BBC to use wind power for Ascension Island relay site

In an article which will bring a smile to the faces of diehard shortwave listeners, The Economist writes:
“Short-wave’s retreat has slowed. Though the BBC’s World Service uses around 15 different technologies to reach its listeners, short-wave is still king: latest figures, published last week, show 105m of its 182m-strong global audience still listen that way, the majority of them in Africa. In Nigeria the short-wave audience even grew slightly last year. That’s not going to change soon: the BBC is upgrading its transmitters on Ascension Island (to be powered, greenly, by a new wind farm). Mike Cronk, a BBC bigwig, says the business case was “compelling”.
(Source: R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Complete article at Economist.Com:
http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11590746

Photo of Ascension Island fly over courtesy of World QSL Book.

Pakistan radio signals to be blocked

A report in the online edition of the Srinagar-based newspaper Greater Kashmir says that the Indian Defence Ministry has directed All India Radio (AIR) to block all radio signals from Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. To do the initial work, a central team of AIR, intelligence agencies and police arrived in Srinagar on Monday, says the report.
Sources say the government plans to install at least a dozen towers on the Line of Control to weaken AJK and Pakistan radio signals. The towers will block all Radio channels along the Line of Control. The team have visited the Behram Gala and Pirbadesar areas of Rajouri and identified locations for installation of towers.
Greater Kashmir says Radio Pakistan has good number of listeners in the area, and Mirpur FM Radio and Muzaffarabad Radio are the most popular radio channels in both districts, with 90 per cent people daily reach. These channels have strong signals in the area . They are also popular because FM Mirpur, Muzaffarabad and Tralkhal stations broadcast various programmes in the Gojri anf Pahari languages and 90 per cent people in the twin border districts prefer to communicate in Pahari and Gojri.
(Source: Greater Kashmir/R Netherlands media Network Weblog)

Blog Logs

All times UTC *sign-on sign-off* // parallel freqs

Thanks to all the contributors for today's edition of Blog Logs. Have you sent yours in yet ?
Gayle VH

Australia
2368.5 Radio Symban Untraced this morning when checking at 0820. I had heard them yesterday and the day before with good reception. All monitoring was via a remote tuner in Australia. The station sent me an email confirmation for a report I sent them and explained they were not at full power or modulation yet. Thanks to John Wright in HCDX for his report on this. (H. Johnson, FL/Cumbre DX Jun 14)

Radio Australia-Shepparton-RA 15515 0428 English 444 June 14 Two OMs at a sports event, possible football. //15240 [333] Shepparton and 13690 [SIO 322] Shepparton. (S MacKenzie, CA)

Bolivia
6155.23, Radio Fides (tentative), 0312-0344, June 15, non-stop Latin American music, poor to fair, never heard any announcements. Would think Radio Banda Orienta (Uruguay) rather unlikely.(R Howard, CA)

China
10000 BPM (Time/Frequency Station) 1259 Jun 20. Ten "BPM" CW ID's noted from 1259:00-1259:40. Not very strong so not sure if voice ID's followed. Signal fair at best and under WWV time station. (J. Wilkins,CO)

6060, Sichuan PBS, 1346-1358, June 18, in Chinese with radio drama, fair, // 9740, almost fair with BBC QRM. Both 7225 and 12015 unheard as covered by QRM. (R. Howard, CA, Etón E1)

Clandestine
6100, Radio Republica, (Cuba), (pres)0204-0215 Noted a male and female in Spanish Language conversation. Note being a Spanish linguist, I couldn't make out the subject of their comments. Mentions of Cuba often however. Signal was fair. (C. Bolland, FL June 19, 2008)

6020, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze (JSR) via Yamata, Japan, *1400-1405, June 18, in rarely heard Chinese (just as with their English programming, the announcers had strong accents), on with piano IS, "JSR" ID, moderate jamming present, along with light QRM from assume VOV (R. Howard, CA Etón E1)

Equatorial Guinea
Radio Africa, 15190, received an email from Robin M. Boggs (Pan American Broadcasting): "We have received many sporadic reception reports from the United States and Europe, receiving this phenomenal signal… During our technical upgrades early 2008, our transmitter was being upgraded to incorporate a stronger and clearer signal… We are going to be implementing additional technical upgrade work on the tower in the next 2 months, this will allow our programming to expand in hours." (R. Howard,CA June 16)

Honduras
3250, Radio Luz Y Vida, 0118-0130 Noted music when tuning in, then a couple of minutes of talk in Spanish by a male and back to music by 0122. Signal was fair but the crashes on this band are terrible. (C. Bolland, FL June 19, 2008)

Indonesia
4790.03, RRI Fak Fak, 1243-1311, June 18, in BI, Easy-listening to pop songs, 1300 singing jingle, Song of Coconut Islands interval signal to R.R.I. ID, news, fair with light CODAR QRM. (R. Howard, CA Etón E1)

India
5010, All India Radio, presumed, 0045-0105 At tune in, noted steady music.At 0054 a female comments briefly, then male heard talking. Can't identify the language however. Nothing said on the hour to confirm this. Signal was threshold. (C. Bolland,FL June 19, 2008)

Japan
6055, Radio Nikkei-1, 1314-1330*, June 17, English language lesson, mostly in English with some Japanese, good, // 3925, fair (R. Howard, CA Etón E1)

Malaysia
5964.93, Klasik Nasional FM via RTM, 1306-1349, June 16, in vernacular, RTM Kuala Lumpur news (news only is // 7130 Sarawak FM via RTM), EZL pop songs, IDs for "Klasik Nasional" and also the "Klasik Nasional" singing jingle, fair. (R Howard, CA)

7295, Traxx FM via RTM, 1246-1256, June 17, DJs playing pop songs, on the phone with a listener who just won an album, IDs, fair (R. Howard, CA, Etón E1)

Mexico
6104.88 Candela FM, Mérida 1123-1135 Jun 16. Very tentative with M&W talking in Spanish, I think. Too weak to make out much. (J. Wilkins,CO)

New Zealand
6170, Radio New Zealand Int'l, 1354, June 16, in English with ID for R.N.Z.I., the Voice of the Pacific, good reception (R. Howard, CA Etón E1)

North Korea
9335 La Voix de la Corée *1400-1407 Jun 22. IS, French ID's, anthem, opening anmt, then les nouvelles at 1404. Good signal // 11709.94 also good with 11705 splatter. (J. Wilkins, CO)

Papua New Guinea
3905 Radio New Ireland 1202-1235 Jun 17. Program of vocal music hosted by YL in Pidgin, I think. Still there, weakly, at 1235. (J. Wilkins, CO)

3385, Radio East New Britain, 1230-1257, June 16, in Tok Pisin, ad for auto dealership which had some English (similar to Mark Schiefelbein's nice audio clip at NASWAyg sound files), DJ with pop songs, fair; 1218-1237, June 17, DJ in Tok Pisin playing pop songs in English, seemed to be a dedications program, between songs she gave list of names with their various locations (Solomon Islands, etc.), fair (recently better than their usual reception, as Walt Salmaniw also observed on the 18th). (R. Howard, CA, Etón E1)

3235, 1241-, Radio West New Britain Jun 18 Poor reception with just audible music. A presumed logging for this one. (W. Salmaniw, Canada)

3335, 1238-, Radio East Sepik Jun 18 Fair reception with female announcer. Not parallel to the other PNGs heard today. Tok Pisin. Heard mention of 'O'Clock'. (W. Salmaniw, Canada)

3365, 1236-, Radio Milne Bay Jun 18 A presumed logging with poor to fair reception with two males talking in presumed Tok Pisin. (W. Salmaniw, Canada)

3385, 1234-, Radio East New Britain Jun 18 Strong signal with EZL music and DJ in Tok Pisin.Sounds more like local programming than Radio National, but can't be sure. Continued past 13:00. (W. Salmaniw, Canada)

Peru
6019.38, Radio Victoria, 0830-0840 Noted a female and a male in conversation(Spanish), with each other. Between 0800 (if on) and 0857 UTC, Radio Victoria is in the clear. This freq isn't used by others (i.e. CRI, Radio Nederland) until 0900 and later, so depending on the fade pattern, Radio Victoria can be heard pretty easy between 0800 and 0900. This morning is no exception, but the natural noise level is tremendous making copy a "headache" to say the least. The steady comments continued and the signal was poor. (C. Bolland, June 19, 2008)

Pirate (US)
6925u International Shortwave. 0206-0226. 19 June 08. English. A couple of IDs, “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John, and lots of unid music. Signal fair-good. (J. Wood, TN).

Singapore
6080 Radio Singapore Int'l 1159-1208 Jun 15. Program notes; time check for "8:00" at 1200, then into news in EG. Good signal. The days are numbered for this station. (J. Wilkins, CO)

Sweden
6010, Radio Sweden, 0155-0200 Noted the tailend of their English language broadcast with plenty of ID's before they went off at 0159. While on, the signal was good (armchair) here. At 0200 after a brief Interval Signal, the scheduled Swedish broadcast starts. (C. Bolland, FL June 19, 2008)

Thailand
15275, Radio Thailand, 0221-0230, June 15, in English, news, info about Queen Sirikit, ad for the Golden Village Restaurant (Chinese food) located in a hotel by the airport, gives the wrong times for their English segment (10:00-10:30 Thai time, 0300-0330 GMT), instead of the actual 09:00-09:30 Thai time, 0200-0230 UT, fair. (R Howard, CA)

Tibet
6200, PBS-XZDT, Lhasa, 1302-1338, June 16 & 17, continues to relay CNR-1. Is this frequency ever going to air their own programming again? (R. Howard, CA, Etón E1)

Vietnam
4739.59v, Radio TV. Son La (presumed), 1220-1241, June 18, in Vietnamese, indigenous music and singing/chanting, 1230 into talk, fair. (R Howard, CA)

5975.0, Voice of Vietnam-1, 1305-1317, June 17, in Vietnamese, mostly talking, // 7210.0 // 9530.0 (R. Howard, CA, Etón E1)

Contributors:
Scott Barbour, NG
Chuck Bolland, FL
Ron Howard, CA
Hans Johnson, FL
Stewart MacKenzie, CA
Walter Salmaniw, BC Canada
Joe Wood, TN
John Wilkins, CO

Radio Netherlands - Program Guide June 21-27

Welcome to our weekly guide to Radio Netherlands Worldwide's English Service - a list of the new programs coming up on Radio Netherlands Worldwide this week, beginning on Saturday.

SATURDAY 21 JUNE
*** The State We're In ***

This week Zimbabwe gears up for a runoff election, but in the current climate of fear and intimidation, is there any chance it will be free and fair? We ask two Zimbabwean human rights workers what they think.

Also, did you know that most people in the world have no bank account or even access to banking services? They are called the 'unbanked'. So we speak with Elizabeth Littlefield, a consultant in banking for the poor, and speak with the unbanked in Chicago, the newly banking in China and the Kenyan slum dweller who banks via her cell phone.

Plus, we speak with Jeroo Billimoria who has made it her life's work to teach banking and financial skills to poor children around the world.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1006 (East/Central Asia 15510, East Asia 13820, Southeast Asia 11895, Far East 12065)
1406 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1800 (Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 15535)
1900 (East/Central Africa 15535, West Africa 11660, 15335, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)
2000 (West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)

*** Network Europe Week ***
A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe. If you missed any editions of Network Europe Week satisfy your needs with this digest of the programme's top stories.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1500 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)

Note that on Saturday we also run repeats of:

Curious Orange: 1530 (South Asia 9345, 12080, 15595)
Earthbeat and Stories of the Twentieth Century:
0000 (Eastern N America 9845)
0100 (Central N America 9845)
0400 (Western N America 6165)

SUNDAY 22 JUNE
*** Network Europe Extra ***

Arts and Culture brought to you each Sunday from Europe's widest partnership of international broadcasters.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1005 (East/Central Asia 15510, East Asia 13820, Southeast Asia 11895, Far East 12065)
1405 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1500 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1800 (Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 15535)
1900 (East/Central Africa 15535, West Africa 11660, 15335, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)
2000 (West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)

*** Reloaded ***

Your chance to catch up with some of the highlights from recent programmes; the best, the most interesting or newsworthy, or sometimes the funniest, chosen by our producers and presented by Mindy Ran.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1030 (East/Central Asia 15510, East Asia 13820, Southeast Asia 11895, Far East 12065)
1430 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1530 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1830 (Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 15535)
1930 (East/Central Africa 15535, West Africa 11660, 15335, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)
2030 (West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)

Note that on Sunday we also run:

The State We're In:
0000 (Eastern N America 9845)
0100 (Central N America 9845)
0400 (Western N America 6165)

MONDAY 23 JUNE
*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1400 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1530 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1800 (Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 15535)
1900 (East/Central Africa 15535, West Africa 11660, 15335, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)
2000 (West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)

*** Curious Orange ***

This week we go classical: I will be joined by the host of our 'Live at the Concertgebouw' series, Hans Haffmans, who'll tell us all about the classical music tradition here in Holland. But it's not all Bach and Beethoven... we've got a few Dutch surprises up our sleeve.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 (East/Central Asia 15510, East Asia 13820, Southeast Asia 11895, Far East 12065)
1430 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1830 (Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 15535)
1930 (East/Central Africa 15535, West Africa 11660, 15335, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)
2030 (West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)

Repeated:
Tuesday:
0000 (Eastern N America 9845)
0100 (Central N America 9845)
0400 (Western N America 6165)
Wednesday
1030 (East/Central Asia 15510, East Asia 13820, Southeast Asia 11895, Far East 12065)
Saturday
15:30 1000 (East/Central Asia 15510, East Asia 13820, Southeast Asia 11895, Far East 12065)

Note that on Monday we also run:

Documentary followed by Reloaded:
0000 (Eastern N America 9845)
0100 (Central N America 9845)
Earthbeat followed by Radio Books:
0400 (Western N America 6165)

TUESDAY 24 JUNE
*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
0000 (Eastern N America 9845)
0100 (Central N America 9845)
0400 (Western N America 6165)
1400 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1530 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1800 (Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 15535)
1900 (East/Central Africa 15535, West Africa 11660, 15335, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)
2000 (West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)

*** The State We're In - Midweek Edition ***

This week Zimbabwe gears up for a runoff election, but in the current climate of fear and intimidation, is there any chance it will be free and fair? We ask two Zimbabwean human rights workers what they think.

Also, did you know that most people in the world have no bank account or even access to banking services? They are called the 'unbanked'. So we speak with Elizabeth Littlefield, a consultant in banking for the poor, and speak with the unbanked in Chicago, the newly banking in China and the Kenyan slum dweller who banks via her cell phone.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 (East/Central Asia 15510, East Asia 13820, Southeast Asia 11895, Far East 12065)
1430 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1830 (Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 15535)
1930 (East/Central Africa 15535, West Africa 11660, 15335, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)
2030 (West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)

Note that on Tuesday we also run:

Network Europe:
1030 (East/Central Asia 15510, East Asia 13820, Southeast Asia 11895, Far East 12065)
Network Europe:
1500 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
Curious Orange:
0030 (Eastern N America 9845)
0130 (Central N America 9845)
0430 (Western N America 6165)

WEDNESDAY 25 JUNE
*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
0000 (Eastern N America 9845)
0100 (Central N America 9845)
0400 (Western N America 6165)
1400 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1530 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1800 (Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 15535)
1900 (East/Central Africa 15535, West Africa 11660, 15335, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)
2000 (West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)

*** Radio Books ***

'The Importance of Sisters' - by Vivien Jones

The last of our Radio Books competition stories winning an Honourable Mention is by Vivien Jones who lives in Dumfries, Scotland. She's had two poetry chapbooks published and won the Sedberg Short Story Award in 2007.

Her story 'The Importance of Sisters' centres around two lonely women who find comfort in an unlikely location - a little dress shop.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 (East/Central Asia 15510, East Asia 13820, Southeast Asia 11895, Far East 12065)
1430 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1830 (Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 15535)
1930 (East/Central Africa 15535, West Africa 11660, 15335, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)
2030 (West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)

Repeated:
Thursday:
0030 (Eastern N America 9845)
0130 (Central N America 9845)
0430 (Western N America 6165)
Friday
1030 (East/Central Asia 15510, East Asia 13820, Southeast Asia 11895, Far East 12065)

Note that on Wednesday we also run:

Curious Orange:
1030 (East/Central Asia 15510, East Asia 13820, Southeast Asia 11895, Far East 12065)
Network Europe:
1500 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
The State We're In Midweek Edition:
0030 (Eastern N America 9845)
0130 (Central N America 9845)
0430 (Western N America 6165)

THURSDAY 26 JUNE
*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
0000 (Eastern N America 9845)
0100 (Central N America 9845)
0400 (Western N America 6165)
1400 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1530 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1800 (Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 15535)
1900 (East/Central Africa 15535, West Africa 11660, 15335, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)
2000 (West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)

*** Earthbeat ***

Earthbeat this week looks at why there's a desperate need for naval escorts to take food into Somalia. We hear of a technology that sucks up oil seepage from shipwrecks. We look at the deadly cost of malaria and discover why medicines for this disease that claims millions of lives every year have been so slow to come on the market, and we hear of the treatment of malaria in Myanmar.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 (East/Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia 9795, Far East 6040)
1430 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1830 (Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 12050)
1930 (East/Central Africa 15535, West Africa 11660, 15335, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)
2030 (West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)

Repeated:
Friday
0030 (Eastern N America 9845)
0130 (Central N America 9845)
0430 (Western N America 6165)
Monday
1030 (East/Central Asia 15510, East Asia 13820, Southeast Asia 11895, Far East 12065)

Note that on Thursday we also run:

Documentary:
1030 (East/Central Asia 15510, East Asia 13820, Southeast Asia 11895, Far East 12065)
Network Europe:
1500 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
Radio Books:
0030 (Eastern N America 9845)
0130 (Central N America 9845)
0430 (Western N America 6165)

FRIDAY 27 JUNE
*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
0000 (Eastern N America 9845)
0100 (Central N America 9845)
0400 (Western N America 6165)
1400 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1530 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1800 (Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 15535)
1900 (East/Central Africa 15535, West Africa 11660, 15335, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)
2000 (West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)

*** Network Europe ***

A Pan European team links up across the continent each week to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

The programme is a unique example of European co-operation, produced by the continent's leading international broadcasters, it reflects the diversity of European society and voices. Each week we drop in on specialists around Europe and catch up with our extensive network of correspondents for their unique take on the events shaping the week.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
0030 (Eastern N America 6165)
0130 (Central N America 6165)
0530 (Western N America 6165)
1030 (East/Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia 9795, Far East 6040)
1430 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1830 (Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 15535)
2000 (East Africa 11805, 12050, West Africa 17810, Central/Southern Africa 7120)

*** Bridges with Africa ***

Election day looms again in Zimbabwe. The run-off between president Robert Mugabe and his challenger Morgan Tsvangirai will be decided. We take another in-depth look.

And: media! We talk with our guests from the Radio Netherlands Training Centre about media and development. Do these two match ever, if at all? We arrange a Rapid Table discussion, in celebration of the RTNC's 40th birthday.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 (East/Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia 9795, Far East 6040)
1430 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
1830 (Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 12050)
1930 (East/Central Africa 15535, West Africa 11660, 15335, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)
2030 (West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425)

Repeated:
Saturday
0030 (Eastern N America 9845)
0130 (Central N America 9845)
0430 (Western N America 6165)
Tuesday
1030 (East/Central Asia 15510, East Asia 13820, Southeast Asia 11895, Far East 12065)

Note that on Friday we also run:

Radio Books:
1030 (East/Central Asia 15510, East Asia 13820, Southeast Asia 11895, Far East 12065)
Network Europe:
1500 (South Asia 9345, 9890, 11835)
Earthbeat:
0030 (Eastern N America 9845)
0130 (Central N America 9845)
0430 (Western N America 6165)
(Source: R Netherlands)

Radio Gloria International slated for Sunday broadcast

Radio Gloria Internation this Sunday - June 22

1200 to 1300 UTC on 6140 kHz

The transmissions of Radio Gloria will be broadcast over the transmitting station Wertachtal in Germany. The transmitter power will be 100 000 Watts, and we will be using a non-directional antenna system (Quadrant antenna).
(Source: Tom Taylor)

Grimeton Radio set for Alexanderson Day

17.2 Grimeton Radio / SAQ Transmission
The annual transmission on Alexanderson Day with the Alexanderson alternator on VLF 17.2 kHz will take place Sunday 29th June 2008 at 0900 UTC (tuning up from after 0800 UTC) and will be repeated at 13:00 UTC (tuning up from after 1200 UTC).

The station will be open to visitors.

Amateur Radio Station with special event call "SK6SAQ" will be QRV
0915 -1200 UTC on the following frequencies:
- 14035 kHz CW
- 14215 kHz SSB

From 0700 UTC also on:
- 3755 kHz SSB.

QSL via SK6DK or direct to address below.
QSL-reports to SAQ and SK6SAQ are kindly received:
- E-mail to:
- or fax to: +46 - 340 - 674195
- or via: SM bureau

- or direct by mail to: Alexander - Grimeton Veteranradios Vaenner,
Radiostationen
Grimeton 72
SE-43016 ROLFSTORP
S W E D E N
Lars Kalland, SM6NM
(Lars Kalland-SWE, also BrDXC-UK, June 15)
(Source: WWDXC-BC-DX #865 via wb, Germany)

CVC begings DRM service to China

CVC, a division of Christian Vision, has started broadcasting a DRM service from Darwin to China at 0630– 0900 UTC on 17660kHz.
(Source: James Serpell, CVC, via DRM software radio forums/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Weekend relays on 9290 kHz

Thanks to Tom Taylor for the following weekend relay schedule.
Gayle VH

Relays this weekend via 9290 kHz

All times UTC
June 21st
Latvia Today 10.00 -11.00
Radio Casablanca 11.00 -12.00

June 22nd
Latvia Today 15.00 -16.00

Frequency change from VOA Studio 7

Starting on Monday 23 June, the frequency of the VOA Studio 7 broadcast to Zimbabwe via the RNW Madagascar relay station at 1700-1800 UTC will change from 13755 to 11605 kHz.

Radio Kuwait - English A08 schedule revisions

All times UTC
broadcast daily - target areas: me (Middle East) va (Europe & North America)

0500-0600 15110me
0600-0700 15110me
0700-0800 15110me

1800-1900 11990va
1900-2000 11990va
2000-2100 11990va
(Source: WWDXC/Gayle Van Horn, Monitoring Times SW Guide)

Radio New Zealand International A08 schedule revisions

Thanks to Adrian Sainsbury for the latest A08 schedule updates from Radio New Zealand International. The following changes are effective June 19, 2008. Changes made to the schedule are to improve the station's DRM signal to Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands.

All times UTC in English
Analogue and DRM services targeted to Pacific regions

Analogue
0000-0100 15720
0100-0200 15720
0200-0300 15720
0300-0400 15720
0400-0458 15720

0459-0500 9615
0500-0600 9615
0600-0658 9615

0659-0700 7145
0700-0800 7145
0800-0900 7145
0900-1000 7145
1000-1058 7145

1059-1100 9655
1100-1200 9655
1200-1258 9655

1300-1400 6170
1400-1500 6170
1500-1550 6170

1551-1600 7145
1600-1700 7145
1700-1800 7145
1800-1850 7145

1851-1900 9615
1900-1950 9615

1951-2000 11725
2000-2050 11725

2051-2100 15720
2100-2200 15720
2200-2235 15720
2236-2300 15720
2300-0000 15720

DRM
0000-0100 13730
0100-0200 13730
0200-0258 13730

0259-0300 11675
0300-0400 11675
0400-0458 11675

0459-0500 9890
0500-0600 9890
0600-0658 9890

0659-0700 6170
0700-0800 6170
0800-0900 6170
0900-1000 6170
1000-1100 6170
1100-1158 6170

1200-1550 No DRM service at this time
1551-1600 6170
1600-1700 6170
1700-1800 6170
1800-1850 6170

1851-1900 9890
1900-1935 9890

1936-2000 11675
2000-2050 11675

2051-2100 13730
2100-2200 13730
2200-2235 13730
2236-2300 13730

2300-0000 13730
(Source: Adrian Sainsbury, Radio New Zealand International)

CBC Radio One post summer schedule

CBC Radio One has posted its summer schedule at:
http://www.cbc.ca/radiosummer/

Some intriguing options:
Crossing Boundaries
Tuesdays at 3:30 pm, Wed. at 11:30 am
A 30-minute program featuring the best documentaries from public broadcasters around the world.

Global Perspectives
Fridays at 9:30 am

Eight public broadcasters from around the world have collaborated on this series of documentaries on the theme of escape. Each program gives a flavour of local concerns in national radio style.

World of Mystery
Wednesdays at 11pm, Fridays at 11:30am

International Radio drama at its most mysterious. We share mysteries from the BBC World Service, Radio New Zealand, Ireland, Australia and the U.S.

DNA Files
Mondays at 8:00pm

A documentary series from National Public Radio which explores the science of genetics and its ethical, social and legal implications.

Lots of comedy and other domestic programs as well. Looks like some great radio this summer.
(Source: Fred Waterer/ODXA)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletin

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2008 Jun 17 2023 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC contact on the Web
# http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
#
# Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
09 - 15 June 2008

Solar activity was very low. No flares were detected. The visible solar disk was spotless until 11 June when Region 998 (S09, L = 291, class/area, Cro/040 on 10 June) was numbered. This region decayed to spotless plage on 14 June, and was still on the visible solar disk as the summary period ended.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

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

Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet levels from 09 June through midday on 14 June. Wind speed measurements from the ACE spacecraft were declining from around 450 km/s at the beginning of the period to about 300 km/s early on 14 June. A co-rotating interaction
region was observed on 14 June at approximately 1130Z. Soon thereafter, geomagnetic activity increased to unsettled to minor storm conditions, and remained at this level through 15 June. Wind speeds quickly increased to just below 700 km/s with interplanetary magnetic field Bz component values ranging between +13 and -17 nT. Early on 15 June a transition into a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream occurred. This continued through the end of the
summary period as wind speeds stayed around 650 km/s.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
18 June - 14 July 2008

Solar activity is expected to be very low.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels during 18 - 23 June and again on 13 - 14 July.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled levels during 18 - 20 June due to a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream. Activity is expected to decrease to quiet levels during 21 - 24 June. Activity is expected to increase to unsettled levels during 25 - 27 June again due to a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream. Activity is expected to decrease to quiet levels during 28 June - 02 July as the coronal hole rotates out of a geoeffective position. Activity is expected to increase to unsettled levels during 03 - 05 July due to another coronal hole high speed stream. Activity is expected to decrease to quiet levels for 06 - 10 July. From 11 July through the end of the period expect unsettled to active conditions due to a coronal hole high speed stream.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2008 Jun 17 2023 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC contact on the Web
# http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
#
# 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2008 Jun 17
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2008 Jun 18 67 12 3
2008 Jun 19 67 10 3
2008 Jun 20 67 10 3
2008 Jun 21 67 5 2
2008 Jun 22 67 5 2
2008 Jun 23 67 5 2
2008 Jun 24 67 5 2
2008 Jun 25 67 8 3
2008 Jun 26 67 10 3
2008 Jun 27 67 8 3
2008 Jun 28 67 5 2
2008 Jun 29 67 5 2
2008 Jun 30 67 5 2
2008 Jul 01 67 5 2
2008 Jul 02 67 5 2
2008 Jul 03 67 8 3
2008 Jul 04 67 10 3
2008 Jul 05 67 8 3
2008 Jul 06 67 5 2
2008 Jul 07 67 5 2
2008 Jul 08 67 5 2
2008 Jul 09 67 5 2
2008 Jul 10 67 5 2
2008 Jul 11 67 10 3
2008 Jul 12 67 15 4
2008 Jul 13 67 13 3
2008 Jul 14 67 10 3
(NOAA)

Wind-up radios banned in Zimbabwe

Wind-up radios are 'tools of subversion'

Authorities in Zimbabwe have banned wind-up receivers, a favourite among nongovernmental organisations seeking to promote access to information in rural areas. Their presence has often spawned listening clubs accused of tuning in on “illegal” foreign news bulletins broadcast on shortwave. Batteries are almost unavailable in Zimbabwe. Along with satellite dishes, ownership of a wind-up radio is enough to land villagers in trouble. “They have been warned that they must hand in those radios. It has become a subversive tool,” says Rob Jamieson, chairperson of the Southern Africa Editors’ Forum. “It is quite shocking to see the situation in Zimbabwe. No professional media in Zimbabwe can operate,” says Jamieson, who was part of a week-long mission that went to Zimbabwe.

Complete story at ZWNews: http://www.zwnews.com/issuefull.cfm?ArticleID=18973

(Source: ZWNews via R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

New QSL offer from Radio Free Asia

As a reminder to our blog readers, Radio Free Asia has announced that RFA is offering its 21st QSL card honoring German physicist and radio pioneer, Heinrich R. Hertz. This is the second QSL card in their “radio pioneer” series. Heinrich Rudolph Hertz (1857 - 1894) was the first to broadcast and receive radio waves. He demonstrated the existence of electromagnetic waves by building equipment that not only produced radio waves, but also detected them. His experiments with electromagnetic waves led to the development of the wireless telegraph and the radio. His name is also used for radio and electrical frequencies; hertz (Hz). The QSL card will be issued for all valid RFA reception reports from April 1 to June 30, 2008.

Future QSL cards will include other radio pioneers like Nikola Tesla, Reginald Fessenden, and others. RFA encourages listeners to submit reception reports. Reception reports are valuable to RFA as they help the station evaluate the signal strength and quality of transmissions. RFA confirms all accurate reception reports by mailing a QSL card to the listener. RFA welcomes all reception report submissions at www.techweb.rfa.org/ (follow the QSL REPORTS link) not only from DX’ers, but also from its general listening audience. Reception reports are also accepted by email at qsl@rfa.org and for anyone without Internet access, reception reports can be mailed to:
Reception Reports
Radio Free Asia
2025 M. St. N W - Suite 300
Washington DC 20036 USA

Upon request, RFA will also send a copy of the current broadcast schedule and a station sticker
(Source: Richard D`Angelo/DXplorer)

Former radio announcers cite contemporary Voice of Free Indonesia announcers

Old radio hands reunite, fault gap in foreign language skills

Former radio announcers of the Voice of Free Indonesia (VOFI) have criticized contemporary announcers for their low proficiencies in foreign languages, especially English. “They must improve their language skills because the radio programs are broadcast all over the world,” Zuraida “Ida” Rosihan Anwar said on Monday.
“Most announcers used to speak more than one foreign language like Dutch, English, French and German, fluently. Today, I see current announcers have limited capacity to speak foreign languages. They should train more,” said Ida, who speaks English and Dutch. Ida, 84, was one of the VOFI’s first announcers.
She was speaking at a talk show to celebrate the spirit of independence in conjunction with the radio station’s 62nd anniversary with several of her former colleagues.
Read complete story from The Jakarta Post at:
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/06/17/old-radio-hands-reunite-fault-gap-foreign-language-skills.html
(Source: R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Insight Central Europe website temporarily suspended

The Insight Central Europe website http://incentraleurope.radio.cz/ice is not operating. A banner reads "We're sorry to inform you that the Insight Central Europe web site has been temporarily suspended. We hope to be back in action in November. Thank you for your understanding. The Insight Central Europe team."

You can still listen to Insight Central Europe here:
http://incentraleurope.radio.cz/ice/listen
Or catch a poadcast at:
http://oe1.orf.at/podcast/

Insight Central Europe is the weekly roundup of news and features from Austrian Radio, Polish Radio External Service, Radio Prague, Radio Budapest, Radio Slovakia International, and Radio Slovenia International. As well as the shortwave offerings, normally heard on Saturdays at 1205 UTC via Polish Radio External Service, it is available on CBC Overnight on local Monday mornings at 0430 UTC.
(Source: Mark Coady via ODXA)

Marconi Special Stamp and Card

I have received from the Italian Posts the special philatelic stamp with Guglielmo Marconi from the 30th radio exposure of Montichiari (BS).

The picture with the special card to commemorate the 100 years of the first transoceanic transmisison is available here: http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh311/francesco1958/File0359.jpg
(Source: Francesco via Larry Van Horn)

Frequency change from Radio Sweden

Because of schedule changes, Radio Sweden will no longer be relaying programs from Swedish Radio's domestic service between 20:00 and 21:00 hrs UTC. They're being replaced with Radio Sweden programming, which means that the English broadcast to Africa at 20:30 hrs UTC will also be carried on medium wave 1179 and shortwave 6065 kHz to Europe. They will return to the previous schedule on August 18, 2008.
(Source: Alokesh Gupta, India)

WWCR - A08 summer revisions

USA, WWCR - A08 English summer revisions
Nashville, Tennessee

All times UTC - broadcast targeted to North America

0000-0100 5070 5935 7465 9980
0100-0200 5070 5935 7465 9980

0200-0300 3215 5070 5890 5935
0300-0400 3215 5070 5890 5935
0400-0500 3215 5070 5890 5935

0500-0600 3215 5070 5890 5935
0600-0700 3215 5070 5890 5935
0700-0800 3215 5070 5890 5935
0800-0900 3215 5070 5890 5935

0900-1000 5070 5890 5935 9985
1000-1100 5070 5890 5935 15825
1100-1200 5935 7490 9980 15825
1200-1300 7490 9980 13845 15825
1300-1400 7490 9980 13845 15825
1400-1500 7490 9980 13845 15825
1500-1600 7490 9980 13845 15825
1600-1700 9980 12160 13845 15825
1700-1800 9980 12160 13845 15825
1800-1900 9980 12160 13845 15825
1900-2000 9980 12160 13845 15825
2000-2100 9980 12160 13845 15825
2100-2200 7465 9980 12160 13845
2200-2300 5070 7465 9980 13845
2300-0000 5070 7465 9980 13845
(Source: Gayle Van Horn/Monitoring Times SW Guide/WWDXC BC-DX May 24)

Breaking News: Back to Battle in Chad

Chad - Rebels take third town
Chadian rebels claimed to have taken the town of Biltine, some 750 kilometres from the capital of Ndjamena, their stated objective, on Monday. Biltine is the third town rebel forces have taken since their offensive against President Idriss Deby’s government began on 11 June. Additional story at: Radio France International website: www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/102/article_714.asp

Chad town 'under attack by Sudan'
The Chadian government has accused Sudan's army of attacking a town on their border after days of rebel raids. Communications Minister Mahamat Hissene told the BBC that the garrison town of Ade had been attacked by ground troops supported by helicopters. Mr Hissene said the fighting was continuing and confirmed a rebel raid on the smaller town of Am Zoer. Last month, Sudan accused Chad of helping a Darfur rebel group attack a city just outside the Sudanese capital.
Additional story from BBC News:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7459025.stm

Chad accuses Sudan of attacking eastern border
By Finbarr O'Reilly
Reuters
Tuesday, June 17, 2008; 8:22 AM
ABECHE, Chad (Reuters) - Chad accused Sudan's army of attacking a town on its eastern border on Tuesday and blamed its neighbor for Chadian rebel raids which have disrupted international aid operations to help thousands of refugees. Additional story from Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/17/AR2008061700695.html

Chad Rebels Vow to Push on Despite Peacekeepers
VOA News http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-06-15-voa22.cfm

Rebels advancing on Chad capital
Radio Netherlands Worldwide News reports: Rebels in Chad are continuing their march towards the capital N’Djamena.The move follows heavy fighting around the city of Goz Beida, 75 kilometres from the Sudanese border. The rebels, who want to overthrow President Idriss Deby, are threatening to occupy the capital within a few days. Radio Nationale Tchadienne is normally well heard in Europe in the evenings on 4905 kHz. This is a frequency worth monitoring in the coming days.
(Source: R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Current shortwave schedule

Rdif. Nationale Tchadienne, N'Djamena-Gredia

4905 / (check 7120 kHz)

0427-0730 UTC 4905 kHz (French, Arabic, vernaculars)

1600-2130 UTC 4905 kHz (French, Arabic, vernaculars)

1700 Arabic news

1900 French news

Station identification as; "Tchad"

(Source: DBS Survey 2008)

Recent loggings of Chad on shortwave
All times UTC *sing-on sign-off*

7120, Rdif. Nationale Tchadienne, N'Djamena-Gredia; 2225-2232*, June 14, African music. Sign off with national anthem. Poor in noisy conditions. (Brian Alexander, PA/June 15)

7120, Rdif. Nationale Tchadienne, N'Djamena-Gredia; *0433-0505, June 15, abrupt sign on with local African music. French announcements. Local choral music. Poor. Weak at sign on under a strong BBC but slowly improved to a fair level by 0445 but mixing with co-channel BBC. (Brian Alexander, PA/June 15)

7120, Rdif. Nationale Tchadienne, N'Djamena-Gredia; 0450-0530, June 14, local African music. French talk. Poor to fair mixing with co-channel BBC. (Brian Alexander, PA/June 14)

4904.97, Rdif. Nationale Tchadienne, N'Djamena-Gredia; 0431-0450, May 29, local Afro-pop music. French talk. Fair to good. (Brian Alexander, PA/May 29)

4905, Rdif. Nationale Tchadienne, N'Djamena-Gredia; 0550-0601. French service. Native tribal music with lots of drumming and mentions of Chad. Into Middle Eastern language language at 0600. Signl S7/fair. (J Wood, TN/May 08)

Additional coverage on Chad from Shortwave Central Archives:
Blog Logs
Chadian national radio operating from temporary studio/Feb. 2008
Chad radio and TV back on the air/Feb. 2008
Breaking News: National Radio destroyed in Chad/Feb. 2008
Rebels put Chad off the air/Feb 2008
Hot Spot DXing: Chad/Feb. 2008

WEWN - A08 summer schedule

USA, WEWN Global Catholic Radio

Vandiver, Alabama

All times UTC
Target Areas: af (Africa) as (Asia) me (Middle East) eu (Europe)

0100-0200 11520me
0200-0300 11520me
0300-0400 11520me
0400-0500 11520me
0500-0600 11520me
0600-0700 7570eu
0700-0800 7570eu
0800-0900 9355as
0900-1000 9355as
1000-1100 9355as
1100-1200 11560as
1200-1300 11560as
1300-1400 11560as
1400-1500 15855as
1500-1600 15855as
1600-1700 15855as
1700-1800 15855as
1800-1900 15855as
1900-2000 17595af
2000-2100 17595af
2100-2200 17595af
2200-2300 15665af
2300-0000 15665af
(Source: Gayle Van Horn/Monitoring Times-SW Guide)

DXers Unlimited - mid week edition June 17-18

Radio Havana Cuba
Dxers Unlimited
By Arnie Coro CO2KK

Hi amigos radioaficionados, welcome to the mid week edition of Dxers Unlimited at a moment when the 2750 megaHertz solar flux is very near to the lowest ever recorded levels since 1947, when Professor Arthur Covington of Canada started to monitor the Sun at microwave frequencies on a daily basis. Solar flux was at 65 units , a value very close to the minimum ever recorded. So, as may realize the daytime maximum useable frequency curve is showing a very slow build up, and is peaking at extremely low values, with the typical highest possible frequency propagating via the F2 layer not reaching higher than about 20 to 24 megaHertz and that´s for very short periods of time.

More about the very low solar activity and how it may be actually enhancing sporadic E layer propagation at the end of the program.

Item Two: Handling the daily influx of e-mail sent by Dxers Unlimited listeners around the world is quite a task amigos ! But I do enjoy it a lot, because some very interesting topics are suggested, questions asked allow me to provide useful answers not only for the person or persons who sent the question, but also for many other listeners of the program… You can send your signal reports , QSL requests for station verification of reception radio hobby related questions , and comments about the show. Send them to inforhc at enet.cu, again inforhc at enet.cu... Or VIA AIR MAIL, send your postcards and letters to Arnie Coro, Radio Havana Cuba, Havana, Cuba.

Now here is Item Three of the mid week edition for Tuesday June 17 and Wednesday June 18th UTC days…Software defined radios are now becoming more and more both builder and user friendly… Several kits now available provide prospective homebrewers with a much faster way of assembling a software defined radio than what may be possible by attempting to buy or ask for all the required electronic components to make a Software Defined receiver or transceiver… For advanced radio hobbysts familiar with assembling electronic projects, I think that experimenting with software defined radios will provide a lot of very interesting results, and open up new ways of enjoying our hobby.

Item Four: Indoor antennas are useful when there is bad weather and you do need to communicate. More about indoor antennas for emergency communications in just a few seconds, when Dxers Unlimited´s mid week edition continues after a station ID.

I am Arnie Coro, radio amateur CO2KK in Havana…
……..

Si amigos ! You are listening to the mid week edition of your favorite radio hobby program, Dxers Unlimited with yours truly Arnie Coro … Here is now our technical topics section on indoor antennas for emergency communications .

Indoor antennas are no match to well installed outdoor ones, but under some very special circumstances, your only option for providing the antenna required by your radios may be to carefully select the best location inside a building and proceed to install an indoor antenna system.

I have seen extremely well designed indoor antennas that provide those who use them with very effective reception and transmission. In order to make this description a bit more flexible, my concept of an indoors antenna system includes those that are installed in balconies and attached to balcony rails.

At CO2KK , my amateur radio station, there are not one, but five different indoor antennas that see almost constant daily use.

Let me describe them for you in detail:

Number One :The telescopic whips used on my three portable multi-band receivers…

Number Two: A dual band 2 meters and seventy centimeters vertical monopole antenna that is used for monitoring the two local 2 meters FM repeaters, and also to make local contacts on that band and on 70 centimeters.

The number Three indoor antenna is a MOXON rectangle for the two meters band that is installed , when needed, on a camera tripod so that it can be aimed in the direction of the station or repeater I want to contact.

Number Four indoor antenna is a one meter diameter 19 millimeters tubing copper loop…Yes, it is tuneable magnetic loop that covers from 10 to 30 megaHertz for reception and that allows transmission on the 30, 20, 17,15 , 12 and 10 meters band, so this is in my opinion the most compact six band antenna that one can imagine. It is manually tuned, and YES, you have to retune it everytime that you need to shift frequency by even a few kiloHertz , but it allows me to be on the air , especially on 10 meters when the band is open and I don´t want to connect the outdoor beam because the presence of thunder clouds in the sky.

Finally my Fifth but not less important indoor antenna is another magnetic loop optimized for the 6 meters or 50 megaHertz band and that is kept close to a picture window. I use this smaller loop to monitor for possible 6 meters DX during the sporadic E season, that here in Cuba happens to coincide with the peak of the summer thunderstorm season….

An interesting fact about the use of indoor antennas is that their performance is very much related to the type of material used for building your home. An antenna located inside an attic that is high above the ground and has no metal elements inside its walls, will show a much better performance than an identical system that is installed inside a room of a house built with brick walls and a reinforced concrete roof. Signals , both the ones to be received and those transmitted will suffer from severe attenuation , reaching values of many decibels as compared with an identcial antenna inside the wooden wall and roof attic !!!

Please remember that just a small antenna is better than a telescopic whip or a rubber duck helically loaded whip… something that applies for both short wave and VHF operation.

Even a short length of hookup wire attached to your portable radio´s antenna and placed as near as possible to a window, or even just dropped from the window or balcony will make quite a difference , although careful placement of the indoor or semi-indoor antenna is necessary in order to reduce the pick up of interference from home appliances of all types…

If you need advice on installing an indoor antenna , just drop me an e-mail and I´ll try to provide you with advice according to
the frequencies involved and the type of building .
……

This is Dxers Unlimited´s mid week edition and now here is ASK ARNIE, la numero UNO, the number one most popular section of the program… Listener Gabriel from Atlanta , Georgia, USA, wants to know what´s the best time or times of the day to pick up Sporadic E skip signals… He says in his e-mail: Arnie, I agree with you that HF , that is short wave propagation is worst than ever… Having listened to international broadcasts for the past 30 years, I have never before experienced such poor propagation conditions. Recently I became interested in FM broadcast band Dxing, one of those 84 ways of enjoying the radio hobby that you have described. And Gabe continues his e-mail describing his nice vintage Scott FM tuner that has an ECC88 cascode RF amplifier and outperforms his two other solid state FM receivers in a very significant way… Gabe says that he is using two antennas for FM Dxing, one is a commercial log periodic fed with 300 ohms low loss foam dielectric line, and the other antenna was built following instructions provided in one of my articles about the TTFD published by CQ-VHF Magazine many years ago.

Gabe ends his nice e-mail message with the question that I repeat now ¨¨ Arnie, what are the best times for Sporadic E summer DX ¨¨… Well amigo Gabriel,or Gabe as you like to be called, it is an interesting fact that Sporadic E propagation events can happen at anytime of the day, but they do show ,during the summer months a much higher probability of happening from about 9 in the morning or a little earlier local time, to about an hour before noon, and again, there is another period of higher probability of E skip from about three to four o´clock in the afternoon to just after sunset, again, I am talking about local time…

But be aware that in my more than 50 years of Dxing via sporadic E skip, I have made two way contacts on the 10 and 6 meter bands at two or three o´clock in the morning, as well as at one o´clock in the afternoon, when normally you don´t see E skip happening… By the way , we may soon be loosing one of the best sources of early warning of Sporadic E skip events , at least here in the Caribbean, and the USA, when next year the analog TV stations in the United States of America will shut down, and be replaced by digital technology signals !!! so for those Dxers, both TV and amateur radio VHF enthusiasts that don´t have bought a digital TV or a converter box, the familiar pattern of venetian blinds atop a fringe area TV channel two or even a local powerhouse when the band is really open will be a thing of the past…

That´s why amigo Gabe, amateur radio 10 and 6 meter band beacons will become much more important for us to learn when E skip is present !!! I hope that this reply answers your question and congratulations on your nice FM broadcast band Dxing setup amigo !!!

FM broadcast band Dxing is quite a challenge for people living in metropolitan areas where cross modulation problems are a tremendous problem… but those of you living away from the big cities and having a good receiver or FM tuner can still enjoy FM broadcast band DX events both via tropospheric ducting or Sporadic E.
……………

Technical Tips, yes Technical Tips here at Dxers Unlimited´s mid week edition… For your radio hobby enjoyment… Here is the first one: Whenever you buy or get a free piece of old equipment, be it full of vacuum tubes or solid state devices… NEVER, , again NEVER connect it to the power line if it is an AC operated radio, before making a very detailed visual inspection INSIDE… Look for electrolytic capacitors that may be leaking , signs of overheated transformers, and in the case of equipment in long storage signs of mildew and humidity damage.

After the visual inspection, if no signs of those typical problems are found, then phase two of a start up procedure for gear in long term storage will be to carefully test all the electrolytic capacitors using an Equivalent Series Resistance or ESR meter… go one by one, be patient and you will be rewarded usually with the detection of one or more capacitors that will need to be replaced… Proceed to replace them, and when powering up the equipment use a variable voltage autotransformer to carefully provide AC to the radio… I usually start with 25 volts and leave it there for a number of hours… jump then to 50 volts and monitor the AC current drawn by the radio under the revival process…after about a day at 50 volts, it will be usually safe to raise the voltage o 100 volts and watch for any signs of overheating or excessive current drawn from the variable

voltage transformer …Just before I forget… in older vacuum tube radios, it will always a good idea to replace all the paper dielectric bypass capacitors too… a time consuming procedure, but one that will save you from having to replace much more expensive and hard to find components !!!...

And now as always at the end of the show, here is Arnie Coro´s Dxers Unlimited´s HF plus low band VHF propagation update and forecast…. Bottom low solar activity, extremely low F2 layer maximum useable frequencies, while plenty of E skip events are happening over North America, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe with some unique DX on 6 meters from half way around the world coming to the surprise of long time operators on the so called MAGIC BAND---The effective sunspot number at 15 hours UTC Tuesday was an extremely low ZERO TWO <… A close look at the Sun shows we still have the remains of old sunspot 998, but we have are seeing a sunspot group, 999. This one is almost on the sun's equator and like 998 has a a clear cycle 23 magnetic signature. The flux has dropped to a bottom low level of 65 units and the K index was lower at just 4, units at around 14 UTC Tuesday with the solar wind well over 700 kilometers per second but it's unlikely we'll have auroral conditions in the near future. Due to the higher solar wind there may be some disturbance from minor geomagnetic storming especially towards the poles.

One final note that is causing concern among solar scientists..
Unfortunately it looks like we have a lot further to go before we can be certain that we have actually reached the minimum of cycle 23 yet !!!
(Arnie Coro)

Zimbabwean opposition station adds broadcast tranmission

Voice of the People, a Zimbabwean opposition station via Talata-Volondry, Madagascar, has begun a new transmission from 1100-1200 UTC in English on 11695 kHz from June 1, 2008. The broadcast in targeted to South Africa 250 kW / 265 deg.

Radio VOP began broadcasting in June 2000, ten days before the Zimbabwean parliamentary elections held on June 24-25, 2000. The station continues to promote peace in the ongoing troubled political times with hopes of building a democratic society. Station is reportedly being jammed by the Zimbabwe government.

Correspondence may be directed to:

Radio Voice of the People
P.O. Box 5750
Harare
Zimbabwe

Reception Report: voxpozim@yahoo.com.uk
Website: http://www.vopradio.co.zw/
Website: (24 hour news site) http://www.radiovop.com/
Email: voxpop@ecoweb.co.zw
(Source: World QSL Book & DX Mix News # 525)

Albania frequency adjustments from June 12

The following frequencies changes from Radio Tirana are effective from June 12, 2008

All times UTC

1730-1800 7460 SHI 100 kW / 300 deg to Western Europe , deleted in Italian Mon-Sat

1800-1830 new freq 7430 SHI 100 kW / 300 deg to Western Europe, retimed in Italian Mon-Sat

1805-1835 1458AM FLA 500 kW / 338 deg to Western Europe (ex 1800-1830 UTC German Mon-Sat)

2000-2030 new freq 7465 SHI 100 kW / non-dir to U.K. (ex 7460) in English Mon-Sat

2030-2200 new freq 9395 SHI 100 kW / 310 deg to Western Europe (ex 9390) in Albanian Daily

2300-0030 new freq 9345 SHI 100 kW / 310 deg to North America (ex 9390) in Albanian Daily (R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX June 16/ DX Mix news #525 via wb, Germany)

VT Communications schedule adjustment

Via South Africa in English
Southern Sudan Interactive Radio Instruction to Eastern Africa
1300-1330 UTC on new frequency 15760 MEY 250 kW / 005 deg Mon/Wed/Fri (ex 15485)
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX June 16/ DX Mix News #525 via wb, Germany)

Deutsche Welle changes German service frequency

via Sri Lanka from June 10, 2008

German 1600- 1800 UTC new freq 15485 TRM 250 kW / 255 deg to Central Africa (ex 17650)
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX June 16/ DX Mix News #525 via wb, Germany)

WYFR-Family Radio Worldwide expands English broadcast

Additional transmissions in English noted as;

Via United Arab Emitaes & United Kingdom

All times UTC

1800-2000 on 11775 SKN 250 kW / 165 deg to Western Europe
1900-2000 on 9685 DHA 250 kW / 260 deg to Western & Central Africa
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX June 16/ DX Mix news #525 via wb, Germany)

Radio Sweden English A08 summer schedule update

All times UTC

English to Europe, Africa and Middle East
1430-1500 on 13820
1530-1600 on 11595, from June 12 back on old 11590
1730-1800 on 6065 Wed-Fri
2030-2100 on 7395
2130-2200 on 6065

English to Asia & Pacific
0230-0300 on 11550
1330-1400 on 15735
1430-1500 on 13820

English to Australia
2130-2200 on 7420

English to North America
0130-0200 on 6010
0230-0300 on 6010
1230-1300 on 15240
1430-1500 on 15240
2230-2300 on 9800 DRM
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX June 16/ DX Mix news #525 via wb, Germany)

Radio Japan changes multilingual frequencies

Germany
Frequency changes of Radio Japan NHK World via Media Broadcast

All times UTC

1300-1345 new freq 15215 WER 500 kW / 075 deg to South Asia in Bengali (ex 17595)
1345-1430 new freq 15215 WER 500 kW / 090 deg to South Asia in Hindi (ex 17595)
1430-1515 on 17595 WER 500 kW / 090 deg to SoAs in Urdu, co-channel Radio Exterior-Espana in Spanish
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX June 16/ DX Mix News #525 via wb, Germany)

Radio Sweden multilingual A08 summer schedule update

All times UTC

Arabic to Middle East
1730-1800 on 11555 Mon-Fri

Assyrian to Middle East
1600-1630 on 11590 Thu/Fri

Belarussian to Europe
1730-1800 on 6065 Sat-Tue

Kurdish to Middle East
1630-1700 on 11590 Mon-Fri

Persian to Middle East
1600-1630 on 11590 Mon-Wed

Romany to Europe & Middle East
2030-2100 on 5850 Sat
2100-2130 on 5850 Sat/Sun

Russian to Europe & Asia
1200-1230 on 15525
1300-1330 on 12075
1400-1430 on 12085
1630-1700 on 7480
1830-1900 on 6065
1930-2000 on 6065

Swedish to Europe, Africa & Middle East
0400-0600 on 6065*Mon-Fri
0400-0500 on 9490*Mon-Fri
0500-0805 on 9490*Sat
0600-0700 on 9490*Mon-Fri
0700-0900 on 9490*Sun
1445-1615 on 6065*Mon-Fri
1445-1600 on 6065*Sat
1500-1530 on 11595, from June 12 back on old 11590
1600-1630 on 7480
1700-1730 on 6065
1700-1730 on 11555 Mon-Sat
1800-1830 on 6065 13710
1900-1930 on 6065
2000-2030 on 7395
2000-2100 on 6065*
2100-2130 on 6065
*relay HS-1

Swedish to Asia & Pacific
1200-1215 on 15735 Mon-Fri
1200-1230 on 15735 Sat/Sun
1315-1330 on 15735 Mon-Fri

Swedish to Australia
0200-0230 on 11550
1215-1230 on 15735 Mon-Fri
1300-1315 on 15735 Mon-Fri
1300-1330 on 15735 Sat/Sun
1400-1430 on 13820 15735
2100-2130 on 7420

Swedish to South America
0000-0030 on 9490
0300-0330 on 9490
1800-1830 on 13710

Swedish to North America
0100-0130 on 6010
0200-0230 on 6010
1300-1330 on 15240
1500-1530 on 15240
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX June 16/ DX Mix news #525 via wb, Germany)

Iran replace Japanese service frequency

VOIRI/ IRIB has made the following frequency change for their Japanese service.

2100-2157 UTC on new frequency 11765 SIR 500 kW / 053 deg. (ex 11655 to avoid Radio Australia in English on 11660 kHz)
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX June 16/ DX Mix Nws # 525 via wb, Germany)

Japanese assistance to Bhutan Broadcasting Service

Bhutan
Monday, June 2: The Japanese government will be giving a grant assistance of about Nu. 240 million to the . BBs in exchange of notes to formalizethe grant was signed in New Delhi On Friday, May 30. It was signed by Bhutan's Ambassador Lyonpo Dago Tshering and the Japanese Ambassador Hideaki Domichi. The money that will be given to BBS will be used to enhance programme production and news coverage by upgrading facilities and equipment, setting up a master control system and establishing transmission system for the BBS bureau offices.
(BBS via Alokesh Gupta, India)

Blog Logs

This afternoons Blog Logs, represent a sampling of logs from this weeks edition of DX Window. from the Danish Shortwave Club International. Thanks as always to Editor, Anker Petersen. Enjoy!
Gayle VH

All time UTC *sing-on sing-off* // parallel frequency

British Indian Ocean Territory
4319 USB, AFRTS Diego Garcia, 2345-0025, May 28/29, English interview about Obama, promos, jingles, 0000 "This is American Forces Network", news, interviews, 0022 Country and Western song. Severe utility QRM, 32442. (Petersen)

Central African Republic
6030, Radio ICDI from Jim Hocking - "We are still working on adding more time. Right now we are on the air from about 6:00 to 10 AM and from about 3:00 to 7:00PM (0500-0900 and 1400-1800 UTC. Ed). We are trying to raise funding for adding a night and noon frequency but have not gotten that as yet.....We have best propogation at the hours we are running..." (Johnson, May 23)

Colombia
6035, La Voz del Guaviare, San José del Guaviare, 2250-0010, May 31, June 06 and 08, Spanish announcement to jingle, Latin American music and advertisements . SINPO 35333. No sign of Bhutan, probably faded out. (Méndez and Petersen)


Djibouti
4780, Radio Dif. TV de Djibouti, Arta, 1848-1921, May 27, Vernacular, local songs, news (p) at 1900, SINPO 35433 but often plagued with utility QRM. (Gonçalves)

Egypt
9250, Radio Wadi el-Nil, Cairo, 1445, May 30, Arabic talks, but many low voices, finally good signal, S9. Also heard 1749-2019, May 30 and 31, talks, S9+10 QRM Lincolnshire poacher? on 9252. (Liangas)

Ethiopia
6110, Radio Fana, Addis Ababa (site acc. to Maarten van Delft who visited the station in January 2008), *0257-0335, Jun 02, with WHRI absent. Interval signal heard 0257, opening ID, great segued modern instumental Ethiopian music! Deep voiced man announcer once in half hour. 0330, clear ID, news in Amharic. Astronishingly strong signal! (Jensen). Also heard 1554-1619, 08 Jun, Vernacular, talks, interviews, songs, 35433. (Gonçalves)

Guatemala
4052.5, Radio Verdad, Chiquimula, 0445-0602*, hymns in Spanish, at 0502 ID: "Hemos escuchado canciones espirituales, Radio Verdad". At 0503 programme in English, ID: "Radio Truth, Chiquimula, Guatemala, beautiful songs", SINPO 25322. (Méndez)

India
9470 All India Radio-Aligarh, 2220-2245, May 25, English news to 2230, then news in Hindi. Hindi music from 2240. 9425 was not audible, however it was heard the following day with strong echo the first 4 minutes, the same was the case for 9470 kHz. 34333 (Bredahl Jorgensen)

Latvia
9290, Radio Victoria, via Ulbroka, *1100-1200*, Su Jun 01, English announcement by Tom from the former pirate, French and English pop songs, listen to next program on Sep 21 0900 on 9290! SINPO 55555. (Petersen and Valko)

Mali
5995, Radio Mali, Bamako, 2229-2243, May 13 and 30, French talks, seems a interview, phone-in, 2245 local instrumental music selection, SINPO 35443. (Grimm/São Bernardo and Otávio). Also heard at *0555-0615, Jun 03, Guitar internatval signal to national anthem by military band at 0558. Flute interval signal at 0559, French ID, announcement, local tribal music. Signal weak, poor with QRM. (Alexander via DXplorer)

Mexico
6104.5, Candela FM, Mérida, Yucatán, 1029-1320, Jun 04, 07 and 08 (but not on Jun 09), Spanish with various IDs, mentions of Merida, music, blasting in. Also heard 0030 on Jun 09, but was off at 0045 recheck. Wilkner first reported this unidentified carrier 6104.75 on Apr 14! (Bolland and Wilkner)

Saudi Arabia
9555, BSKSA/Broadcasting Service Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2024-2122, Jun 01, Arabic talks hosting program of Middle Eastern vocals. 5+1 time pips at 2100, news, fair. (D'Angelo)




Sudan
4750, Radio Peace says they are having transmitter problems and that a technician has been dispatched from Kenya. They hope to be back on in a few weeks. They say their current schedule on 4750 and 5895 is 6-10 AM and 5-9 PM local. (Johnson May 30). Times are 0300-0700 and 1400-1800 UTC. (Ed)

Swaziland
3200, Trans World Radio, Manzini, 0445, May 23, religious programme in English, SINPO 35543 // 4775. (Grimm/ Iguape)

Uganda
4750, Dunamis Shortwave, Mukono (p), 1825-1901*, May 30, religious(?) music program in English, no ID heard, poor, not Radio Peace (see Sudan above). (Johnson via remote receiver in Italy)


Zimbabwe
3396.0, Radio Zimbabwe, Guineafowl, Gweru, 0050-0100, Jun 04, Vernacular announcement and Afropops. SINPO 34333 occasional utility QRM. (Petersen)

4828, Voice of Zimbabwe, Guineafowl, Gweru, 2250 and 0305-0315, May 28 and Jun 03, Vernacular, non-stop Afropop, slight CODAR QRM, SINPO 34333. 3396 not heard. (Petersen and Wilkner)
(Source: DSWCI/DX Window #352 via Anker Petersen, Denmark)

Pirate logs from Free Radio Weely

Thanks to the gang from Free Radio Weekly for this week's newsletter edition. A bit of news first from two active pirate stations, followed by a sampling of logs. Enjoy!
Gayle VH

Per an FRN post, Pigmeat says he will be moving to morning transmissions during the summer, 1100-1400 UTC, on 6875, 6925, 6950.

Per an FRN post, Northwoods Radio says he will be active over the next few days, including Monday the 16th, on 6850, 6925, 6950 & 6955 in AM.

Logs

All times UTC *sign-on sign-off* // parallel frequency

BOB
6/11, 0335, 6925/USB; Lots of Subgenius-like Bob mixes in a suspiciously Sycko-like mix. Station is definitely there. Seady signal, but really weak amidst heavy atmospheric noise. SIO 212. (Will-MD)

Crystal Ship
mailto:tcsshortwave@yahoo.com

6/5 ...0210+, 7575.1 //6250.6/AM; SIO=232. Program of rock music and commercial for Barack Obama & Tarzan yell. On different freqs than usual, and the reception conditions were unusual because both freqs were audible here. Also, the weeknight bcst was somewhat unusual. (Zeller-OH)

Maple Leaf Radio
radio.mapleleaf@gmail.com

6/6, 2314-2357*, 6925/USB; SIO=131/232. Program of classic rock music, said to be program of Canadian music. Canada national anthem at 2330 mid-show, not at sign-on and QRT as this station normally does. No address announced. (Zeller-OH)

6/7-8, *2348-0029*, 6925/USB; SIO=141. Program of some rock but mostly folk rock music by Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. O Canada national anthem at sign-on. No maildrop address announced. (Zeller, OH)

Not the BBC

No known e-mail or mail drop address

6/6, 2143-2154*, 6925/U; SIO=232-. Many repeats over & over of the BBC. Instrumental music theme song. Thre or four station identifdications by male announcer saying, "this is not the BBC." No address announced. (Zeller, OH)

Relaxation Radio

No known e-mail or mail drop address

6/13, 0100, 6925/USB; SIO 433 via remote radio central FL, Tunes including, Goodbye Sweet- heart (?), Mr. Sandman, Sukiyaki (Fansome, PA)

6/13, 0100-0111*, 6925/USB; Station ID. Oldies heard such as, Goodnite Sweetheart and Sukiyaki. Another station ID and off the air. SIO: 444 (Lobdell-MA)

The Wave

P.O. Box 1, Belfast NY 1471

6/1, 0010-0018*, 6925. Rock music with IDs. Fair to good signal but muffled audio. (D'Angelo-PA)

WHYP

try whypradio@gmail.com

6/11, 0139, 6925/AM; Devo's Whip It tune. James Brownyard sounds! James Brownyard at 0141 mixed with tune Whip It. SIO 212 s3-5. James Brownyard Northeast mentioned at 0144, into more music. Signal variable, by 0144 up to S7 with lots of noise. Chili Peppers music at 0150. "WHYP" ID at 0151. Signal fading in and out after 0155, still there at 0205. Back at 0208 with really nice audio and heavy metal song. "WHYP" ID at 0210. Station off with old JB at 0214. Thanks for the show! (Will-MD)

WTCR 20th Century Radio
P.O. Box 1, Belfast NY 14711

6/8, *0144-0307, 6925/USB. Opened after Maple Leaf closed with 20th Century Fox theme music. Station ID and rock music program. Music included tunes by Beach Boys, CCR, Elvis, Carol King and others. Fair signal but dropped out completely for a period around 0156. (D'Angelo-PA)

Radio New York International via WBCQ relay

6/9, 7415 at 0140 with an excellent program from The Doo Wop Cafe. Great doo wop music from the Platters, the Dell Satins and Bobby Day’s big hit Rockin’ Robin. They have a web site:http://www.doowopcafe.net/. (Insinger, NJ)

Radio Jamba International via WBCQ relay

6/9, 7415 following the Doo Wop Cafe via Radio New York Int'l. Mix of island and C&W music, very enjoyable. Station ID as "Jamba Jamba Jamba" several times during program. Funny bit of PR News at 0215. Triple ID as "Radio Jamba International, Radio New York, this is Kracker Radio." Wow, could this possibly translate into three verifications? A radio lover’s dream! Good signal from WBCQ. (Insinger, NJ)

(Source: Free Radio Weekly #644 via Harold Frodge, MI)