March 2020 - Australian DX News - 1
255003-04913 Print Post Approved Registration No. A0011728G Edition No. 633 – March 2020 ISSN 0810-9826 ARDXC Inc. ABN: 83 818 568 199
Australian DX News Monthly Publication of the Australian Radio DX Club Inc. - Australia’s Premier DXing Organisation since 1965
March 2020 - Australian DX News - 2
ARDXC Officials and Addresses Committee Officers: Tony Magon (President), Robert Fitzgerald (Vice-President), John Wright (Secretary), Geoffrey Wright (Treasurer) Ordinary Committee Members: David Brown, John Sanderson, Dennis Allen, Denis Smithson. Correspondence for Committee: John Wright, 71 Hilton Ave, Roselands NSW 2196. Annual Membership Fees (from 1/7/2013): All prices quoted in Australian dollars and include GST. Australia $62 (Student under 18yo $31); NZ, Pacific & Asia $84; Rest of the World $98; Family Membership $10 Email only membership $20 Australia (or US $20 overseas) Email + Hard Copy Membership $70 Australia Sample copies of the ADXN are available for $5 (or equivalent) from John Wright, 71 Hilton Avenue, Roselands, NSW, 2196. Email inquiries can be directed to [email protected]
Editorial Deadlines & Addresses
Next deadlines: April 2020 (Issue 634): Friday 27 March 2020 May 2020 (Issue 635): Friday 1 May 2020 SW Trail, On Air and Editorial Craig Seager, 12 Pellion Place, Windradyne, NSW, 2795 (email: [email protected]) Broadcast Band/FM/The Listening Post John Wright, 71 Hilton Ave, Roselands NSW 2196. (email: [email protected]) Utility John Volpato, PO Box 247, Deakin West, ACT 2600. (email: [email protected]) Amateur Bob Ronai, (email: [email protected])
News from Club HQ (with John Wright) Welcome to the March edition. New Members Welcome to Rob Gregor from Venus Bay South Australia. (beaut part of the world), Member 2832, it’s your membership number forever……Rob and gee great pics! Rob heard us through from Al Kirton Radio 4KZ. Rob has a view vintage receiver which are great: Kenwood R600 and a Yaesu etc… Rob has already sent some pics in so hopefully Craig either this month or next month can show in a magazine, which is very much appreciated Rob. NZDXL magazine The mail chimp somehow has gone wrong. No bulletin since November and we are endeavouring to fix this issue. Wayne is away on leave so when he comes back, I am sure he can fix it. Also, Bryan Clarke of the NZDXL has been in hospital so we all wish him well. Obituary We have learnt of the sad passing of Peter Pompe our member from Belgium. Hi wife sent me an email of Peter’s passing at 83 years of age after a long battle with cancer. Peter joined in January 2008 till January 2017. Re-joined in February 2019 and sadly we have found out that Peter passed away in December 2019. We have sent a card to Christa, Peters wife. Vale member 2756.
Equipment Auction The late member Roger Boyd. Out of the blue two huge boxes of gear costing early $150-00 to send from Western Australia. Now to be fair the usual will take place, so no one can buy up the lot. Once you bid, and you win that’s it. So, if ten people bid on an item you win, if there is an item that attracts no bids, then you can bid again, savy? This must occur in writing, either mail or email. No phone bids. Prices do not include postage. Robert Wilson, from Marion South Australia has won the Realistic DX 160 and speaker. GE Super radio a fair size portable, AC and battery powered 6 D cells. Made in Indonesia, for something different. $70-00, 88 to 108 FM and 530 to 1700 AM. 6 D size batteries as we do not have the AC cord 240 V 50 Hz. This worked at treat locally at midday against the Icom R75 on an EWE as you would probably expect. No handbook but plenty of web sites. The tiny radio collection, so tiny they fit in your pocket! Those available are; 1 X Gold Jinru model KK-9 has a local switch and a DX switch. MW 530-1600 FM 76-108, SW1 5.950 and another six bands to 18290 KHz uses 2 AA batteries and it works! Complete with instructions (1 page) 30-00 Digital FM/AM/SW radio this works as well! 2 X AA batteries FM 50-108 Meg! MW 520-1710 KHz SW 3.2 to 21.9 MHZ Got 3 of these $20-00 each has manual. The brand name is HAPPY! Digitech AR 1736 3 AAA batteries, FM 87.5 to 108, MW 522-1620 and 9 Yes 9 SW bands 4.7 to 21.85 with SW bands all covered comes with instruction leaflet. Say $30-00. HRD Hamrongda X 6 available all have instruction sheets and FM 83-108 MHZ, MW 522-1620 and SW 5.90 to 21850 MHZ 2 AA batteries. Each one 20-00. There is an ATS909 and a Drake SSR 1 which I’ve yet to get to. Branch Meetings Late News of a BRISBANE MEETING at John and Colleen Smith's. Saturday 14th March starts from 1130am 9 Sylvateere crescent at Wakerley. BBQ and bring your radio toys. Discussion on the upcoming, MAYBE trip to Foster in NSW for a Dxpedition with John Wright. John has promised to mind his sister's blue cattle dog for a week. This means some radio listening! This depends on the Corona virus and its impact around the world and air travel. Ph John and Colleen 0429 176 131. Medium wave dxing is the target! Well, a week towards the end of March at Tuncurry/Foster Dxing. Till next month…. (JW). Front Cover: New member Rob Gregor (left), helper and mast.
March 2020 - Australian DX News - 3
Shortwave Trail Our monthly roundup of members’ loggings edited by Craig Seager
Editorial Address 12 Pellion Pl., Windradyne NSW 2795 E-mail [email protected] 3945 R.Vanuatu, Emten Lagoon. Noted on 26/2 at
1900 to f/out 2010 with long talks and occasional
music. Appeared to be the only frequency
operating on this day with 5040 and 7260 not on
air during their normally scheduled times. On 27/2:
7260 appeared to be still absent, but the 5040
outlet has returned, although the signal is not that
strong tonight @ 0930. (Wagner). ⧫Very good
indeed w/talk px 0851, word perfect (or at least it
would have been if I understood Bislama!), good
to hear them back on the traditional night
frequency, 3/3 (Seager)
4055 Radio Verdad, Chiquimula. 1112-1139, 10/2,
religious talk in the Spanish language followed by
morning music program with non-stop religious
vocal selections. Poor to fair signal. (D’Angelo-F*)
4765 R.Tajikistan, Yangiyul. Tajik language
programming at 1900 with a male speaker in a
sombre tone and background music. Then local
music at 1905. Fair to poor signal, 21/2 (Wagner)
4800 AIR, Hyderabad. A weak signal under the
dominant co-channel CNR 1, Golmud at 1410 with
a Hindi commentary program. 19/2 (Wagner)
4810 AIR, Mumbai, Bhopal. Unaccompanied Hindi
chanting at 1401. Perhaps some type of folk music
program? Fair signal, 19/2 (Wagner)
4835 AIR, Gangtok (tentative). Suspected to be this
weak signal at 1350 with mellow Indian pops and
possibly Nepali anncts. This one has not been
heard here in quite a while, so it was pleasing to
have its signal arriving from high in the Himalayan
mountains! 19/2 (Wagner)
4905 PBS Xizang, Lhasa. Tibetan news at 1335, fair
signal, 19/2 (Wagner)
4930 VoA, Moepeng Hill. English to SAf with African-
focused discussion and call-back program, fair
signal, 21/2 (Wagner)
4950 AIR, Srinagar (Tentative). Presumed this at 1325,
a carrier there but barely any audio. The weakest
signal I have heard from Srinagar in a long time.
19/2 (Wagner)
5009.91 R.Madagasikara, Ambohidrano. First noted at
1822 with non-stop groovy African and local dance
music. Then amongst all this at 1848 was “Hit the
Road Jack” by Ray Charles and “You’re the One
that I Want” by Olivia Newton-John (!!) S/off at
1859. It has been a while since I’ve heard this one,
and especially unusual for summer reception
here. Fair to poor signal but enjoyable listening
(until they started playing the Western pops), 21/2
(Wagner)
5025 R.Rebelde, Bauta. Apparent enhanced
conditions with unusually late summer reception
here at 1315 UTC. Normally faded here by 1230
at this time of year. Finally faded by 1345 (8:45am
Habana time!), 19/2 (Wagner)
5040 R.Vanuatu, Emten Lagoon. S/on 0630 with a
weak signal and co-channel QRM from distorted
R. Habana audio. Automatic switching of the new
transmitter from 7260 kHz appears to be working
well! The signal improves considerably after RHC
signs off at 0700. 15/2 (Wagner). ⧫ 1006-1059:49*
24/2. News/sports, with sound bites; 1020-1028,
pop songs (Shania Twain - "From This Moment"
and Lionel Richie - "Hello, Is It Me You’re Looking
For?"); 1029-1058, religious preaching and songs;
ID and NA. Clearly off the air when checking from
0931+, on 25/2 (Howard*).
5040 R.Habana. 2/3 at 0702, RHC in Spanish with this-
day-in-history, still on at an hour there is supposed
to be no Spanish. Was it in English during the
previous hour? Some 6 MHzs are still on in
English. Something`s always wrong at RHC
(Hauser*)
5045U Unique Radio, Gunnedah. The dulcet tones of
Glenn Hauser with WOR 0930, very good signal
on 3/3 (Seager)
5130 Sedaye Zindagi Kyrgyzstan. On 6/2 at 1525
w/rlg songs, from 1527 talks in VV, children choir
at 1620 (Pankov*).
5875 Radio Thailand, Udon. 1117-1129*,11/2,
announcer speaking in unidentified language with
gongs at 1129 followed by English language
station ID before seemingly cutting carrier. Tuned
back at 1138 and apparently it was an antenna
change that severely reduced reception quality at
my location. Poor to fair. (D’Angelo-F*)
5915 ZNBC, Lusaka. Zambian and African news
stories in English by a female newsreader at 1802.
ID at 1807 as “You are listening to the news from
ZNBC….”. Ended the news with “….and
remember Zambia is bigger than all of us!”
Weather report at 1815, Advert for some food
thing at 1816, then into a local language program
at 1817. Fair to poor signal at times, 21/2
(Wagner). ⧫*0233-0325 11/2, long tribal vocals
with drums until the Call of the Fish eagle began
at 0258. A man announcer came on at 0301 with
opening station ID and brief announcements
followed by chorus singing. Another man
announcer returned with news followed by another
man announcer hosting music program. Fair
signal but needed filters to avoid adjacent channel
QRM. (D’Angelo-F*)
March 2020 - Australian DX News - 4
5939.7 Rádio Voz Missionária, Florianópolis,
Comboriú, 2341-0007 7/2, announcer preaching
in the Portuguese language with station ID at top
of the hour blocking hoped for long shot reception
of Radio Onda ASBL (the Netherlands). Poor to
fair. (D’Angelo-F*)
5950 KBS World Radio, Issoudun. 2032-2100* 9/2, a
man and woman announcing team hosting the
French language program and a pop music
program. Nice station ID at close-down before the
carrier was terminated. Poor to fair. (D’Angelo-F*)
5975 China Radio International, Beijing. 2203-2214
9/2, px consisted of a mix of Mandarin language
talks and Chinese instrumental music selections.
Fair signal. (D’Angelo-F*)
5995 RTV du Mali, Bamako. Very good in Bambara on
3/2 at 0725 (Adams).
5995 BBC, Dhabayya. 0323-0356 11/2, tuned in to a
woman announcer speaking in the Arabic
language. There was a brief instrumental music
interlude. A woman and a man announcer hosting
news features with several remote reports. Nice
station ID at 0355. Poor to fair signal. (D’Angelo-
F*)
6005 Radio Tamazui, Issoudun. 0330-0429*, 10/2,
man announcer with opening station ID followed
by talks in the listed Juba Arabic language. A few
musical breaks but mainly talk features unit
closing. Poor. (D’Angelo-F*)
6015 Zanzibar Broadcasting Corporation, Dole.
0340-0408 10/2, woman announcer with talk
followed by some local music. Poor to fair but nice
to have clear of Radio Tamazui. (D’Angelo-F*)
6050 ELWA, Monrovia. Religious programme in
muffled English at 0746. Poor on 3/2 (Adams).
6055 Overcomer Ministry, Kostinbrod. 2133-2153
9/2, religious English language programming with
poor to fair signal. (D’Angelo-F*)
6070 CFRX. Always offset-minus, 29/2 at 2304, `TED
Radio Hour` from NPR is starting! Bet you did not
know that CFRX is an NPR station. You would still
not know that by consulting the sked which hides
it among `Viewpoints` at 6-9 pm ET Sat = 23-02
UT now, but in a biweek 22-01 UT:
https://www.iheartradio.ca/newstalk-
1010/shows/viewpoints-1.1761551 Evidently on
other Canadian iHeart stations, and don`t depend
on TED being at the same, or any time, from week
to week. Poor reception and busy so I don`t try to
determine the topic. Too bad there are no US SW
stations wanting to pick up NPR shows (Hauser*)
6110 Radio Fana, Addis Ababa. 2042-2102* 9/2, nice
musical program with announcements in Amharic
language by man announcer prior to close-down.
Poor signal. (D’Angelo-F*)
6115 Radio New Zealand International, Rangitaiki.
1118-1141 11/2, man and woman talking about
the Pacific Islands. Nice station ID as “RN Zed” by
a man announcer. News by another man at 1130.
Poor to fair. (D’Angelo-F*)
6135.2 Rádio Aparecida, Aparecida. 2345–0007 9/2,
vocal selections and Portuguese language talks.
Nice station ID and frequency announcements at
2358. Poor to fair but //11856.4 fair. (D’Angelo-F*)
6150 BBC World Service, Tinang, 2226-2259* 10/2,
sports update by a woman announcer followed by
“This is the BBC World Service” station ID.
Promotional items followed by BBC News at 2230.
Another station ID followed by business news
features. At 2259 a man and woman announcers
closed down the program followed by one time pip
before the carrier was terminated. Fair with some
fading. (D’Angelo-F*)
6150 BBC via Al Seela. NF (ex 6145) Poor in AA to NAf
on 9/2 at 2037. Splash from CRI, Beijing in
Russian to EEu (Adams).
6184.974 R.Educación. 2/3 at 0038, XEPPM is S9+10 but
JBM --- close, but not exactly back on-frequency.
Wolfgang Bueschel independently measured
same offset via FL SDR at 2230 1/3, after Vatican
closed 6185.000 at 2230:03, having mixed with it
from 2224 (Hauser*)
6230 Sound of Hope, Taiwan. CC on 6/2 from 1500 w
ID, nx //9230 – both without jamming (Pankov*).
6930U Skippy Radio. Poor at best with SSTV
images/IDs, mash-ups of rock songs (electronic
"Stairway to Heaven", Kiss/Joan Jett, Queen,
Doors/AC-DC, Queen/Lynyrd Skynyrd & several
more that i missed). 0024-0100+ 17/2 & thanks to
HFU for the ID. (Sheedy*)
6950U PIRATE (No. Am.) WLIS – We Love Interval
Signals. 2103-2226* 9/2, caught this old
countdown program of the top ten interval signals
of all time hosted by a man announcer. The #1 IS
was Radio Botswana. Poor to fair. (D’Angelo-F*)
7140 Voice of Broad Masses, Asmara. To EAf with a
Tigrinya discussion program between many
speakers at 1720, fair to poor signal, 21/2
(Wagner). ⧫ Presumed 2nd px on 6/2 at 1515
w/talks in VV & Horn of Africa type songs
(Pankov*).
7180 Eritrea Home Sce. Presumed 1st px on 6/2 at
1530 w talks in VV, tiny signal (Pankov*).
7220 AWR via Issoudun. Religious music and FF
announcement to WAf on 3/2 poor at 0625
(Adams).
7220 DW via Pinheira. Tuning signal into Hausa at
*0630. Poor to WAf on 3/2 (Adams).
7225 China Radio International, Beijing. 2149-2157*
9/2, Vocal followed by talk in presumed listed
Croatian language followed by Chinese
instrumental music until close-down. Poor to fair.
(D’Angelo-F*)
7254.97 Vo Nigeria, Abuja. Hausa service to WAf at 0633
with what appeared to be a commentary, fair
signal, 21/2 (Wagner)
March 2020 - Australian DX News - 5
7260 R.Vanuatu, Emten Lagoon. Current fade-in here
is 0545 with programming in the Bislama language
(littered with plenty of English words), a mix of
music, community anncts and news. Mostly fair
reception until close and the frequency swap to
5040 kHz at 0630, 15/2 (Wagner). ⧫On 26/2, from
0554+ UTC (till 0630), again found not
broadcasting. Live audio streaming working fine at
their Web site (Howard*).
7260 China Radio International, Urumqi. 2213-2257*
9/2, the Portuguese service but only continuous
instrumental music was played until the broadcast
carrier was terminated. Fair to good. (D’Angelo-
F*)
7265 BBC, Woofferton. Poor and noisy in FF to NAf on
3/2 at 0619. Splash from Vanuatu on 7260
(Adams).
7295 RFI, Issoudun. Hausa to CAf on 3/2. Poor at 0615
(Adams).
7295 CRI via Bamako. Hausa pxing 0817, fair via long
path, 3/3 (Seager)
7305 BBC via Ascension. Poor and noisy in Hausa to
WAf on 3/2 at 0540 (Adams).
7305 Vatican Radio. 14/2 1240, good reception,
Spanish, man and woman talking to each other
(Steiner)
7315 R.Tamazuj via Talata-Volonondry. Poor in
Sudanese Arabic to EAf on 7/2 at 0355, (ex
Issoudun) (Adams).
7325 BBC, Woofferton. English to WAf at 0635. Barely
audible on 3/2 (Adams).
7325 Wantok Radio Light, Mount Hagen. Very good
with public service announcements in EE at 0414
on 7/2 (Adams).
7345 RRI, Tiganesti. English to WEu at 0645. Nice long
path reception during our summer with the path
crossing the Atlantic, over the top of Sth America
and into the southern Pacific, about an 80%
darkness path. Fair signal, 21/2 (Wagner)
7350 Denge Welat. Kurdish on 18/2 at 0400-0600 (ex
7360 where jamming from Turkey went on)
(Pankov*).
7370 KNLS, Anchor Point. CC pxing 0820, Bible
instruction, 3/3 (Seager)
7450 NHK via Issoudun. Fair in FF to WAf at 0547, 3/2
(Adams).
7460 VoA via Selebi-Phikwe. Kirundi service to EAf on
3/2. Poor and noisy at 0436 (Adams).
7475 R.Thailand, Udon Thani. Only fair in Thai to Eu
at 2045 on 9/2 (Adams).
7480 YHWH. 28/2 at 0331, anti-Christ pirate, Station
YHWH is S9 but under modulated, unreadable but
recognisable; tnx to tip from Rick Barton in the
Sonoran Desert of AZ; his alternate night
frequency, usually 7470 (Hauser*)
7590 North Korea Reform Radio, Tashkent. S/on
2030 in Korean for EAs with the station ID and the
usual background theme music of the Haydn
Trumpet Concerto, 3rd Movement. Very good
signal, 26/2 (Wagner)
7780 WRMI. On 20/2 relay R.Slovakia International in
Slovak & EE at 0000-0100, followed by World of
Radio & Wavescan-both DX prgrs in EE at 0100-
0200 (Pankov*).
9250 Russia. The pulse signal, so called “The Buzzer”
on 6/2 at 1507 as a 2nd hx of fundamental 4625
(Pankov*).
9265 WINB, Red Lion. Poor and noisy with religious
talk in EE at 2132 on 9/2 (Adams).
9330 WBCQ, Monticello ME. American preaching (not
sure if it was “World’s Last Gasp” or some other
show!) at 0620, fair signal from the new txer, 21/2
(Wagner)
9410 BBC, Pinheira. English to SAf at 0612, weak
signal, 21/2 (Wagner)
9410 BBC via Kranji. Poor in EE to SAs at 0102 on
12/2 (Adams).
9410 BBC via Dhabbaya. Fair in Pashto to Afghanistan
on 18/2 at 0318 (Adams).
9420 ERT, Greece. 1st Home Sce in Greek on 19/2 at
0011-the delay of sound was about almost 1
minute than on //MW729 (Pankov*).
9445 All India Radio, Bengaluru. 2130-2246 9/2,
several nice station ID’s for General Overseas
Service with English language programming
including news at 2200. Fair to good signal.
(D’Angelo-F*)
9450 FEBC Radio International, Bocaue. *2258-2310
9/2, IS followed by opening in listed Mien language
before mix of talks and music selections. Poor
signal. (D’Angelo-F*)
9460 CRI, Kunming-Anning. Nice to catch some
wonderful CH classical/opera tunes 0113+ on 9/2,
//9550, 9610, 11945 (all via K-A, so apparently,
they're expanding their Amoy broadcasts to
include Encinitas). (Sheedy*)
9510 VoA, SM Galeria. S/on 0330 in Somali to EAf with
ID and news, weak signal. Interesting to hear this
European txer site propagating in February (still
summer here!). This something we don’t regularly
see until about April. 20/2 (Wagner). ⧫ Poor on
18/2 in Somali at 0350 (Adams).
9525 R.Dengê Welat, Issoudun. A strong signal in
Kurdish to ME and WAs at 1705, slight QRM from
co-channel music jammer, 21/2 (Wagner)
9535 R.Habana, Bejucal. Spanish news to CAm at
0345, a weak signal but will become stronger as
autumn approaches. 20/2 (Wagner)
9545 SIBC, Honiara. Local island pops and English at
0348. Adverts for a telecom company and
vitamins. A weak signal but improves somewhat
by 0430, 20/2 (Wagner). ⧫Good in EE at 0316 on
7/2 (Adams).
9550 VoIRI, Sirjan. Russian to CAs at 0405, weak
signal, 20/2 (Wagner)
9560 R.Japan, Talata Volonondry. Swahili to EAf at
March 2020 - Australian DX News - 6
0355 to s/off 0400. Fair signal and no sign of the
much weaker co-channel CNR Urumqi station
until the Madagascar txer was switched off. 20/2
(Wagner). ⧫Swahili to EAf on 18/2. Good at 0345
(Adams).
9580 Xizang PBS, Lhasa. Barely audible in Tibetan on
7/2 at 0318 (Adams).
9610 V.O.Turkey. 12/2 2205, good reception, English
talk about tourist attractions (Steiner)
9610 CNR 8, Beijing. Only fair in Mongolian at 0335 on
7/2 (Adams).
9625 RTI, Paochung. Thai to SEA at 0048, fair on 12/2
(Adams).
9635 Voice of Vietnam, Sontay. Poor with domestic
service in Vietnamese on 7/2 at 0307 (Adams).
9635 CLANDESTINE Radio Ndarason International,
Woofferton. 1816-1843 10/2, a nice mixture of
talks in the listed Kanuri language. Fair to good
signal. (D’Angelo-F*)
9640 China Radio International, Kashi. *2058-2109
10/2, tuning signal followed by a man announcer
with opening station ID and announcements for
the Spanish language service. Fair. (D’Angelo-F*)
9650 Radio Guinée, Conakry. 2017-2050* 10/2, lively
programming with a man announcer with French
language talk hosting a program of lively music.
Program abruptly ended without formal
announcements. Fair to good signal. (D’Angelo-
F*)
9665 RFI via Talata-Volonondry. Only fair in Swahili to
EAf at 0440. QRM from KCBS, Kanggye domestic
service in Korean on 18/2 (Adams).
9665 KCBS, Pyongyang (presumed)/ 2309-2338 10/2,
operatic and classical music mix. Poor signal with
deep fades. (D’Angelo-F*)
9720 CNR 2, Baoji-Xinjie. Good in CC at 0311 on 7/2
(Adams).
9720 Radio Erena, Kostinbrod. Prayers (?) with a
heavy studio echo in Arabic at 1750. The regular
announcer back on at 1755 with ID and closing
anncts, s/off 1800, fair signal. Some days the
Tigrinya language is scheduled at this time, so
careful listening is required here. 21/2 (Wagner)
9730 Myanmar Radio, Yangon. Domestic service in
Burmese on 7/2, poor at 0313 (Adams).
9730 Voice of Vietnam. On 2/2 at 1600-2200 in EE,
RR, VV etc. //to more 11 freqs-spurs w/step
approx. 8 KHz It is already several months
(Pankov*).
9765 Madagascar World Voice, Mahajanga.
Portuguese to SAm at 2105 five-part
unaccompanied gospel song. Impressive
harmonies!! Fair to poor signal here but blasts into
the Brazilian SDRs very well! 26/2 (Wagner)
9765 Deewa Radio via Udon Thani. Pashto to
Afghanistan on 12/2. Good at 0106 (Adams).
9765 NHK, Nauen. JJ on 1/2 at 1810 w/cover versions
of EE evergreens, sung in Japanese, like
“V.A.C.A.T.I.O.N.” known as a song of C.Francis
(Pankov*).
9770 KBS World Radio, Kimjae. 0941 8/2. English
Australian DJ, great signal (Emanuel).
9775 VoA via Selebi-Phikwe. Only fair in EE to Af at
0431 on 18/2 (Adams).
9795 FEBC Radio International, Bocaue. *2258-
2230* 9/2, IS followed by opening announcements
in listed Mon language. Program of talks and some
vocal selections until close-down. Poor signal.
(D’Angelo-F*)
9805 RFI, Issoudun. Just after s/on at 0603, Hausa
service to CAf with news, fair to poor signal, 21/2
(Wagner)
9825 VoA via Lampertheim. Somali to EAf at 0338.
Barely audible on 18/2 (Adams).
9830 WHRI, Cypress Creek. Poor in English at 0512
splash from RTM, Kajang on 7/2. At 0515 a 15-
minute French programme starts on Fridays only
(Adams).
9865 AIR, Bengaluru. Vividh Bharati programme in
Hindi at 0120, fair with splash from 9860 CRI,
Jinhua in Amoy on 12/2 (Adams).
9880 Voice of America, Udon. 0031-0100 10/2,
Mandarin language program with several people
in conversation and some short music breaks.
Closed without an English language
announcement but did have five short and one
long time pips at 0100 before terminating
transmission carrier. Poor. (D’Angelo-F*)
9885 VoA, SM Galeria. Groovy African music at 0550
then into news at 0600, weak signal, the service is
weekdays only, 21/2 (Wagner)
9885 VoA via Pinheira. Kirundi service to EAf on7/2,
good at 0508 (Adams).
9915 BBC, Talata Volonondry. English to EAf at 0410,
fair signal but best to listen in USB to avoid the
strong French Navy’s FUJ Noumea Stanag hash
on 9910.6 kHz USB. Noted to s/off 0500. 20/2
(Wagner). ⧫Only fair in EE to EAf on 18/2. Best
heard on 9917 to avoid some sort of electronic
noise (I don’t think it is a jammer) at 0400 (Adams).
9940 Radio Thailand, Udon. 1208-1215* 10/2, woman
announcer with talk in the Malay language.
Instrumental music at 1214 followed by a man with
English language closing station ID and gongs
before carrier terminated. Good signal. (D’Angelo-
F*)
11530 CLANDESTINE Dengê Welat, Grigoriopol.
1335-1422 10/2, nice program of Kurdish music
hosted by a man announcer with brief Kurdish
language talks. Time pips, musical fanfare,
woman with station ID followed by the News
program at 1400. Fair to good signal. (D’Angelo-
F*)
11560 Iran International TV via Yerevan. Good in Farsi
on 18/2 at 0410 (Adams)
11560 All India Radio, Bengaluru. 1321-1353 10/2,
March 2020 - Australian DX News - 7
nice selections of vocals with a man announcer
hosting the Dari language program. Dead air from
1331 but audio returned about ten minutes later.
Good signal. (D’Angelo-F*)
11600 Overcomer Ministry, Kostinbrod. 1422-1433
10/2, another Overcomer channel (just what the
shortwave bands are short of, eh?) with Brother
Stair with non-stop talk. Poor to fair signal.
(D’Angelo-F*)
11610 Voice of America, Woofferton. 1600-1611 10/2,
nice VOA jingle repeated twice followed by a man
announcer mentioning station ID and
“Washington, DC” in listed Somali language. Fair
to good signal. (D’Angelo-F*)
11610 Madagascar World Voice, Mahajanga.
Mandarin service to WEu at 2116, fair signal, 26/2
(Wagner)
11660 VoT, Emirler. Music selections beamed to ME at
0543, fair signal, 19/2 (Wagner)
11660 Kostinbrod. 2/3 at 1527, surprised to find a signal
here when none is scheduled. JBA, sounds like a
few raspy words of Brother Scare, then dead air
past 1530; 1539 recheck someother voice or
language; 1604 check, off. Meanwhile, 11600 has
been off thruout, where TOMBS is scheduled via
Secretbrod at 1400-1700 - Aoki, or 1400-1555 -
EiBi, and usually poorly audible here. Therefore I
conclude a punch up error putting 11660 on air
instead of 11600 (Hauser*)
11680 Voice of Hope, Makeni Ranch. *0359-0418 11/2,
IS with man giving English language ID (This is the
Voice of Hope Africa”). Another man at 0400 with
station ID (“This is Radio Christian Voice, Lusaka
… the Voice of Hope”). Religious programming
continued in the English language service. Fair.
(D’Angelo-F*)
11700 RHC, Quivican. Barely audible in SS to SAm at
0131 on 12/2 (Adams).
11710 Voice of Korea, Kujang. 1438-1557* 10/2,
operatic vocals but noted IS followed by English
language station ID and opening announcements,
a couple of anthems and news program. Plenty of
music later as well as other talk features. Poor.
(D’Angelo-F*)
11745 Al-Azm R., Jeddah. Arabic programming for
Saudi military personnel at 2120, good signal,
26/2 (Wagner)
11780 R.Nacional da Amazonia, Brasilia. Very poor in
PP on 9/2 at 2110 (Adams).
11810 BBC via Ascension. English to CAf at 2024, good
on 9/2. (Adams)
11820 VoA via Tinang. Good in Burmese to SEA on 12/2
at 0140 (Adams).
11850 R.Havana Cuba. 12/2, 2230, moderate reception,
English listener's letters and emails (Steiner)
11860 R.Marti, Greenville. Good in SS to Cuba at 2115
on 9/2 (Adams).
11860 Republic of Yemen R. (R. Sana’a), Jeddah.
Arabic programming at 2127, co-channel QRM
from R. Martí-Greenville NC at about equal
strength. 26/2 (Wagner)
11880 Radio Havana Cuba. 15/2, 2204, fair reception,
English station announcement, soccer
programme (Steiner)
11890 R.Nyawa Sarawak, Tashkent. At 1145 in the Iban
language service (Friday) with long commentary
with background indigenous music, very good
signal until suddenly off at 1158 mid-sentence.
Scheduled for Mon/Wed/Fri. 21/2 (Wagner)
11905 SLBC, Trincomalee. Poor in Hindi to SAs at
0205, under CNR 6, Beijing in Amoy on 12/2
(Adams).
11925 NHK, Yamata. 18/, 1428, good reception in
English, Japanese music by female singer
(Steiner)
11980 China Radio International, Kunming. 1204-
1225 10/2, the English language program with a
man announcer giving the news followed by
station ID and several promotional
announcements, Other features followed. Poor to
fair signal. (D’Angelo-F*)
11985 KTWR, Agana. 1003 8/2 in English. Religious,
good signal (Emanuel).
11995 BBC via Kranji. Very good in EE until abrupt off
mid-sentence at 0159 on 12/2 (Adams).
12010 RFA via Tinian. Poor in Tibetan at 0201 under
CNR 1 jamming on 12/2 (Adams).
12030 REE, Noblejas. Spanish to ME on 9/2, poor at
2005 (Adams). ⧫12/2, 23/1, poor reception,
English talk about climate change (Steiner)
12085 Voice of Mongolia, Ulanbaataar. 1007 8/2 in
Chinese. Good signal (Emanuel). ⧫20/2, fair
reception, English, talking about temples (Steiner)
12095 BBC via Ascension. Good in EE to WAf at 2020
on 9/2 (Adams).
12140 R.Ashna via Udon Thani. Good in Pasto to
Afghanistan on 12/2 at 0148. SP/LP echo
(Adams).
13580 R.Mashaal, Umm al_Rimam. Pashto service
beamed to Pakistan. ID as “Mashaal Radio” at
0523. Fair signal, 19/2 (Wagner)
13740 VOA, Udon Thani. 1007 23/1 in Chinese. Just
there, recognisable (Emanuel).
13845 WWCR, Nashville. English religious programme
at 2031, good on 9/2 (Adams).
13860 BBC, Dhabayya (Dubai). English WS to EAf at
0536, fair to poor signal, 19/2 (Wagner)
13750 HSK9. Fair signal 0030+ on 9/2 with a special
report on the coronavirus epidemic, ID w/ AM/FM
freq. & email: [email protected], into
"Uniquely Thailand". (Sheedy*)
15160 KBS World Radio, Kimjae. 0922 19/1 in Korean.
Weak, always readable signal (Emanuel).
15165 VoA via Selebi-Phikwe. NF (ex 15175) Hausa to
WAf at 0704, very good on 3/2 (Adams).
15190 R.Incônfdencia, Belo Horizonte. 0928 1/2 in
March 2020 - Australian DX News - 8
Portuguese. Poor, recognisable. (Emanuel). Bob,
whilst nothing is impossible, I would like to see a
bit more detail to verify that it was indeed this -cs.
15200 VO Islamic Republic of Iran, Sirjan. 0751 7/2 in
Spanish. Poor, recognisable (Emanuel).
15210 CRI, Kunming. 0930 14/2 in English. Coronavirus
propaganda (Emanuel).
15210 AIR, Panaji. Arabic service to ME at 0503 with
continuous music selections. The characteristic
Panaji squealing transmitter detracted from good
reception, 19/2 (Wagner)
15215 Adventist World Radio, Trincomalee. 1513-
1530* 10/2, vocal followed by a man announcer
with talk in the Hindi language. Several nice
station IDs at close-down including mailing
address in India. Fair to good signal. (D’Angelo-
F*)
15245 Voice of Korea, Kujang. 0738 31/1 in Russian.
Poor, to nothing, readable signal. 2/2 0754 Good
signal. Marching music (Emanuel).
15260 R.Romania Int., Galbeni. 1010 on 9/2 in
Romanian. Good solid signal (Emanuel).
15270 V.O.Turkey. 20/2, 1305, poor reception, German
reading out correspondence (Steiner)
15285 R.Saudi. 0639 28/1 in Swahili. Good solid signal
(Emanuel).
15285 CLANDESTINE Manara Radio, Issoudun. 1603-
1700 10/2, weak signal with a man and woman
speaking in presumed listed Hausa language
program. Mainly talks until a man gave closing
announcements and station ID before audio
ended and carrier was terminated. (D’Angelo-F*)
15315 BBC via Dhabbaya. Arabic to EAf on 7/2. Poor at
0642 (Adams).
15375 Fu Hsing BS, Kuanyin. 0859 on 13/2, Chinese
(Emanuel).
15390 CNR 13, Lingshi. Uyghur service at 0530, very
good on 3/2 (Adams).
15400 BBC via Talata-Volonondry. Poor and noisy in
EE to SAf at 0645 on 3/2 (Adams).
15420 BBC via Dhabbaya. English to EAf on 3/2. Barely
audible to 0650 (Adams). ⧫0646 28/1 in English.
Fades just here to nothing, recognisable when
there (Emanuel).
15420 Rwanda. 29/2 at 1857 African song S9-S8, cut off
at 1859* with no announcement; but scheduled as
Radio Itahuka, weekly target/clandestine, Sat 18-
19 via MADAGASCAR (Hauser*)
15440 VOIRI, Sirjan. Hebrew to ME at 0710, fair on 3/2
(Adams).
15450 R.Romania International, Tiganesti. 0649 28/1,
English. Weak fading to nothing, recognisable at
times, major howling QRM fades up every so often
(Emanuel).
15515 R.Kuwait, Sulaibiyah. 0657 28/1 in Arabic. Weak
to nothing, recognisable at times (Emanuel).
15530 R.Kuwait, Sulaibiyah. English to Eu at 0504.
Poor and noisy on 3/2 (Adams).
15580 FEBC Radio, Bocaue. 1002 19/1 in Sunda.
Fades suddenly OK to nothing. Mostly readable
(Emanuel).
15640 R.Azadi/Radio Free Afghanistan, Kuwait. 0915
13/2. Weak, readable signal (Emanuel).
15685 BBC. 29/2 at 1900, hyper Hausa talk at S8-S7,
where normally there is nothing. This is BBC on
Saturdays only at 1700-1930, existing solely to
broadcast silly ballgames; how considerate. There
is also some scratchy splatter on the plus side, but
no bigsig nearby to produce it. I think that as in
times past it`s spurious from afar 15825 WWCR-
1, which is getting a sporadic E boost to S9+10
also audiblizing the squeal. But I can`t hear
anything like it equally plus circa 15963; it`s
asymmetric (Hauser*)
17510 AIR, Delhi. 0858 29/1 in Indonesian. Great signal,
could be next door (Emanuel).
17510 AIR, Bengaluru. 1007 15/2 in English. Great
signal (Emanuel).
17530 Voice of Turkey, Emirler. 0540 13/2 in Malay.
Fades weak to poor, sometimes readable
(Emanuel).
17570 CRI, Urumqi. 0943 on 20/1 in English. Australian
accents. Great signal (Emanuel).
17570 CRI, Kashi-Saibagh. 1022 25/1 in Hungarian. OK
signal to poor. (Emanuel).
17615 R.Saudi, Riyadh. 0935 24/1 in Arabic. OK signal.
Readable 29/1 (Emanuel).
17650 KSDA, Agat. AWR Programming in Cantonese to
EAs at 0140, fair to poor signal, 21/2 (Wagner)
17660 RFA, Agignan Pt. 0350 20/1 in Chinese. Weak to
poor. Major CNR/CRI QRM underneath.
(Emanuel).
17675 RFA, Dushanbe. 0925 14/2 in Tibetan. OK signal
(Emanuel).
17705 Broadcasting Service of the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, Riyadh. 1351-1358 10/2, noted in
passing with Arabic language talks by two male
announcers. Fair to good signal. (D’Angelo-F*)
17710 RFA, Dushanbe. 0925 14/2 in Tibetan. OK signal
(Emanuel).
17720.03 VOT. 2/3 at 1518, JBA music/talk, significantly off-
frequency, i.e. VOT Arabic this hour only; almost
the OSOB except for 17615+ Sa`udi JBA carrier.
Something`s always erroneous at Emirler
(Hauser*)
17730 RFA, Dushanbe. 0925 14/2 in Tibetan. OK signal
(Emanuel).
17760 R.Kuwait. Tagalog service w/nx about Corona
virus. ID as Radio Kuwait Pinoy Service 1016, the
"The World Today". Good on 3/3 (Seager)
17805 R.Saudi, Riyadh. 0942. Weak, readable
(Emanuel).
17810 R.Japan, Yamata. The early s/on at 0155 with
pre-announcements and other bits, inc. website
address. Time pips at 0200, ID and news. Lovely
signal and one of the few audible signals on the
March 2020 - Australian DX News - 9
band at this time. // 15195 and 15325 also heard
but weaker signal there. 21/2 (Wagner)
17820 R.Pilipinas, Tinang. Noted just after s/on at 0200
with the Dateline news program in English to ME.
Occasional anncts in Filipino (formerly known as
Tagalog), too! A weak signal and the usual
telephone quality audio. // 15640 also heard but
even weaker signal there, 21/2. While listening to
this broadcast, I checked the KiwiSDRs in Kuwait,
Qatar and even southern Europe, but didn't hear
any signal. Clearly, this station is having trouble
being heard into its target zone at this time.
However, I managed to pick up a weak signal from
Victor G.'s (4S7VK) Sri Lanka online SDR and
also some slightly stronger audio from one Indian
KiwiSDR, but that was all! (Wagner)
17880 Mashaal Radio, Biblis. 1033 25/1 in Pashto.
Weak but solid signal (Emanuel).
17895 R.Saudi, Riyadh. 0740 15/2 in Arabic. Weak,
recognisable (Emanuel).
Contributors Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF2001D, Folded
Marconi antenna)
John Adams, Port Douglas, Far North Queensland
(Sangean ATS-909X 7 Metre Reel Antenna).
Rob Wagner, VK3BVW, Mount Evelyn, VIC (Equipment:
Yaesu FTDX 3000, Kenwood TS2000, Yaesu FRG100,
FRG-7, Kenwood R5000, Tecsun PL-680, Horizontal Sky
Loop, Double Bazooka antennas for 80, 40 and 20 metres,
Par EF-SWL End Fed antenna, BHI NEIM1031 Digital Noise
Eliminating Module, MFJ-1026 Noise Cancelling Module,
ATU).
Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, USA (PL380/6m X wire) Bob Emanuel, VK2FRMA, Blackheath NSW (ICOM R8500
fed by Sony AN1 active antenna, ICOM 7300 fed by TEV1
8.5m Vertical).
Martin Steiner, Denmark WA (Icom R-75, Grundig Satellit
750 Sony ICF 7600D, 30m longwire).
Rich D’Angelo, French Creek State Park (Ten-Tec RX-340,
Drake R-8B and an Eton E1, 500-foot wire essentially north
for the RX-340 and 250-foot wire essentially northeast for
the R-8B and a whip antenna for the E1).
Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, Calif. (Etón E1,
antenna: 30m long wire)
Glenn Hauser, Enid OK USA (JRC NRD-545 with
Wellbrook ALA-330S; Icom R-75, Tecsun PL-880, Radio
Shack DX-398, Grundig Yacht Boy 400, with random wires;
Grundig G8)
Craig Seager, VK2HBT, Bathurst NSW (Perseus SDR, JRC
NRD-545, Airspy HF+, DX Engineering Preamp, Wellbrook
feeder isolator, Icom IC-756 Pro, Loop Skywire, Home-
made Loop with LZ1AQ amplifier, Wellbrook ALA1530-
LNPro)
* Denotes member outside of Australia
Digital mode
Editor’s hot pick (CS) €
Another picture of Rob’s Gregor’s setup:
And from Stewart Lessel:
March 2020 - Australian DX News - 10
On Air
The Latest News from the Shortwave Bands edited by Craig Seager Editorial Address 12 Pellion Pl., Windradyne NSW 2795 E-mail [email protected]
ANTARCTICA LRA36 ID in passing and again at 1804 UT as "la radio mas austral del mundo", seems discussion with station manager in Argentine accent, of the station and history of the base. It seems that 22 Febr is the anniversary of something. Tnx to tip from Dan Robinson who was hearing it the previous hour also via this remote and still probably the one at Gaithersburg MD, who's been on RX #07 since 1716. This interrupts my listening to Mozart at the Met! Continued listening: 1830 UT mentions a helicopter, and tries to play a song about Antarctica, 1831 UT succeeds, 1833 UT trying for a hookup with another Arg base, San Martin, but does not seem to make it; 1836 UT ID and "Antartida" song, 1840 UT ID, mentions "El dia de la Antartida Argentina", marking continuous presence for 116 years since 1904. Here's more about that: <https://www.losandes.com.ar/article/view?slug=el-dia-de-la-antartida-argentina> (Glenn Hauser-OK-USA, wor Febr 22)
AUSTRALIA A new service from Radio Australia Shepparton No, it is not a Radio Australia service, but a unique opportunity that we as amateurs have been given to use the site and its antennas for a short period. Rex James, VK3OF, has been negotiating with BAI (formally Broadcast Australia) and has been granted approval nominally for the weekend of 14th and 15th March. The opportunity to use a magnificent antenna system with gains from some antennas of up to 20 dB with our current amateur power levels will give effective radiated power (ERP) in a favoured direction of 40 kW. If as has been mentioned the amateur service may get an upgrade in power for advanced licensees this may well give us100 kW ERP capability by the event dates. The event will be restricted to the use of one service on antennas that suit amateur bands. We would only be able to operate on bands 7, 10, 14, 18 and 21 MHz. One of the rhombics may be able to be used on 3.5 MHz. Some antennas are broadband but whether that means broadband within International Broadcasting bands only or not is yet to be determined. There are 13 antennas 2 – terminated Rhombics, 5 - broad band antennas and 6 – narrow band antennas. The antenna
bore sites range from North West through North to nearly due East. The antenna slewing system (electronically changes beam direction by a pre-set numbers of degrees) will not be available, unfortunately. I do know that 7 MHz is feasible as one frequency used by Radio Australia was 7.24 MHz. The 21 MHz narrow band antenna will work on our band. The Radio Australia 21.725 MHz frequency works well but due to a problem at one time with a digital divider frequency control circuit 21.325 MHz (within the amateur band) was accidently transmitted for a short period. Our reception from the antenna system will also be enhanced as much as for transmissions. Only six people will be allowed on site (excluding BAI staff) at any one time so shifts will need to be organised so that a reasonable number of people get an opportunity to operate the station. If you are interested in being involved in some way contact Peter VK3FPSR as soon as practical. A special call sign is being sought to use during this important event. There will be an on-line registration system set up and details will be announced via the club website when ready. Members of SADARCs committee, Rex James and other folk involved with this and other aspects of the site’s future met on Sunday 12th at Ray’s home to discuss what has to be done to really get this on the road. Some things are still in confidence and are being negotiated so we can’t really tell you much more. Without Rex’s and Joe’s (one of the anonymous folk involved) input this would be unlikely to get off the ground. This whole exciting project will be discussed in much more detail at the next meeting on 1st February. (Rodney Champness VK3UG, and via Nigel Holmes)
RUSSIA GTRK of Russia, Republic of Adygea. GTRK Adygean SW to Near East, ex Osmanic empire states, 100 years ago. WEB <http://www.adygtv.ru/> Contacts <http://www.adygtv.ru/gtrk/contacts/> E-mail <[email protected]> Team+photo <http://www.adygtv.ru/gtrk/kollektiv/> The State Television and Radio Company of the Republic of Adygea is a branch of the country's largest media holding, the All-Russian State Television and Radio Company. It was created in 1931 as the Maykop city edition of broadcasting, in 1950it was renamed the Adygea regional
March 2020 - Australian DX News - 11
edition of radio information, in 1952 the Adygea regional committee of radio information, in June 1953 the Department of radio information of the Culture Directorate of the Adygea regional executive committee, and in September 1958 the Adygea regional edition of broadcasting , in March 1960 - the Committee for Broadcasting and Television of the Adygea Oblast Executive Committee, in 1971 – the Committee on Television and Radio Broadcasting of the Adygea Oblast Executive Committee, since April 10, 1992 has the modern name of. On March 6, 1993, the first broadcast of the Adyghe TV and Radio Company took place. The first six months of the television program of Adygea were broadcast 2 times a week, then they began to broadcast 4 days with the hourly volume of the program. Since 1994, republican television has been broadcast every day. In 2004, like many other television and radio companies of the regions, the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company Adygea became a branch of the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company. Today, the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company "Adygea" broadcasts on the TV channels "Russia 1", "Russia 24", and the radio channels "Radio Russia" and "Mayak". For compatriots living abroad established broadcasting. Radio programs sound in Adyghe, Turkish and Arabic. Legal address: 385000, Republic of Adygea, Maykop, Zhukovsky street, 24. (RUSdx via Glenn Hauser-OK-USA, wor Febr 18)
UNITED STATES WMLK (Bethel, PA) USA has been off air since suffering a fire at their transmitter site in March 2017. They have just posted this update below on their Facebook page (their transmitter was being built by Ampegon - it was reported as 45% complete back in June 2018, but was delayed by a US government project taking priority re a WMLK posting in February 2019). "We are grateful to report that the contract for the TX being now built by a newly formed company has been signed. We will have a better time frame on completion in the near future and it will be noted here. Thank you for your support and prayers for this dynamic end time project! Yahweh Bless! Shalom!" (WMLK Radio on Facebook, 20 Febr, WWDXC Top News)
VANUATU Adrian Sainsbury-NZL has posted news of Vanuatu shortwave transmissions. Here are the details. VANUATU VBTC FREQUENCY PLAN. EFFECTIVE FROM 01 MARCH 2020.
VILA Time UTC Time MARCH 2020 0530-1130 1830-0030 3945 1100-1800 0000-0700 5040 1800-2230 0700-1130 3945 2230-0530 1130-1830 2485 occasional use only. - - - - posted by me today: Hi Wolfie - Thanks for the new info. Yes, did notice some of the changes today (March 1). Ron As Rob Wagner and I have been noticing recently, RV is still getting adjusted to their new transmitter and experimenting with their schedule. March 1, found 7260 was off the air when checking 0618-0700; whereas yesterday RV was here with an extended broadcast thru 0659*. March 1 (Sunday), did observe RV on 3945 kHz., *0700-0959*; long segments of chatting in vernacular; usual religious segments of preaching in vernacular and religious songs (sounded like Gaither Vocal Band - "Yes, I Know," etc.); doing fairly well on this frequency. As it was Sunday, Japan was off the air here. My audio with one minute of "Yes, I Know" and four minutes of preaching and ending with music, at http://bit.ly/389IMan. From 1000-1005, checked 5040 and 7260 for any sign of RV, but clearly not there. On 2485 kHz., tentatively did find RV, from 1037 till cut off at 1059*. The usual religious segments of preaching and religious songs. Language and format sounded right to be RV, so am confident it was them, but didn't catch a positive ID, as I would have liked to hear. (Ron Howard)
NEW HISTORY MATERIAL AT
<www.ontheshortwaves.com> Update, February 2, 2020 -- Under "QSLs
& Other Station Memorabilia" we have posted the third and final part in our
series, "The BBC in QSLs." Part III covers the relay stations. -- Under
"Specialized Resources/Wavescan," Adrian Peterson has checked in with
four new entries: (1) "The Tragic Disaster of the German Airship
Hindenburg" (Wavescan N566, December 29, 2019); (2) "The Radio
Scene on a Volcanic Island in the South Pacific: the Recent Tragedy on
New Zealand’s White Island" (Wavescan N568, January 12, 2020); (3) "The
Early Wireless Scene on the Pacific Island, Bougainville" (Wavescan N569,
January 19, 2020), and (4) "The Shortwave Scene in South American
Uruguay" (Wavescan N570, January 26, 2020). -- And we have updated
the Wavescan index to include all Wavescan scripts through December
2019.
<www.ontheshortwaves.com> Update, February 9, 2019 -- Under DX
"History/Stations," we have posted a writeup about Morocco: "Early
Morocco Shortwave and Moroccan QSLs Through the Years." -- We have
two new items on the "Specialized Resources" page. Adrian Peterson has
filed another "Wavescan" entry: "Jungle Radio on Bougainville Island"
(Wavescan N571, February 2, 2020). And from Colin Miller we have a
recording of the Voice of Malaysia (Suara Malaysia), from around 1981.
March 2020 - Australian DX News - 12
<www.ontheshortwaves.com> Update, February 16, 2020 -- This time,
under "DX History/Recordings," we have posted the fourth (and final) group
of recordings of shortwave broadcast stations in Colombia. These were
recorded in the 1970s and 1980s. Colombia IV contains the following
stations; ID locations are in [brackets]: (1) Caracol Carreno, Puerto
Carreno, 5936 kHz., 1984 [:58]. - (2) La Voz del Cinaruco, Arauca, 4865
kHz., 1975 [:02]. - (3) La Voz del Llano, Villavicencio, 6115 kHz., 1978
[:33]. - (4) La Voz del Rio Arauca, Arauca, 4895 kHz., 1988 [:01, :24, 3:47,
4:02]. - (5) R. Colosal, Neiva, 4945 kHz., 1975 [:22]. - (6) R. Macarena,
Villavicencio, 5973.5 kHz., 1983 [:38, 1:12]. - (7) R. Nueva Vida, Cucuta,
5569 kHz., 1986 [:52]. - (8) R. Santa Fe, Bogota, 4965 kHz., 1975 [:06]. -
(9) R. Super de Bogota, 6065 kHz., 1975 [:09, :20]. - (10) R. Super de
Cali, 6120 kHz., 1975 [:11]. - (11) R. Super de Medellin, 5953 kHz., 1975
[:46]. - (12) R. Transamazonica, San Jose del Guaviare, 6051.5 kHz.,
1981 [:06, :28]. - (13) Radiodifusora Nacional del Colombia, Bogota,
15335 kHz., 1976 [:17, :50]. - And as a reminder of how things used to be,
we have also posted a copy of the WRTH Colombia list from the 1979
edition. It listed 55 active shortwave frequencies.
<www.ontheshortwaves.com> Update, February 23, 2020 -- The Quixote
Radio Club was founded in 1933. Originally located in Hendersonville,
North Carolina, it soon decamped for Santa Barbara, California, and stayed
in operation until around 1941. It professed a greater interest in program
content than other clubs, but its bulletin, The Short Wave Reporter, was no
less DX oriented. The first item in most issues was a writeup about a
particular station, e.g. "Hear Mozambique," "Hear Hong Kong," etc. These
often included brief comments about the program, the dial location in
relation to other known stations, interference the listener might encounter,
etc. We have extracted some these features from the QRC bulletins for the
years 1936-39, added QSLs of the stations, and present the result under
"DX History/Clubs & Publications." The first two groups are from Africa and
the Americas. More of these next time. -- And in "Specialized
Resources/The DX Recordings of Colin Miller," Colin has sent us a
recording of Radio Japan from the 1970s. Thanks, Colin.
(Jerry Berg)
Editor: John Wright E-mail: [email protected] The Listening Post is all about you, past future and present tense. Members are interested in reading about how you started in the hobby, and what you have been doing radio-wise recently. But we also want to hear about the person lurking behind the dials, so feel free to slip in a bit of more general life-based discussion. Too, this is the place to discuss any and all topics of current interest to radio hobbyists, but let’s keep it light and respectful.
John Wright, Roselands NSW ICOM R 75 EWE
antennae 350 degrees.
Well it’s not for the want of trying! I’ve been listening to no
avail. Nothing new here. The only thing I received was a
QSL from Bro Stair via WRMI 7730. Which is better than a
poke in the eye with a blunt stick! As you all know the Wyong
Field day was on the 22 Feb, but as per past magazine we
elected not to go. Normally I get phone calls telling me how
good it was or how bad it was. But no calls, which I think this
means nothing happened. However, looking forward to a
week’s leave toward the end of March, north of Tuncurry
except minding another blue cattle dog. Will run portable
power with the ICOM R75 off the car’s battery. Will try what
John Smith and myself did at Cleveland in Queensland. Use
a loop, now I have the massive version of the KIWA Loop,
this runs off 240 v, however the loop itself may work well.
Also, we’ll test the Sangean 909 on batteries with the loop
and see what happens.
QSL from Brother Stair via WRMI Miami 7730.
QSL review.
USA East. Brother Stair via WRMI 7730. Picture on front of
Bro Stair will pics of 9/11 and other disasters, rear FD card.
Air in 7 weeks for 1 USD as rp. (Wright)
(JW) ᴥ
Broadcast Band & FM News Editor: John Wright E-mail: [email protected] Postal contributions to John Wright, 71 Hilton Avenue, Roselands 2196 N.S.W.
John Wright, Roselands NSW ICOM R75 with an EWE antenna. Only heard that a new station on air testing 1575 Wollongong 100 w ex Rete Italia 23/2 by Todd Emslie via ICDX news group. I tried 24/2 0430 and again 0730 UTC just a whisker of a signal using USB, so this is one to watch. As of 26/2 nothing. AL Kirton Radio 4KZ 1620 Taylors beach no longer 4KZ but now as of Thursday 20 Feb now vision network United Christian Broadcasters. Radio 4KZ 90.3 Euramo now on air, just south of Tully in North Queensland. Back to Sydney 1665 off air 0700 and also Brisbane off air from John Smith 0630 26/2. Sydney still off air 29/2. Johno. Chris Martin, Lower Beechmont Qld. 450-meter antenna @ 80deg mag with AOR 7030+ receiver on 12 volts. Not a lot to report this month. As we roll on toward the equinox. Radio Naval, Guayaquil on 1510kHz bobs up
March 2020 - Australian DX News - 13
regularly - noticeable with its times pips & Robo voice with Ecuadorian time. MW Trail 540 0753 Apia 2AP on top with church service in
Samoan. 9/2 Sig S9
621 0745 Tuvalu good w/f/vocals, in vernacular.
920 0815 Un id w/ C2C-AM weak sig + oldies stn way
down. 7/2
950 0950 KJR Seattle on Fox Sports Radio. Music
under. 8/2
1098 0730 V7AB Majuro fair sig w/f/a in Marshallese
then island choir. 23/2. Sig S7
1160 0811 KSL Salt Lake C. ‘Jim Bohannon Show’
phone numbers – clear signal.
1350 0812 KSRO Santa Rosa C2C-AM on top. Fox
Sports under.
1360 0915 3 x Un id’s: Oldies mx; Mex SS mx; M/a in
PP!!.
1400 1152 Un id w/ Hindi mx on top of the ‘graveyard’
mush. 25/2
1410 0955 CFTE Vancouver F/a “Bloomberg Radio
1410AM”.
1420 0923 Un id w/C&W on top (KSTN or KMOG).
Hawaiian way under.
1480 0755 KGOE Eureka C2C-AM w/show phone
numbers. Dominant.
1500 0723 KSJX San Jose in CC. F/a & CC Mx. Then
KHKA HI. sports up on top.
1530 0755 KFBK Sacramento mixing 2VM. On C2C-
AM : Dancing Queen ‘Bumper Music’.
1540 0723 KXPA Bellevue WA w/oldies on top 25/2
1540 0801 KXEL Waterloo w/ Fox News & M/a “KXEL
Local News”.
WOW!-JW ed. FM News from Martin Greer in Launceston Tasmania. 94:5 2NNR Richmond/Tweed NSW, very good at 7:18 3/1
(MG)
95:1 3PNN Gippsland Victoria, good at 5:29 30/1 (MG)
96:1 2JJJ Richmond/Tweed NSW, strong at 7:13 3/1 (MG)
96:7 3JJJ Gippsland Victoria fair at 6:48 30/1 (MG)
100:7 3GLR Gippsland Victoria good at 6:33 30/1(MG)
101:5 3ABCFM Gippsland Victoria good at 6:33 30/1 MG)
106:3 4ABCFM Rockhampton QLD good at 4:47 1/2 (MG)
107:9 4ROK Rockhampton QLD good at 4:25 1/2 (MG)
The following stations from Gippsland Victoria were heard
on the 5/2 and 24/2 being 3PNN on 95:1Mhz,3GLR on
100:7Mhz,3ABCFM on 101:5Mhz.Also on the 18/12/2019
the following stations were heard from Melbourne,3SBS on
93:1Mhz,3ABCFM on 105:9Mhz,3JJJ on 107:5Mhz,for a
period of time from 12:38UTC or local time of 11:38pm.
So, there is not a great deal, to report on much FM DX, for this current summer time.
The radios I am using are Icom R7000, Degen DE1121, Digitech AR1780, Digitech AR1733, AR1945, Sony ICF-SW7600G. Antennas are a Phased Array fixed in North East direction and generic VHF antenna fixed South East. So, all the best from Martin in Launceston. (Nice list-JW)
Clippings Radio Related Stories from the World Press Edited by Craig Seager Editorial Address 12 Pellion Pl., Windradyne NSW 2795 E-mail [email protected]
Global Shortwave Coordination The A20 Global Shortwave Coordination Conference was this week in Kuala Lumpur, from 24-28 February. The conference provided an important forum to resolve or minimize instances of mutual interference among shortwave transmissions for the Summer (A20) season. Delegates from Short Wave Broadcasters and Frequency Management Organizations had a valuable opportunity to coordinate their frequencies directly with the frequency managers of other broadcasters in this regard. The A20 season runs from 29 March to 25 October in the calendar year 2020. Thirty-one frequency managers from 18 countries representing 21 frequency management organizations are taking part in the week-long conference. The ABU is the host for the A20 Conference which is jointly organized by the High Frequency Coordination Conference (HFCC), the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU). https://www.abu.org.my/2020/02/24/a20-global-hfcc-conference-underway-in-kuala-lumpur/ (Mike Terry via Southgate ARC)
Soviet Shortwave Spy Radio Unearthed in Western Germany (Jürgen Vogel, LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn) COLOGNE, GERMANY—According to a Live Science report, archaeologist Erich Classen of the Rhineland Regional Association and his colleagues were looking for a Roman villa in western Germany when they unearthed a Soviet spy radio that had been sealed in a metal box and hidden along a path through what was the Hambach Forest, just a few miles away from a nuclear research centre and military air base. Manufactured in the Soviet Union in 1987, the shortwave radio, which was still covered in factory wrapping bearing notes on dial positions in Russian script, is a model R-394KKM capable of transmitting and receiving messages over a distance of some 750 miles.
March 2020 - Australian DX News - 14
“We think the radio will work if a new battery is available,” Classen said. The radio itself is labelled in English with the Roman alphabet, and was perhaps intended for use by a German or English speaker before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Classen and his team suggest the radio was never used, however, and may have been stowed away as a backup device. To read about the discovery of Soviet nuclear warhead bases in the forests of Poland, go to "Cold War Storage." (www.archaeology.org)
AIR Updates DRM Progress, Nears Public Launch Now that infrastructure is in place, interested parties seeking a framework to bring DRM to the public At a Digital Radio Mondiale stakeholders meeting in New Delhi, India, on Feb. 12, All India Radio (AIR) briefed more than 100 attendees that it has made great progress in its rollout of DRM. AIR says that today it has 35 DRM transmitters in the AM band, four of which are now working in pure DRM digital mode. The broadcaster adds that it has extended the pure DRM hours of transmission for the remaining sites, and that DRM
transmission has also allowed for the broadcast of more varied content. With this progress, representatives of the chipset, receiver and car manufacturers say they would like to take greater advantage of what DRM has to offer. They have asked that a framework be developed to bring DRM to the public, with clear milestones and a clear launch for DRM. AIR said that it is planning to develop a multiplatform publicity campaign to launch soon.
Ruxandra Obreja, DRM consortium chairman, is pictured with Mr. Yogendra Pal, honorary chairman DRM India, and Alexander Zink, vice-chair DRM consortium. Photo courtesy of DRM.
AIR also used the meeting to make additional announcements like the conversion of six more high-power medium wave transmitters to DRM. The broadcaster further highlighted the increase of pure DRM transmission times, the possibility of sharing airtime with private broadcasters and enabling the DRM emergency warning feature in conjunction with the Indian disaster national agency. “With communication, cooperation and confidence, AIR, with the support of the various committed stakeholders in India, some of which are consortium members, can set a launch date to make available all the DRM benefits to the Indian population,” said Ruxandra Obreja, the DRM chairman. (Radio World)
WWII Radio Station Gets its Call Letters Back KGEI, a shortwave radio station in Redwood Shores that was the only voice from home for GIs in the Pacific during World War II, has its call letters back. The letters on the front of the building located off Radio Road were covered up decades ago by a church that took over the station’s transmitter building, now part of Silicon Valley Clean Water. “I am happy to report that we have uncovered the letters on the building,” said Teresa Herrera, manager of the wastewater treatment facility. “I think it looks great!” Herrera said she had no idea of the building’s history until
March 2020 - Australian DX News - 15
the Rear-View Mirror brought it to SVCW’s attention. No extra money was needed for the restoration because the building was due to be painted. “The letters were just as they were when the concrete forms had been originally removed in the 1930s,” said construction manager William Tanner.
Still, there is no plaque to remind the few visitors to the area that KGEI, the GEI standing for General Electric International, played an important role in World War II. Among other accomplishments, the station broadcast Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s “I have returned” speech that fulfilled his promise to return with victorious American troops to the Philippines, occupied by Japanese forces since 1942.
“The First 24 Hours of War in the Pacific,” a book written by Donald Young, underlines the importance of KGEI. It also reminds readers how successful Japanese forces were during those 24 hours in attacking Malaysia, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Wake Island and Guam, as well as Hawaii. (Daily Journal via SWLing Post – Full article at https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/wwii-radio-station-gets-its-call-letters-back/article_c7697fba-4f9f-11ea-9302-f74dc3c20a45.html)
Utility DX Report Editor: John Volpato E-mail: [email protected] https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8q_xuyF7YdbF8jCSdyjmsQ
Welcome to the March Utility Column.
Logs this month from Phil Brennan, Eddie Waters. (I’ve been
travelling to the US and just got back)
First Up Phil and some Navtex goodness:
NAVTEX
Philip Brennan
QTH: Darwin, Northern Territory Australia
Locator: PH57kp
Receiver: Afedri SDR rev.6, SDR Console v.3.17
Antenna: Wellbrook ALA 1530 LNPro (12m) - PA0RDT Mini-
Whip (6m)
Software: YaND v.7.0
YYYYMMDD HHMM KHz ID CALL STATION, COUNTRY
DIST (Km)
----------------------------------------------------------------
20200131 1716 518 $11H JNR Moji, JPN
5146
20200206 1733 518 $11J DZS Manila, PHL
3189
20200209 1428 518 $12O NMO Honolulu, HWA
8613
20200214 1100 518 $11S 9WH21 Sandakan, MLA
2483
20200214 1110 518 $11T 9WW21 Miri R, Sarawak, MLA
2637
20200214 1248 518 $11E PKX Jakarta, INS
2726
20200214 1300 518 $11G JNB Naha, JPN
4300
20200214 1318 518 $11J DZS Manila, PHL
3189
20200214 1345 518 $11K JNX Kushiro, JPN
6313
20200214 1400 518 $11M XSI Sanya, CHN
4136
20200214 1409 518 $11N XSQ Guangzhou, CHN
4384
20200214 1435 518 $11P XSX Keelung, TWN
4288
20200214 1443 518 $11Q XSG Shanghai, CHN
4941
20200214 1523 518 $11U 9MG Penang, MLA
3910
20200214 1554 518 $11X XVS Ho Chi Minh-Ville, VTN
3715
20200214 1600 518 $13A UIK Vladivostok, RSE
6206
20200214 1648 518 $11F HAS Bangkok (Nonthaburi), THA
4426
20200214 1726 518 $11I JGC Yokohama, JPN
5400
20200214 1730 518 $11K XVT Danang, TN
4030
20200214 1850 518 $11R XSZ Dalian, CHN
5785
20200214 1943 518 $11W HL? Pyongsan, KOR
5334
20200214 2020 518 $11C 9VG Singapore, SNG
3368
Phil Brennan (GMDSS)
Afedri SDR rev.6, SDR Console v.3.13
Antenna: Welbrook ALA 1530 LNPro
Software: Multi PSK v.4.41
Mode: GMDSS (MPSK V.4.41)
Freq: (16.80450 MHz [ AF=1785 Hz])
21/02/2020 05:31:41: 403505001 [Ship] (FOWAIRET -
Saudi Arabia)
21/02/2020 05:32:13: 370084000 [Ship] (ORIENTAL II,
3FOG - Panama)
21/02/2020 05:32:32: 477348100 [Ship] (Hong Kong
March 2020 - Australian DX News - 16
(China))
21/02/2020 05:33:32: 533907000 [Ship] (BUNGA KELANA
10, 9MGH2, Tanker - Malaysia)
21/02/2020 05:35:28: 357920000 [Ship] (AMSTEL
OSPREY, 3FXB2, Cargo - Panama)
21/02/2020 05:41:51: 352544000 [Ship] (CSCL
KINGSTON, 3EQS9 - Panama)
21/02/2020 05:43:05: 441562000 [Ship] (South Korea)
21/02/2020 05:44:32: 538006714 [Ship] (Marshall Islands)
21/02/2020 05:46:30: 525108017 [Ship] (Indonesia)
21/02/2020 05:48:14: 477406000 [Ship] (UNI ACCORD,
VRYW2 - Hong Kong (China))
21/02/2020 05:48:50: 352167000 [Ship] (AQUA BLUE,
H9GC - Panama)
21/02/2020 05:49:35: 356161000 [Ship] (HOKUETSU
FUTURE, HOSA, Cargo - Panama)
21/02/2020 05:50:31: 564058000 [Ship] (KOTA HIDAYAH,
Cargo - Singapore)
21/02/2020 05:52:29: 004122100 [Coast station: 31°08'N
121°33'E Shanghai MRCC
21/02/2020 05:53:23: 005030001 [Coast station: 26°19'S
146°15'E Charleville/Wiluna RCC
21/02/2020 05:55:16: 525100552 [Ship] (Indonesia)
21/02/2020 05:59:05: 235102451 [Ship] (United Kingdom)
21/02/2020 05:59:17: 477685600 [Ship] (HAN HE, VRGH5
- Hong Kong (China))
21/02/2020 06:02:20: 525001084 [Ship] (LNG AQUARIUS,
POJV - Indonesia)
21/02/2020 06:02:57: 538004748 [Ship] (FEDERAL
TAMBO, Cargo - Marshall Islands)
21/02/2020 06:04:43: 565453000 [Ship] (BOW
SINGAPORE, 9VAA9 - Singapore)
21/02/2020 06:06:01: 310705000 [Ship] (SICHEM PARIS,
Tanker - Bermuda)
21/02/2020 06:08:33: 567226000 [Ship] (TASCO AMATA,
HSB2978, Tanker - Thailand)
21/02/2020 06:10:32: 636018338 [Ship] (Liberia)
21/02/2020 06:11:27: 432495000 [Ship] (ENERGY
ADVANCE, 7JAA, Tanker - Japan)
21/02/2020 06:12:46: 353860000 [Ship] (FORTUNE BAY,
3EUZ3, Cargo - Panama)
21/02/2020 06:13:00: 538006029 [Ship] (DENSA
CROCODILE - Marshall Islands)
6257.40 HUMPTY DOO NT AUS STANAG 4285 USB
2400/3300 600 LONG ENCRYPTED TEXT 413
26 FEBRUARY (EW)
6418.50 HUMPTY DOO NT AUS STANAG 4285 USB
2400/3300 600 LONG ENCRYPTED TEXT 333
26 FEBRUARY (EW)
7640 VLADIVOSTOK RUSSIA FSK T600 50/250
SEVERAL ENCRYPTED MESSAGES 941 13
FEBRUARY (EW)
7925.00 VLADIVOSTOK RUSSIA FSK CIS 14 96/1000
CONTINUOUS CYRILLIC TEXT. 2 CHANNEL
SYSTEM 1137 19 FEBRUARY (EW)
9347.40 HUMPTY DOO NT AUS STANAG 4285 USB
2400/3300 600 LONG ENCRYPTED TEXT 926
25 FEBRUARY (EW)
9351.00 HUMPTY DOO NT AUS STANAG 4285 USB
2400/3300 600 LONG ENCRYPTED TEXT 918
25 FEBRUARY (EW)
11444.00 HUMPTY DOO NT AUS STANAG 4285 USB
2400/3300 600 LONG ENCRYPTED TEXT 445
26 FEBRUARY (EW)
12376.5 UNIDENTIFIED USER/LOCATION STANAG
4285 2400/3300 USB IDLE NO TRAFFIC 427 25
FEBRUARY (EW)
12592 MOSCOW RUSSIA FSK T600 50/250 SINGLE
MESSAGE 1017 23 FEBRUARY (EW)
13068 VLADIVOSTOK RUSSIA FSK T600 50/250
SEVERAL ENCRYPTED MESSAGES 927 21
FEBRUARY (EW)
14465 UNIDENTIFIED USER/LOCATION STANAG
4285 2400/3300 USB IDLE NO TRAFFIC 500 26
FEBRUARY (EW)
14548.20 AKROTIRI CYPRUS STANAG 4285 2400/3300
USB IDLE NO TRAFFIC 705 21 FEBRUARY (EW)
14563.00 VLADIVOSTOK RUSSIA RJS AT 3004D USB
IDLING AND IN TRAFFIC MODE 727 21
FEBRUARY (EW)
14582 UNIDENTIFIED USER/LOCATION STANAG
4285 2400/3300 USB IDLE NO TRAFFIC 843 21
FEBRUARY (EW)
14600.00qHUMPTY DOO NT AUS STANAG 4285 USB
2400/3300 600 LONG ENCRYPTED TEXT 505
26 FEBRUARY (EW)
14600.00 VLADIVOSTOK RUSSIA RJS AT 3004D USB
IDLING AND IN TRAFFIC MODE 727 21
FEBRUARY (EW)
14636.00 VLADIVOSTOK RUSSIA RJS AT 3004D USB
IDLING AND IN TRAFFIC MODE 723 21
FEBRUARY (EW)
14645.00 HUMPTY DOO NT AUS STANAG 4285 USB
2400/3300 600 LONG ENCRYPTED TEXT 926
21 FEBRUARY (EW)
14723.70 LA REGINE FRANCE FUG STANAG 4285 USB
2400/3300 600 LONG ENCRYPTED TEXT 717
21 FEBRUARY (EW)
14879.50 PYONGYANG NORTH KOREA ARQ 600/600
ENCRYPTED TEXT 721 21 FEBRUARY (EW)
16946.00 VLADIVOSTOK RUSSIA RJS AT 3004D USB
IDLING AND IN TRAFFIC MODE 525 21
FEBRUARY (EW)
16998.40 HUMPTY DOO NT AUS STANAG 4285 USB
2400/3300 600 LONG ENCRYPTED TEXT 510
26 FEBRUARY (EW)
That’s all folks,
Thanks for stopping by for a read.
Let me know what you are hearing between the broadcast
bands!
73’s, John
