New Year Radio: The Voice of Nigeria

VO Nigeria QSL - Gayle Van Horn Collection

The Voice of Nigeria is one of the very few international radio organizations that date their official beginning on January 1, New Years Day.  It was back in the year 1962 that the External Service of NBC, the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, was officially commissioned as VON, the Voice of Nigeria.

            A little over a year earlier, on October 1, 1960, Nigeria, sometimes referred to as the “Giant of Africa” due to its huge population and economy, had gained its independence from Great Britain.  Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, and the seventh most populous in the world.

            Thus it was that the first Prime Minister of independent Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, officially commissioned the new Voice of Nigeria, exactly 54 years ago, on New Years Day, January 1,

1962.  At that time, there was a total of eight low powered regional shortwave stations on the air throughout Nigeria, and collectively they provided virtually nationwide coverage of their country.

            It should also be mentioned that there was a preliminary Foreign Service on the air shortwave from Nigeria a decade earlier.  At that time, three daily sessions in English and three African languages were broadcast from the studios in Lagos via a 7½ kW at nearby Sogunle on 6100 kHz.

            In order to provide wide area coverage for the re-introduction of the international broadcast service as the Voice of Nigeria, two new shortwave transmitters were installed at a transmitter base near the coastal city of Lagos, which is listed as the largest city in all of Africa.  At the time, it was declared that these two new shortwave transmitters were rated at a power output of 100 kW each, though historic research indicates that in actual reality, these two units were rated at a much lower power level, just 10 kW each.

            However, during the following year (1963), plans were developing for the installation of five additional shortwave transmitters, each at 50 kW.  As time went by, this number was ultimately increased to eleven, and they were installed at five different locations for both national and international coverage.  These transmitters were manufactured by Harris (Model SW50) in the United States, and by NEC the National Electric Company (Model HFB215) in Japan.  All of these units were installed during a 16 year period running from 1963 to 1979.

            Overlapping the installation of the eleven American and Japanese transmitters at 50 kW each, was the installation of sixteen more high powered transmitters at 100 kW, 250 kW, 300 kW and 500 kW installed at three major locations, over a period of three decades running from 1977 - 1996.  These huge transmitter units with a massive combined power of nearly 5 megawatts were as follows:-   

                        Ikorodu            Marconi           1          300      B6124                          1977

                                                BBC                5          500      SK55F3                       1977 - 1982

                                                Thomcast        5          250      SK53C3 & SK53P5    1995 - 1996

                        Kaduna            Marconi           1          250      B6122                          1973

                                                Harris              2          100      SW100                        1980   

                        Katabu-Jaji      Thomson         2          100      TRE2311                     1981   

             With the looming power increase from the bevy of transmitters during the early 1980s, the Voice of Nigeria introduced three separate foreign services in three African languages, as well as in English, French and German.  This huge programming outreach was beamed to all areas of Africa, and beyond. 

            However, with the turn of political events in Nigeria and the accompanying turmoil, the Voice of Nigeria reduced its External Services in 1985 to just West and Central Africa.  But, give five more years (1990), and the Voice of Nigeria was resuscitated with the broadcast of increased programming in four African languages, as well as in English and French to a much wider area within Africa. 

            So what happened to all those high powered shortwave transmitters with its gigantic outreach on an almost worldwide basis?  These days, a total of six shortwave transmitters at 250 kW at two locations is listed in the current WRTVHB. 

            However, recent monitoring reports would indicate that only three shortwave channels are currently on the air, 7255 kHz, 9690 kHz and 15120 kHz, and all three are listed at just the one shortwave site, Abuja, the newly planned city as the national capital in the center of Nigeria.

            Over the years, the Voice of Nigeria has issued two different types of QSL cards; one with a change of colors in wide bands on the text side, and the other with various color photos showing life as it is lived throughout their country. 

(AWR Wavescan/NWS 410 via Adrian Peterson)

Radio Free Asia - 2017 Year of the Rooster QSL

Radio Free Asia commemorates Year of the rooster

January 2017

RFA commemorates 2017 as the Year of the Rooster with a QSL card highlighting the work called "Rooster" by Korean painter Jang Seung-eop, better known as Owan. People born in Rooster year are said to be deep thinkers, capable, and talented. According to tradition, they like to be busy, devoted beyond their capabilities and are deeply disappointed if they fail. They are also considered a bit eccentric and having difficult relationships with others. Roosters are considered to be loners and, though they give the outward impression of being adventurous, they are timid. This RFA’s 63^rd QSL and is used to confirm all valid reception reports January – April 2016.

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

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

Reception reports are also accepted by email at qsl@rfa.org and by mail to:

          Reception Reports

          Radio Free Asia

          2025 M. Street NW, Suite 300

          Washington DC 20036

          United States of America. 

 (A.J. Janitschek/RFA)

January Specials from DX Stamp & Supplies

Dear Customer,

 

Below are specials for January 2017.

 

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

 

NEWS:  Discount Postage Grid has been updated for the 49c rate for mid-January...BUT there are no changes in my prices. SWEET!!

 

MORE NEWS:  VENEZUELA has been dropped from stamp list. My Supplier can no longer obtain.

 

IDEA:  Slightly damaged Deluxe QSL Album   now $30.00 -or- buy 2 for only $55.00!!!

 

NEW RATES:

Czech Rep increases to 1,37 euro up from 1,18 Not a problem as their int. forever stamp covers any increase.

Cyprus rate increased. Rate is now 0,77 euro to rest of world.

Norway jumps up to 21 kr to rest of world for 20g...Not a problem as I supply their int. forever stamp.

Spain increases from 1,30 euro to 1,35 euro on January 1st.

 

If you hear of or notice any new rates, let me know.

 

NEW PRICES:  

 IN STOCK AGAIN:  

 STAMPS ON BACK ORDER: Namibia

 

U.S. DISCOUNT POSTAGE DEALS!!

 

Save Big on your domestic mailings 

 with colorful vintage stamps!

HAPPY  MAILING!!

49c units	Forever		in  2 stamps		in 5 stamps
x 100	$45.00		$40.00
x 200	$85.00		$65.00
x 500	$208.00		$157.00

Payment by Credit card, check or money order

  for forever stamps, 49c units & bulk postage!

Also available: 

Bulk Postage Lots

(of various denominations  in sheets & singles)

$500 Face Value: NOW $300. ppd

                                      

No Charge for shipping Discount Postage Offers 

 

 JANUARY 2017  DX  STAMP  SPECIALS

2 Germany-$2.60       3 Japan-$3.90  

2 Italy-$7.00    2 UK-$3.00    2 France-$3.60    2 Spain-$4.00

 

 

 JANUARY 2017  DX  SUPPLY  SPECIALS

200/200 European Plain Mailers and Plain Returns - $40.00

200/200 European Air Mailers and Plain Returns - $40.00

European AIR Returns are SOLD OUT!!

5 Packs of Extra QSL Album pages - $22.00

 

JANUARY 2017 CLOSE OUT SPECIALS

500 European Air Mailers - $42.00

1000 European AIR Mailers - $76.00

200/200 Stateside mailers and Returns - $23.00

500/500 Stateside Mailers and Returns - $43.00

 

 

Priority Mail Shipping Rates: Orders up 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. (07/2015 modified)

 

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

 

William Plum

12 Glenn Road

Flemington, NJ 08822

908 788 1020

 Email: plumdx@msn.com

 

 

 

QSL Cards: Unusual Materials

On previous occasions here in Wavescan, we have presented information about unusual materials that have been used in the preparation of various styles of QSL cards.  In recent time, we have discovered additional unusual materials that have been used for QSL cards.

            Back in the year 1964, a husband and wife team living in Akron Ohio used locally produced leather for making their QSL “cards”.  Embossed into the sheet leather was a cowboy scene, with a handwritten text.  Donald Derr operated amateur station WA8JXK and his wife Faye operated station WA8JXR.    

            The radio broadcasting station Radio Atlantico on Island Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands issued two very similar QSL cards, one in English and the other in Spanish, back during the 1960s.  These two cards show a red ocean with the many Canary islands raised in an embossed style.  The QSL text is printed on the white side of the cards.

            A 1946 QSL card issued by amateur station TI4JG in Heredia, Costa Rica is also, embossed, with the callsign in large raised letters, as well as station information and the border relief pattern.  This information side of the QSL card shows black text printed on a gold leaf colored.background.

QSLs of the Week
Back on March 3, 1984, Ralf Urbanczyk of Eisleben in East Germany heard the programming from the exotic Polish Pathfinder station in Warsaw Poland with 10 kW on 6195 kHz.  The slightly oversized QSL card gives the added text in English, and the picture side shows a map of the world in green, centered on Poland, with their double-winged bird symbol in color.

Right QSL on Wrong QSL Card - 25:18

            Back on April 23, 1962, Bengt Sunden in Fargelanda in Sweden tuned in to the programming from the CBC mediumwave station CBA which at the time was co-sited with shortwave Radio Canada International at Sackville in New Brunswick, Canada.  He received a regular CBC QSL card with full QSL details identifying 50 kW CBA Sackville on 1070 kHz. 

            As with all CBC QSL cards of that era, the picture side of the QSL card depicts the provincial seals and provincial housing in stylistic representation on a blue background.  However, this QSL card itself is identified as CBC Halifax, not CBC Sackville, and the card was clearly postmarked from Halifax, with a very clear postal imprint, identifying Halifax.  Thus this QSL verified CBA Sackville on a CBC Halifax card.  The right QSL on the wrong card.  

(AWR Wavescan)

Chocolate Music

Music?  Yes, these days you can hear music anywhere and everywhere.  You can listen to music on AM and FM radio and on TV.  You can tune in to music on the internet and on your ipod and your kindle and your computer and your iphone.  You can listen to music on your mini earphone buds and via your huge home entertainment system. 

Yes, music is everywhere.  Not only are the hills alive with the sound of music, so is your house, your car and your work place.

 Before the recent explosion of the various forms of electronically preserved music, it was customary to listen to music from your cassette player, and before that it was the flat gramophone disc.  And before that it was via the old cylinder gramophone.  Well, and way before that the only way you could listen to music was to hear it live in your own home or in your church or in your nearby concert hall.

 The flat gramophone disc was developed by Emile Berliner in the United States in 1889.  The original gramophone recordings and playback equipment were little more than expensive children’s toys at the time, though subsequent developments provided a better quality of recorded music.

 In 1903, a joint collaboration between the Stollwerk Chocolate Company and Junghans in Germany produced a playable music recording made out of chocolate.  Junghans manufactured a small metal playback gramophone and Stollwerk produced a chocolate recording.  These early German made music novelties were sold in Germany and Belgium, and in France they were manufactured by Eureka.

 The player stood no more than 8½ inches tall including the horn, the turntable was just 3 inches in diameter, and the tiny point, made of glass, was easily broken.  This flimsy delicate set of equipment was little more than a plaything for children, particularly in view of the fact that the chocolate recording could be eaten when the music groove became worn.  The thick chocolate disc could be played for a dozen times before it would be declared eatable.

 During the following year (1904), a vastly improved and a slightly larger model made with brass parts rather than the original tin was marketed, though it was still only an interesting novelty.  The glass point was replaced by a sapphire point.  

 A century later, the production of chocolate music was revived again, by Peter Lardong in Berlin Germany, who claimed erroneously that his novelty was the first in the world.  Instead, Peter Lardong’s chocolate music is indeed the first in modern times.

 The Lardong chocolate recordings cost $6 each, and they also were durable for a dozen playings on a standard record player before they were added to the family menu.  A Japanese company showed an interest in the mass production of the Lardong chocolate music discs.

 That was in the year 2010.  During the following year, Ben Milne in Edinburgh produced a commercial version of a chocolate music recording that featured contemporary Scottish music.  Then during the next year again (2012), Ed Bangor Records in collaboration with the Gelencser chocolate factory in France produced 100 copies of a chocolate music recording.  Julia Drouhin in Tasmania made some chocolate music recordings in 2015, a project that she subsequently transferred to Spain.  

  We might add that other strange products have also been used to produce novelty music recordings, such as paper, cardboard, tortillas, glass, and even ice.

  Two years ago (2014), Fon Biskich at the Nadalina Chocolate shop in the city of Split in Croatia began making and selling his own chocolate music recordings.  These recordings are good for about five playing's. 

 (AWR/Wavescan NWS 410)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

NOAA - Propagation CIrcle

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2017 Jan 02 0408 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 26 December - 01 January 2017

Solar activity was at background levels through the period. No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at high levels from 26-31 Dec, dropping to normal to moderate levels late on 31 Dec - 01 Jan due to increased geomagnetic activity from the onset of a positive polarity CH HSS.
Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to G1 (Minor) storm levels through the period. G1 conditions were observed early on 26 Dec as influence from a positive polarity CH HSS persisted from the previous reporting period. The CH HSS began to wane early on 27 Dec, causing a geomagnetic activity decrease to quiet to active levels. As solar wind speeds continue their slow decline, quiet to unsettled conditions on 28 Dec gave way to quiet conditions on 29-30 Dec. Quiet to unsettled activity was once again observed beginning on 31 Dec as the onset of another positive polarity CH HSS was observed. Wind speeds increased from around 300 km/s to between 450-550 km/s as well as total magnetic field strength from around 5 nT to a peak of nearly 20 nT at 31/1636 UTC. Active conditions were observed early on 01 Jan as the CIR transitioned into the high-speed stream proper. As total magnetic field strength gradually trended towards 5 nT, geomagnetic activity decreased to quiet to unsettled levels. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 02 January - 28 January 2017
Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels throughout the outlook period.
No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be high on 02-03 Jan, 05-13 Jan, and 18-27 Jan; moderate
electron flux is expected on 04 Jan, 14-17 Jan and 28 Jan. All increases in electron flux are anticipated in response to multiple, recurrent CH HSSs.
Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled levels on 02 Jan, 08 Jan, 14 Jan and 23 Jan; active levels are expected on 03-04 Jan, 06-07 Jan, 20-22 Jan and 27-28 Jan; G1 (Minor) storm levels are likely on 05 Jan and 17-19 Jan. All elevated geomagnetic activity is anticipated in response to multiple, recurrent CH HSSs. The remainder of the outlook period is expected to observe quiet conditions under an ambient solar wind environment.


Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2017 Jan 02 0408 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 2017-01-02
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2017 Jan 02      73          10          3
2017 Jan 03      73          12          4
2017 Jan 04      73          18          4
2017 Jan 05      73          24          5
2017 Jan 06      73          22          4
2017 Jan 07      75          15          4
2017 Jan 08      75           8          3
2017 Jan 09      75           5          2
2017 Jan 10      75           5          2
2017 Jan 11      75           5          2
2017 Jan 12      76           5          2
2017 Jan 13      76           5          2
2017 Jan 14      76          10          3
2017 Jan 15      77           5          2
2017 Jan 16      77           5          2
2017 Jan 17      77          25          5
2017 Jan 18      77          20          5
2017 Jan 19      77          25          5
2017 Jan 20      75          18          4
2017 Jan 21      75          20          4
2017 Jan 22      75          20          4
2017 Jan 23      75          10          3
2017 Jan 24      75           5          2
2017 Jan 25      74           5          2
2017 Jan 26      74           5          2
2017 Jan 27      74          12          4
2017 Jan 28      73          15          4
(NOAA)

Vatican Radio Ends 85 Years of Independent Operations

National Catholic Register

December 31, 2016

On December 31, 2016, after more than 80 years of operation, Vatican Radio is being absorbed into the new Secretariat for Communications.

The move is part of Pope Francis' reorganization of Curial offices, and is intended to make better use of the Vatican's limited financial resources. According to Catholic World News, broadcasting programs will continue—at least for the near-term future—but Vatican Radio will no longer have its own corporate identity.

Today, Vatican Radio employs a staff of 355 representing 59 nationalities, mostly lay people, who together produce more than 66 hours of daily programming (24,117 hours annually). There are currently 45 languages used on air, and 38 languages on the website. Programs are broadcast via short wave, medium wave, FM and satellite.

In recent years, Vatican Radio has experimented with digital transmission technologies (DRM, T-DAB, T-DMB). Their news reports and bulletins have been widely distributed through newsletters, podcasts, audio and video, paving the way to a Web TV. Vatican Radio and CTV began their own YouTube channel in 2010, operating in four languages, and on Twitter (6 channels).

Today with the reform of Vatican communications operations, Vatican Radio director Msgr. Dario Vigano has indicated that he plans to pare down short-wave radio operations. Other broadcasts will continue, but with an eye to controlling costs: Vatican Radio has been losing between €20 and €30 million ($21 - $31.5 million) annually.

Complete story at: 

Vatican Radio Ends 85 Years of Independent Operations

(Mike Terry/BDXC)

From the Isle of Music January 2-8

Happy 2017!
We begin the new year with some new and recent recordings we received during 2016, and our special guest is Leonardo Pérez, Director of Cuarteto de Cuerdas Amadeo Roldan, who will be sharing a little of Una Mecánica Diferente, which was nominated for a Cubadisco in Concert and Chamber Music in 2016, during each of the next several weeks. This week will have a tasty blend of concert, Jazz and dance music.
Also, our Saturday transmission moves to 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz to escape from interference from the Voice of Turkey.
Three options for listening on shortwave:
WBCQ, 7490 KHz, Tuesdays 0100-0200 UTC (8pm-9pm EDT Mondays in the Americas)
Channel 292, 6070 KHz, Fridays 1100-1200 UTC (1200-1300 CET) and Saturdays 1200-1300 UTC (1300-1400 CET)*

Our Facebook Page has more information.
(Tillford Productions)

Happy New Year 2017 !!!!

VOA Radiogram - January 1: Celebrating the new year with no-dirt farming

VOA Radiogram on 1 January will return to the normal format, with one news item in Olivia 64-2000, which might be helpful if reception is poor.  Olivia 64-2000 works best if Fldigi’s squelch (SQL) is off.
Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 196, 1 January 2017, all in MFSK32 except where noted:
1:45  Program preview
2:50  Farming without soil*
8:54  Dwarf planet Ceres flush with ice*
14:38  Olivia 64-2000: Planets developing around young star
22:02  MFSK32: Image* and closing announcements*
* with image
Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):

Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz        (To the Americas, try also in Europe)
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz      (To Europe, try also in the Americas and Asia-Pacific)
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

The Mighty KBC broadcast to North America will be Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 pm EST) on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be transmitted at about 0130 UTC. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/ .

DigiDX transmits DX news in MFSK32 and sometimes other modes:
Sunday 2030-2100 UTC on  11580Khz (Via WRMI Florida, to Europe)
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC on 11580kHz (Via WRMI Florida, to North and South America)
Monday 2000-2030 UTC on 3975 kHz (via IBC)
Wednesday 2100-2130 UTC on 3975 kHz (via IBC)
See http://www.digidx.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) has digital modes as follows:
EVERY WEDNESDAY ON 3975 KHZ 20.30-21.00 UTC in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500
EVERY FRIDAY ON 9955 KHZ 02.25-02.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SATURDAY ON 1584 KHZ 21.25-21.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 7730 KHZ 00.55-01.00 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 6070 KHZ 11.30-12.00 UTC  in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500 (VIA RADIO BCLNEWS)
For the complete IBC transmission schedule, including voice broadcasts, visit  http://ibcradio.webs.com/
(Kim Elliott)

China's CCTV launches global 'soft power' media network to extend influence

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China Central Television (CCTV), Beijing's largest TV network, said it would launch a new global media platform on New Year's Day to help re-brand China overseas.

The new multilingual operation will have six TV channels and a new media agency, the network said on its website on Friday night. Its CCTV News channel will be rebranded the China Global Television Network, it added.

China has launched a number of "soft power" initiatives to expand its influence abroad, including other English-language media outlets.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the new network to "tell China stories well," the official Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.

(Reporting by Engen Tham in Shanghai and Ryan Woo in Beijing; Editing by Eric Meijer)

"Ampegon" to update shortwave transmitters of Radio Kuwait in Al Kabd

Swiss based company "Ampegon" has accepted a contract from Al Rashed to handle the upgrade of five analog shortwave transmitters, that are more than 20 years old for the Kuwait Ministry of Information in Al Kabd transmitter station. The five transmitters were originally installed between 1992 - 1995. "Ampegon" will refurbish all of the transmitters and in addition upgrade three of them to full digital DRM integration and converted to the new transmitter control system UCS this will include: new motor drives within the tuning circuits. Work in Al Kabd transmitter station is expected to start in January 2017.

Shortwave programs of Radio Kuwait was stopped around the end of May 2015. Former schedule from 2015 Winter schedule 

All times UTC

0200-0745 on  5960 KBD 250 kW / non-dir to N/ME Arabic General Service
0500-0900 on 15515 KBD 250 kW / 059 deg to EaAs Arabic General Service
0800-1000 on  7250 KBD 250 kW / non-dir to WeAs Persian
1000-1200 on 21580 KBD 250 kW / 084 deg to SEAs Filipino
1015-1600 on 11630 KBD 250 kW / 230 deg to CeAf Arabic Holy Qur'an Sce
1100-1600 on  9750 KBD 250 kW / 286 deg to NEAf Arabic General Service
1215-1545 on 21540 KBD 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu Arabic General Service
1600-1800 on 15540 KBD 250 kW / 100 deg to SoAs Urdu
1615-2100 on  6050 KBD 250 kW / non-dir to N/ME Arabic General Service
1700-2000 on 13650 KBD 250 kW / 350 deg to ENAm Arabic General Service
1800-2100 on 15540 KBD 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu English
2015-2400 on 17550 KBD 250 kW / 350 deg to ENAm Arabic General Service
(Ivo 24 Dec 2016)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletin

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2016 Dec 26 0416 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
Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 26 December - 21 January 2017
Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels throughout the outlook period.
No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels from 26-29 Dec, 31 Dec-02 Jan, 04-13
Jan, and 18-21 Jan due to multiple CH HSS influences; normal to moderate levels are expected on 30 Dec, 03 Jan, and 14-17 Jan.  Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to G1 (Minor) levels on 26 Dec due to CH HSS influences. G1 (Minor) conditions are also likely on 04-05 Jan and 17-19 Jan. Active conditions are likely on 30 Dec, 06-07 Jan, and 20-21 Jan. Unsettled conditions are likely on 31 Dec, 02-03 Jan, 08 Jan, and 14 Jan. All anticipated enhancements in field activity are due to recurrent CH HSSs. Mostly quiet conditions are expected for the remainder of the outlook period.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2016 Dec 26 0416 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 2016-12-26
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2016 Dec 26      73          12          3
2016 Dec 27      73           5          2
2016 Dec 28      75           5          2
2016 Dec 29      75           5          2
2016 Dec 30      75          15          4
2016 Dec 31      75          10          3
2017 Jan 01      77           5          2
2017 Jan 02      77           8          3
2017 Jan 03      77          10          3
2017 Jan 04      77          20          5
2017 Jan 05      77          22          5
2017 Jan 06      79          16          4
2017 Jan 07      79          14          4
2017 Jan 08      79           6          3
2017 Jan 09      79           5          2
2017 Jan 10      77           5          2
2017 Jan 11      77           5          2
2017 Jan 12      77           5          2
2017 Jan 13      77           5          2
2017 Jan 14      75          10          3
2017 Jan 15      75           5          2
2017 Jan 16      75           5          2
2017 Jan 17      75          25          5
2017 Jan 18      75          20          5
2017 Jan 19      75          25          5
2017 Jan 20      73          18          4
2017 Jan 21      73          18          4
(NOAA)

Merry Christmas to the world

A Merry Christmas to all our blog readers from Teak Publishing 

Afrikaans - 'n Geseende Kersfees en 'n voorspoedige Nuwejaar
Afrikaans - Een Plesierige Kerfees
Albanian -- Gezuar Krishtlindje
Arabic - I'd Miilad Said Oua Sana Saida
Armenian - Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Azeri - Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun
Basque - Zorionstsu Eguberri. Zoriontsu Urte Berri On
Bengali - Bodo Din Shubh Lamona
Bohemian - Vesele Vanoce
Breton - Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat
Bulgarian - Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo
Celtic - Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
Chinese -
     (Mandarin) Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan
     (Cantonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
     (Hong Kong) Kung Ho Hsin Hsi. Ching Chi Shen Tan
Cornish - Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth
Cree - Mitho Makosi Kesikansi
Croatian - Sretan Bozic
Czech - Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
Danish - Gladelig Jul
Dutch - Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar
English - Merry Christmas
Esperanto - Gajan Kristnaskon
Estonian - Roomsaid Joulu Puhi
Farsi - Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad
Finnish - Hyvaa joulua
French - Joyeux Noel
Frisian - Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier
German - Froehliche Weihnachten
Greek - Kala Christouyenna
Hawaiian - Mele Kalikimaka
Hebrew - Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova
Hindi - Bada Din Mubarak Ho
Hungarian - Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket
Icelandic - Gledileg Jol
Indonesian - Selamat Hari Natal
Iraqi - Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish - Nollaig Shona Dhuit
Italian - Buon Natale or Buone Feste Natalizie
Japanese - Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Kala - Khristougena kai Eftikhes to Neon Etos
Korean - Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Latvian - Priecigus Ziemas Svetkus un Laimigu Jauno Gadu
Lettish - Priecigus Ziemassvetkus
Lithuanian - Linksmu Kaledu
Manx - Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
Maori - Meri Kirihimete
Marathi - Shub Naya Varsh
Navajo - Merry Keshmish
Northern Sotho - Matlhatse le matlhogonolo mo ngwageng o moswa.
Norwegian - God Jul Og Godt Nytt Aar
Pennsylvania German - En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei
Yaahr
Papiamento - Bon Pasku i Felis Anja Nobo
Pig Latin - Errymay ristmaskay
Polish - Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
Portuguese - Feliz Natal (Used in Portugal, Brazil and several former Portuguese colonies)
Rapa-Nui - Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua
Romanian - Craciun Fericit
Russian - Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva i s Novim Godom
Samoan - La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Serbian - Hristos se rodi
Scottish - Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ur
Serbian - Hristos se rodi
Singhalese - Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa
Slavonic - Christos Razdajetsja! Slavite Jeho!
Slovak - Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok
Slovene - Vesele Bozicne. Screcno Novo Leto
Spanish - Feliz Navidad (Used in Spain as well as Mexico and most of Central and South America)
Swahili - Krismasi Njema
Swedish - God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt Ar
Tagalog - Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon
Tamil - Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal
Thai - Sawat Dee Wan Kritsamas
Turkish - Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian - Srozhdestvom Kristovym
Urdu - Bara Din Mubarak Ho
Vietnamese - Chung Mung Giang Sinh
Waray - Maupay nga Pasko ngan Mainuswagon nga Bag-o nga Tu-ig
Welsh - Nadolig Llawen
Zulu - Nginifisela inhlanhla ne mpumelelo e nyakeni

Christmas Programming 2016

All times UTC

Grimeton Radio/SAQ Transmission
Christmas Eve - December 24, 2016
We are now planning for the traditional transmission with the Alexanderson 200 kW alternator on VLF 17.2 kHz on the morning of Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24. The message transmission will take place at 08:00 UTC and the transmitter will be tuned up from around 07:30 UTC.
Since the plant is old, there is always the risk that the transmission will be cancelled with short notice. An updated information will be published on our website www.alexander.n.se.
There will be activity on Amateur Radio Frequencies with the call SK6SAQ.
Frequencies: - 7,035 CW or 14,035 CW
QSL-reports on the SAQ transmission or SK6SAQ are kindly received via:
- E-mail to: info@alexander.n.se
- or via: SM bureau
- or direct by mail to:
Alexander - Grimeton Veteranradios Vaenner,
Radiostationen Grimeton 72
SE-432 98 GRIMETON
S W E D E N
The radio station will be open to visitors.
Welcome!
Yours
SM6NM/Lars

Vatican Radio special broadcasts at Christmas
Saturday 24 December 2016
1600-1652 Mass in Chinese 5975 7200 kHz
2025-2230
Portuguese 11625 kHz Angola and Mozambique
French 6080 kHz West Africa
English 7275 kHz Central Africa
Chinese 6185 kHz China

Sunday 25 December 2016
1055-1130
Portuguese 21560 kHz Angola and Mozambique
French 17520 kHz West Africa
English 15570 kHz Central Africa
Live audio from St.Peters without any comment: 9645 kHz 11740 kHz Europe
15595 kHz Near East

All from Santa Maria di Galeria.
http://www.radiovaticana.va
(Mauno Ritola, WRTH Facebook page)

Free Radio Service Holland special on Dec.25

0830-1430 on  7700 unknown tx / unknown to WeEu English
0830-1430 on  9300 unknown tx / unknown to WeEu English
1630-2230 on  7700 unknown tx / unknown to WeEu English
1630-2230 on  9300 unknown tx / unknown to WeEu English

VOA Radiogram
Hello friends,
This note provides details about VOA Radiogram for the holiday weekends of 24-25 December and 31 December-1 January.
Listeners in Europe: Try for possible gray line reception for the broadcast Saturdays at 0930-1000 UTC on 5865 kHz.  And if reception on 17580 and 15670 kHz is difficult, you might have your best luck in the middle of the night, Sundays at 0230-0300 UTC on 5745 kHz.
The program for 24-25 December (program 195) is a holiday "spectacular."  It will all be in MFSK32 and will include 11 images of holiday lights from around the United States.
The show on December 31-1 January will return to the normal format, with one news item in Olivia 64-2000, which might be helpful if reception is poor.  Olivia 64-2000 works best if Fldigi's squelch (SQL) is off.
Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 196, 31 December 2016-1 January 2017, all in MFSK32 except where noted:
1:45  Program preview
2:50  Farming without soil*
8:54  Dwarf planet Ceres flush with ice*
14:38  Olivia 64-2000: Planets developing around young star
22:02  MFSK32: Image* and closing announcements*
 with image
Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.


VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
Sat 0930-1000 5865 kHz (to the Americas, try also in Asia-Pacific and Europe)
Sat 1600-1630 17580 kHz (to Europe, try also in the Americas and Asia-Pacific) 
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz  (to the Americas, try also in Europe)
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz  (to Europe, try also in the Americas and Asia-Pacific)
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.
The Mighty KBC broadcast to North America will be Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 pm EST) on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be transmitted at about 0130
Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and www.nexus.org/mp3www.nexus.org/mp3 
DigiDX transmits DX news in MFSK32 and sometimes other modes:
Sunday 2030-2100 on  11580kHz (Via WRMI Florida, to Europe)
Sunday 2330-2400 on 11580kHz (Via WRMI Florida, to North and South America)
Monday 2000-2030 on 3975 kHz (via IBC)
Wednesday 2100-2130 on 3975 kHz (via IBC)
See http://www.digidx.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) has digital modes as follows:
EVERY WEDNESDAY ON 3975kHz 20.30-21.00 in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500
EVERY FRIDAY ON 9955 kHz 02.25-02.30 in MFSK32
EVERY SATURDAY ON 1584 kHz 21.25-21.30 in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 7730 kHz 00.55-01.00 in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 6070 kHz 11.30-12.00 in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500 (VIA RADIO BCLNEWS)
For the complete IBC transmission schedule, including voice broadcasts, visit  http://ibcradio.webs.com/
Thanks for your reports from last weekend.  I tried a new system in which I prepared a "QSL" card for each transmission, each consisting of four images decoded by listeners, and sent those soon after the broadcast.  They are not as comprehensive as the gallery of all decoded images, but the cards do let me respond to your emails on a more timely basis.
If you can take some time off from your holiday celebrations, I hope you can tune in and write in this weekend.
Best wishes for the holidays and the new year 2017,
Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net
Twitter: @VOARadiogram  (especially active just before, during, and after broadcasts)

December 24
NDR Hamburg"Greeting on Board"via MBR relays
1900-2100 on  6125 NAU 125 kW / 250 deg to Northern Atlantic (Germany)
1900-2100 on  6145 ERV 100 kW / 305 deg to West Europe, add. (Armenia)
1900-2100 on  9740 NAU 125 kW / 130 deg to Indian Ocean West (Germany)
1900-2100 on  9790 MOS 100 kW / 115 deg to Indian Ocean East (Austria)
1900-2100 on  9800 ISS 250 kW / 156 deg to Indian Ocean/SoAf (France)
1900-2100 on 11650 ISS 250 kW / 195 deg to Southern Atlantic (France)
2100-2300 on  5930 NAU 125 kW / 250 deg to Northern Atlantic (Germany)
2100-2300 on  6145 ERV 100 kW / 305 deg to West Europe, add. (Armenia)
2100-2300 on  9590 ISS 250 kW / 156 deg to Indian Ocean/SoAf (France)
2100-2300 on  9650 MOS 100 kW / 115 deg to Indian Ocean East (Austria)
2100-2300 on  9765 NAU 125 kW / 130 deg to Indian Ocean West (Germany)
2100-2300 on  9830 ISS 250 kW / 195 deg to Southern Atlantic (France)

16 Gwendoline Street
This year marks 10 years since IRRS began broadcasting at 150 kW on the current frequencies. My Christmas program will be broadcast on the same slot on 9510 kHz, as it was from 2007.
The format is a mixture of DX news, arts news from Wales where the program has been based since 2011, and some eclectic music.
It can be heard on medium wave in central/southern Europe and the Adriatic, and shortwave to as-far-as-possible.
Friday,   December 23 at 2300 on 846, 1368 AM kHz
Saturday, December 24 at 0530 / 2230 on 846, 1368 kHz
Sunday,   December 25 at 12:30 on 9510 kHz, 31 meter band
Friday,   December 30 at 22:30 on 846, 1368 kHz AM
Saturday, December 31 at 22:30 on 846/ 1368 kH AM
Sunday,   January 1 at 12:30 on 9510 kHz, 31 meter band
If it is possible, 7290 kHz may also be used on one of the above days. 
www.egradio.org/mp3
www.nexus.org/mp3
Happy holidays to everyone
Stephen Jones/IRRS

Christmas radio stations planned for the UK
Signal Christmas will broadcast across Staffordshire & Cheshire, Pulse Christmas across West Yorkshire and Wave Christmas across South West Wales, all on DAB digital radio multiplexes.
The stations will each launch at midday on Monday 14th November and will run until midnight on 27th December. Owner Wireless Group says they will play a non-stop mix of the biggest and most popular Christmas songs, as well as anecdotes and Christmas memories from big names across the world of music, including Robbie Williams, Little Mix and James Arthur.
Additional news at:
http://radiotoday.co.uk/2016/11/christmas-radio-stations-planned-for-the-uk/?utm_source=MadMimi&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Steve+Wright+show%E2%80%99s+Old+Woman+passes+away+-+24+hours+with+Wisebuddah+Jingles&utm_campaign=20161109_m135410269_24+hours+UK&utm_term=Christmas+radio+stations+planned+for+the+UK

Radio MiAmigo
This Christmas we'll present you with two extra high power Special Event broadcasts that will cover a large part of the globe!
What better occasion than Christmas to celebrate the fact that in 2016 we became the fastest growing mediumwave and shortwave station in Europe.
* Our special two hour broadcast on December 25, will come from the Armenian 100 kW transmitter - aimed at the larger European region, including Eastern Europe and large parts of Russia as well as the Middle East.
* On December 26, a very powerful 125 kW signal from Nauen, Germany will be aimed directly at North America, but with a large overlap in other regions as well.
Our Special Event show will be presented live from Amsterdam in the Netherlands, with contributions from all involved with Radio MiAmigo, directly from studio's in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and Ecuador. We'll introduce ourselves to hopefully many new listeners, celebrate with the current ones, look back at our 2016 highlights, and play some very special music. You'll get updates of our plans for next year and we'll talk DX and shortwave.
Please note the times and frequencies below and calculate UTC times to your timezone.
(For instance: EST -New York- will be on December 25, 7 - 9 pm)
Date: 25-12-2016
Time: 19:00 hrs - 21:00 hrs UTC (20:00 - 22:00 hrs Central European Time)
Frequency: 6145 kHz (49 meter band) - via Armenia (100 kW)
To: the greater European region
Date: 26-12-2016
Time: 00:00 hrs - 02:00 hrs UTC (01:00 hrs - 03:00 hrs Central European Time)
Frequency: 6080 kHz (49 meter band) via Nauen, Germany (125 kW)
To: North America
)* Note that in the U.S. the broadcast date is still December 25! 7 - 9 pm [EST], 6- 8 pm [CST] and 4 - 6 pm [PST]

From the Isle of Music, week of December 19-24

From the Isle of Music, week of December 19-24
This week, our special guest will be Degnis Bofill, an emerging young percussion star in Cuba who received two awards in this year's JoJazz competition. We'll have a brief interview and some music that features him on percussion. Also, in honor of their GRAMMY® nominations, we will feature music from Los Van Van's La Fantasia and Chucho Valdes' Tribute to Irakere. And, as always, other good things.
Three options for listening on shortwave:
WBCQ, 7490 KHz, Tuesdays 0100-0200 UTC (8pm-9pm EDT Mondays in the Americas)
Channel 292, 6070 KHz, Fridays 1100-1200 UTC (1200-1300 CET) and Saturdays 1600-1700 UTC (1700-1800 CET)*
*The Saturday broadcast may receive interference from the Voice of Turkey in some areas but is definitely listenable in the UK and probably in NE Europe. 
See our Facebook page for more information.
(Tilford Productions)

The Radio Scene at the World’s Largest Toothbrush Fence

According to the best available information, there are two fences in the world that are decorated with old and used toothbrushes.  One of these fences runs along a country road in the North Island of New Zealand, and it was commenced a few years ago by a New Zealander of Scottish background as a retirement prank. 
 The Toothbrush Fence in New Zealand is a metal wire fence running along a winding country road near the town of Te Pahu.  It has become a common practice for admirers to send an old toothbrush by post to the location, and the Scottish owner affixes it to his wire fence.  Many notable people have donated an old tooth brush to the project, including a recent Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark, who grew up in the town of Te Pahu.
 There is another Toothbrush Fence, and this one is located in Alofi, the small village that is the capital city of the exotic tourist location, Niue Island.  The Alofi Toothbrush Fence holds the world record as the longest.
 The Alofi national capital stretches along the inland side of the paved roadway running near the edge of Alofi Bay, on the west side of Niue Island.  This capital holds another record; it is the second smallest capital of any independent nation in the world, second only to Ngerulmud on Palau Island in the western Pacific.
 Niue Island is located in the center of all of the little corral atolls in the South Pacific, due west of the Cook Islands which were featured here in Wavescan in a mini-series of nine programs throughout this past year.  Niue is an autonomous island country linked in free association with New Zealand; its citizens are accorded the status as citizens of New Zealand; and its language is a Polynesian language similar to all of the other Polynesian languages spoken in the islands of the Pacific as well as in New Zealand itself. 
 Like so many other islands in the South Pacific, Niue is almost circular in shape, perhaps almost ovaloid, with 100 square miles of land surface, and a population of a little over a thousand.  Niue is one of the world's largest coral islands. 
 The terrain consists of steep limestone cliffs along the coast with a central plateau rising to about 100 feet above sea level.  A coral reef surrounds the island and the only major break in the reef is in the central western coast, close to the capital, Alofi.  A notable feature on the island is the number of limestone caves found close to the coast.
 The first settlers on the island were Polynesians who arrived from Samoa around 900 AD.  Another wave of settlers arrived on Niue from Tonga some 800 years later. 
 The English explorer Captain James Cook made three attempts to land on the island in 1774, but he was repelled by the inhabitants.  He named the island Savage Island, in part also because of their appearance; their teeth were colored by the red banana that grows in profusion on the island. 
 English Christian missionaries from the London Missionary Society visited the island in 1846.  The first Christian missionary to serve on the island was himself a Niuean citizen who had been trained in Samoa as a Christian pastor.
 In 1889, local chieftain leaders asked Queen Victoria in England for protection against a possible takeover from other European powers; and twelve years later the island was taken over by New Zealand.  In 1974 they gained independence, with free association with New Zealand, and all citizens of Niue are also citizens of New Zealand.
 Wireless came to Niue in 1924, when a small communication station was installed in Alofi by the New Zealander Mr. H. W. Cockerel.  The original callsign was VLK, but this was amended in 1927 due to new international wireless regulations.  We would presume that the new callsign for Niue Island Radio was ZLK.  Niue Island Radio is in use to this day, for local communication with shipping and aircraft, and also with distant New Zealand
 During the 1960s, consideration was given to the need for a local radio broadcasting station, particularly so that warnings could be given to local citizens in the event of major weather emergencies, such as approaching cyclones and ocean storms.
 A few years later on August 14, 1967, the same day incidentally that some offshore stations around the British coast closed down, a new radio broadcasting service was inaugurated under a New Zealand amateur callsign ZK2ZN, with the part time usage of a marine communication transmitter.  A 250 watt transmitter radiated 200 watts output on 550 kHz, with programming in both English and the Niuean language for a few hours each week. 
 This new broadcasting service was operated by the Community Development Office from a small temporary studio in a nearby tourist hotel.  Very few radio receivers were in use on the island at the time, so a bulk consignment was procured from Japan and these were sold to the local citizens at cost price.   
 Six years later, a new 250 watt Marconi transmitter was installed in a new building on a hill at an elevation of 100 feet, one mile distant from the studios in Alofi.  The mediumwave mast stood 250 feet tall.  At this stage, a new studio and office building was constructed for radio station ZK2ZN, now known as Radio Sunshine.   
 Sometimes, the programming from station WVUV on American Samoa was relayed off air after hours, at the end of regular local programming from ZK2ZN.  News bulletins and some special programming on shortwave from RNZI Radio New Zealand International and Radio Australia was broadcast from Radio Sunshine, with a microphone placed in front of the radio receiver.
 The radio station at Alofi on Niue Island has been noted on a total of five different channels over the 32 years of broadcasting on mediumwave, running from 1967 to 1999.  These five mediumwave channels have been: 550 620 531 837 and finally 594 kHz.
 An FM transmitter was installed in 1991, with 100 watts on 91 MHz.  In 1999, when the mediumwave service was closed, an additional 500 watt FM transmitter was installed, and this took over the 91 MHz channel.  The 100 watt unit was retuned to 102 MHz.  In addition to the government operated Radio Sunshine, there is also now another FM station in Alofi and this operates as Rock Radio.
(AWR-Wavescan/NWS 408)