1500  9380as (delete/broadcast cancelled)

Clandestine, R Assenna
Tigrinya
1700-1800  mha  11720af (ex mwf)

Clandestine, R Free North Korea 
Korean
1530-1600  6295as (ex 6275as)
1600-1630  6295as (ex 6275as)

Clandestine, R Hilaac
Somali
1700-1730 asmtwh  15180af (add)

Clandestine, VO Khmer M'Chas Srok
Khmer
1130-1200  17860as (add)

Clandestine, VO Tibet
Chinese
1215-1230  15538as (ex 15537)
1345-1400  9338as (ex 9343)
Tibetan
1315-1330  15552as (ex 15553)
1330-1345  15563as (ex 11527as)
1345-1400  15563as (ex 11538as)
1400-1430  15557as (ex 1400-1500)

France, R France International 
Vietnamese
1500-1558  13690as (ex 9700as // 9565as)

Germany, Deutsche Welle
Swahili
0300-0400  5925af (ex 9800af) // 7425af

Germany, MV Baltic R
English/German
1000-1100  1st Sun  9485eu (add new entry)

Germany, Atlantic 2000 Intl
French
0900-1000  2nd Sun  9485eu (add new entry)

Germany, European Music R
English
0900-1000  3rd Sun  9485eu (add new entry)

Germany, R Geronimo
English
1000-1100  3rd Sun  9485eu (add new entry)
1100-1200  3rd Sun  9485eu (add new entry)

Germany, R Gloria Intl
English/German
0900-1000  4th Sun  9485eu (add new entry)
1000-1100  4th Sun  9485eu (add new entry)

India, TWR India
Bengali
0030-0045  mtwhf  7280as (ex 7545as)
Bhojpuri
0045-0100  mtwhf  7280as  (ex mtwh 7545as)
0100-0115  mtwhf 7280as (add)
Dzonka
0115-0130  smtwh  7280as (ex sntw 7545as)
Hindi
0030-0100  Sun  7280as (ex 7545as)
Nepali
0045-0100  Sat  7280as (ex 7545as)
0100-0115  Sat  7280as (ex 7545as)

United Kingdom, BBC World Service
Bengali
1330-1400  7565as (ex 7560) // 5845as, 12065as

USA, Overcomer Ministry
English
1600-1700 DRM  5895eu (delete/broadcast cancelled)
1600-1700 6000eu (delete)
1700-1800 DRM  5895eu (delete/broadcast cancelled)
1700-1800 6000eu (delete)
2000-2100 5895eu (delete)
2100-2200 5895eu (delete)

USA, VO America
Uzbek
1500-1530  15545as (ex 11695( // 9570as, 9715as, 11780as)

USA, WINB Red Lion PA
English
0330-0400  sm  9265ca (add)
1230-1300  Sun  9265ca (ex 1215-1300)
Spanish
2330-0000  m  9265ca (add)

USA, WRMI/Okeechobee FL 
(from 04 Mar)
English
1100-2300  5850na //  7455ca (add)

USA, WWCR Nashville TN 
(from 09 March)
Arabic/Russian
1215-1245  mtwhf  15825eu
English
0000-0100  4840na 5935af 6115eu
0000-0100  twhfa  7520ca
0100-0200  3215eu 4840na 5935af
0100-0200  twhfa  7520ca
0200-0300  3215eu 4840na 5935af
0200-0300  twhfa  5890ca
0300-0400  3215eu 4840na 5935af
0300-0400  twhfa  5890ca
0400-0500  3215eu 4840na 5890ca 5935af
0400-0500  twhfa  5890ca
0500-0600  3215eu 4840na 5890ca 5935af
0600-0700  3215eu 4840na 5890ca 5935af
0700-0800  3215eu 4840na 5890ca 5935af
0800-0900  3215eu 4840na 5890ca 5935af
0900-1000  4840na 5890ca 5935af 15825eu
1000-1100  4840na 5890ca 5935af 15825eu
1100-1115 smtwhf  15825eu
1100-1200  4840na 5890ca 5935af
1115-1200  15825eu
1200-1215  15825eu
1200-1300  mtwhf  9980ca
1200-1300  7490af 13845na
1215-1245  Sat/Sun  15825eu
1245-1300  15825eu
1300-1400  7490af 13845na 15825eu
1300-1400  mtwhf  9980ca
1400-1500  7490af 13845na 15825eu
1400-1500  mtwhf  9980ca
1500-1600  9980ca 12160af 13845na 15825eu
1600-1700  9980ca 12160af 13845na 15825eu
1700-1800  9980ca 12160af 13845na 15825eu
1800-1900  9980ca 12160af 13845na 15825eu
1900-2000  9980ca 12160af 13845na 15825eu
2000-2100  9980ca 12160af 13845na 15825eu
2100-2200  9350af 9980ca 13845na 15825eu
2200-2300  Sat/Sun  6115eu
2200-2300  9980ca 13845na
2300-0000  6115eu 9350af 9980ca 13845na
Russian
1100-1115  Sat  15825eu
Spanish
2200-2300  mtwhf  6115eu
(WWCR)
***********************************
Legend
Days:
m (Monday)
t (Tuesday)
w (Wednesday)
h (Thursday)
f (Friday)
a/Sat (Saturday)
s/Sun (Sunday)
DRM Digital Radio Mondiale

Target Areas:
af (Africa)
am (Americas)
as (Asia)
ca (Central America)
do (Domestic)
eu (Europe)
me (Middle East)
sa (South America)
va (Various)

Voice of Russia - will the unknown comic please stand up

Voice of Russia trips up again
by Gayle Van Horn

This week the shortwave radio hobby, has been informed that Voice of Russia will cease all shortwave transmissions on April 1, 2014. That revelation didn't really surprise anyone as this year the station scaled back their presence on shortwave dramatically.

The original statement was posted by Alokesh Gupta at the Cumbre DX Mailing list. It was also reposted by Georgi Bancov on Prime Time SW group, as well as included within the WWDXC Top News 1154 on 21 March, 2014. We thank these individuals for their postings.

Within the hour, Teak Publishing contacted the same individual from Voice of Russia that released the original reply, to obtain a final confirmation and any additional information on the station's future plans. Our reply, from Ms Osipova, stated;

" I have already forwarded an inquiry to the VOR Technical Department to obtain an official confirmation of this information. I will get back to you when I hear from them."

Did I read that right ? So basically, this confirms once again to the hobby, the left hand of Voice of Russia doesn't know what the right hand is doing. It is inconceivable to believe that within hours - Voice of Russia stated " the Voice of Russia is closing shortwave broadcasts as of April 1st.", followed by "I will get back to you when I hear from them."

So what do we believe ? We have prided ourselves with the friendly working relationship we have shared with the station while associated with Monitoring Times and now Teak Publishing.

One would think, considering the continuing strifes, that Voice of Russia would consider increasing their world listening audience, rather than slam the door.
 

You be the judge...

Voice of Russia to close down shortwave broadcasts by 1st April, 2014

After several online stories & predictions about closure of shortwave services by Voice of Russia received this official response today....

Quote....

Dear Mr Gupta,

This is just a short message to thank you for your letter and let you know that the Voice of Russia is closing shortwave broadcasts as of April 1st. Our programs will be available online at http://voiceofrussia.com/play/

We hope you will stay with the Voice of Russia and hope to hear from you soon again.

Sincerely yours,

Elena Osipova
Letters Department
World Service
Voice of Russia

__._,_.___

Reply via web post

Reply to sender

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Start a New Topic

Messages in this topic (1)

Weekend VOA Radiogram schedule

Hello friends,

Last weekend’s all-MFSK32 “set it and forget it” broadcast of VOA Radiogram worked well for most listeners, so we will do another one this weekend. This time, however, the program includes six MFSK32 images.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 51, 22-23 March 2014 (all in MFSK32 centered on 1500 Hz):

1:33  Program preview

 2:33  Russia Internet, with image

7:36  Greenland ice sheet, with image

13:45  Power from ocean waves, with image

19:26  Winter's slow retreat, with 2 images

25:30  Closing announcements and VOA Radiogram logo

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com .

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

The Mighty KBC (transmitter in Germany) will broadcast a minute of MFSK64 Saturday at about 1230 UTC on 6095 kHz, and Sunday at about 0130 UTC (Saturday 9:30 pm EDT) on 7375 kHz. Reception reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .

Amateur radio digital nets: As KD9XB, I usually check into the New York NBEMS net Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Eastern (1400Z) on 7036 kHz, and the Pennsylvania NBEMS net Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Eastern (1500Z) on 7072.5 kHz. Each is USB, starting with Olivia 8-500 centered on 1500 Hz, then changing to MFSK32 or other mode for messages.

I have just about finished responding to VOA Radiogram reception reports from the weekend of 8-9 March, and will now start on reports from 15-16 March (program 50). Eventually, I will catch up!

I hope to hear from you this weekend.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott

Producer and Presenter

VOA Radiogram

radiogram@voanews.com

http://voaradiogram.net

Twitter: @voaradiogram

What is a Kilohertz ?

In every DX program on the air, in all radio DX magazines, and in the identification announcements from shortwave stations, the technical word kilohertz is used.  So today, we ask the question:  What is a kilohertz?
In the early days of experimental wireless development, it was common practice to calibrate electromagnetic waves by measuring the distance from one crest to the next crest in much the same way as you might measure the waves of the ocean, from one crest to the next.  This distance is called the wavelength, and because many of the prominent early experimenters were European, it came to be measured electrically in metres.
Thus you will find the dials of most of the very old radio receivers marked in metres.  In the medium wave broadcast band, one station in particular might be on the air for example on a wavelength of 200 metres, and another on 300 metres.  On shortwave, one station could be shown as 30.99 metres, and another on 30.96 metres.
But, there's another way of calibrating a radio signal.  Instead of measuring the distance between crests, or length of complete wave cycles, you can count how many of those complete cycles pass a fixed point in one second.  This is known as the frequency.
The existence of electromagnetic waves was first demonstrated by German physicist Heinrich Hertz, and in 1930 the International Electrotechnical Commission, or IEC, established the unit of frequency of one cycle per second as being one Hertz, in his honor.  This is abbreviated with a capital H and a small z.
Following standard metric usage, a frequency of 1,000 cycles per second, or 1,000 Hz, is thus equal to 1 kilohertz.
As time went by, it was discovered that measuring a radio signal by its frequency in kilohertz was more accurate and easier to express than its wavelength in metres.  In addition, as the broadcast bands became more crowded, it was decided by international convention to adopt on mediumwave a 10 kilohertz separation between channels in the western hemisphere, and a 9 kilohertz separation in the rest of the world, including longwave in Europe.  On shortwave, where signals have a narrower bandwidth, a 5 kHz separation between channels was adopted globally.
In spite of this, however, radio stations in Europe continued to announce their spot on the MW or LW dial in metres, right up until June 1984.  During that month, they switched to using kilohertz instead, like most other regions had already done.
There is an inverse relationship between metres and kilohertz of 1:300,000.  You can divide the wavelength in metres, or the frequency in kilohertz, into 300,000, and obtain the reciprocal.
  As an example, for a shortwave station such as WWV which broadcasts on 10,000 kilohertz, you can divide 10,000 into 300,000 and see that its wavelength is 30 metres (just above the 31 metre broadcast band).  Decades ago when I lived in the London area, the BBC had a 150 kW mediumwave transmitter there on 330 metres carrying Radio 4.  Today that same transmitter now carries Radio 5 Live.  You can divide 330 into 300,000 and see that the frequency being used is 909 kilohertz.
Sometimes, instead of kilohertz, you might find a radio station channel designated in megahertz.  Longwave and mediumwave stations always use kilohertz, and VHF (FM) stations always use megahertz.  When you hear that a station is on 89.9 FM, the frequency being used is actually 89.9 megahertz.  But on the shortwave bands, between the mediumwave and FM bands, both kilohertz and megahertz are used.
To convert back and forth between kilohertz and megahertz, all you need to do is move the decimal point by three places, remembering that 1,000 kilohertz equals 1 megahertz.  Thus for example, the shortwave channel 30.99 metres can be expressed as either 9680 kilohertz, or 9.68 megahertz.


The standard abbreviations for these three radio terms are expressed in this way:
  Metres m Small m
Kilohertz kHz Small k, capital H, and small z
Megahertz MHz Capital M, capital H, and small z
(AWR/Wavescan NWS 264)

BBC Indian Ocean Relay Stations: Five in a Row !

Some time ago, the BBC announced that they plan to close their Indian Ocean Relay Station at the end of the month, Saturday March 29.  This station has been on the air for more than a quarter century and it will end its international shortwave service, though the local FM relay stations will still remain on air.

            As a tribute to the lengthy service provided from this important radio station, we are planning to present two topics here in Wavescan.  Next week, you will hear the story of the BBC Indian Ocean Relay Station; and this week, we present the story, Five in a Row, the steps leading up to the erection of their relay station in the Seychelles Islands.   

            Back at the end of last year, we presented the story of the temporary BBC relay station located  at Francistown in Botswana, Africa.  This station was hurriedly pieced together in an effort to counter the political events in neighboring Rhodesia, and it was officially identified as the BBC Central Africa Relay Station.

            Four transmitters were installed, two mediumwave Continentals at 50 kW each from the United States, and two shortwave Marconis at 10 kW each from England.  This station was taken into service on December 30, 1965, and its last day of on air service was March 31, 1968. 

            Around the time when the station was closing, a question was raised in the British Parliament in London regarding this BBC Central Africa Relay Station.  According to the Hansard Report, it was stated that the Francistown station was closing, and that additional antenna systems were under installation at the BBC Relay Station on Ascension Island.  These new antennas would ensure, it was stated, adequate shortwave coverage into Rhodesia.  This of course, would form only a temporary interim service into Rhodesia.

            In June 1966, the BBC was investigating the possibility of utilizing a large ship as a BBC relay station for radio coverage into East Africa.  The ship that they were looking at was a redundant aircraft carrier, HMS “Leviathan”.

            The good ship “Leviathan” was laid down at Tynside in England on October 18, 1943 as a nuclear powered aircraft carrier for use in the latter part of World War 2.  This ship, uncompleted, was launched on June 7, 1945, just as World War 2 was coming to an end, and it simply lay around awaiting its destiny.  But, it was never fully completed. 

            At the time when the BBC was investigating the possibility of taking the ship over as a relay broadcasting station, the suggestion was to have it stationed in the Mozambique Channel and that it would give radio coverage into Rhodesia and South Africa on behalf of the BBC.  At the time, Rhodesia had made a unilateral declaration of independence, UDI, and the South African government was a strong supporter of the Smith administration in the former British colony.

            It does seem at least mildly hypocritical that all this was going on at the same time that the BBC was complaining back home about the existence of unlicensed off shore stations on board ships and forts around the British Isles.

            It is probable that this mobile shipboard radio station would transmit on mediumwave towards East Africa, though shortwave could later be considered.  However, this radio project never materialized, and the entire concept was scrapped in May 1966.  Two years later, the empty and uncompleted aircraft carrier “Leviathan” itself was sold, and scrapped. 

            However, around the same time, the BBC was also investigating the possibility of establishing a large relay station on the island of Aldabra for broadcast into East Africa.  Aldabra is a tiny uninhabited atoll 500 miles off the coast of Africa, 300 miles north of Madagascar, and 500 miles from Zanzibar.  The only personnel on the island are a few officials, caretakers and research officers.

            The Aldabra atoll is 21 miles long, 8 miles wide and it is the second largest raised coral reef in the world.  This atoll is made up of four small islets around a shallow lagoon, though no fresh water is available.  There are many unique forms of life in the area, including an estimated 100,000 Giant Tortoises.

            Back in 1966, the Royal Air Force was giving consideration to establishing an air base on Aldabra, and the American air force was interested in a joint collaboration with the RAF as a refueling station for American planes en route to Vietnam.  American investment in the project would amount to

$11 million.

            In 1966, the BBC chartered a 600 ton coastal vessel from Mombassa, the “Southern Skies” for a six week exploratory expedition to Aldabra.  The BBC survey party was in contact London via a shortwave SSB transmitter on the ship, and the BBC communicated with the ship via one of the high powered shortwave transmitters at Daventry.  However, due to the incursion of tropical storm Angela, the survey expedition to Aldabra was cut short, and this project too was abandoned.

            If the Aldabra project had materialized, it was envisioned that four high powered mediumwave transmitters at 750 kW each would be installed with four independent directional antenna systems beamed westwards towards Africa.  These transmitters would be operated separately, or in pairs, or all with combined power on one mediumwave channel.  Though not stated, if this station had been installed, it is probable that shortwave coverage would be added subsequently.  

            However, the British/American air force base never became a reality, so neither did the BBC relay station.

            The next project in this sequence was the BBC relay station in the Seychelles Islands, and that of course, is our opening topic in Wavescan next week.  So, what then were the Five in a Row?  Here is the list:-

            1. The temporary BBC relay station at Francistown in Botswana, 1965 - 1968

            2. Installation of an antenna system at the BBC relay station on Ascension Island for                     coverage into Rhodesia on shortwave, 1968

            3. Possible usage of HMS “Leviathan” as a relay station in the Mozambique Channel, 1966

            4. Projected BBC station on the island of Aldabra, 1966

            5.  BBC Indian Ocean Relay Station Seychelles, 1988 - 2014

(AWR/WavescanNWS264)