Radio Vanuatu 7.260MHz AM??

[Looking-Glass]

Looks like Radio Vanuatu has ceased operating on SW, haven't heard it for a few months this way and normally plus 20dB over here at night on 7.260MHz AM.  So another one on SW bites the dust by the look of it?

Radio Happy Isles (SIBC) in the Solomon Islands still active on 5.020MHz SW to provide me with my fix of South Seas string bands and singing, the only SW station, (apart from NBC Papua New Guinea on 3MHz), in Melanesia left on the band.

Radio Ozy on 5.045MHz from Campbelltown, south west of Sydney, in Australia also off air for last few weeks too...

[MDK2]

Radio OZY is moving to 4935 kHz, one of ABC NT's former frequencies, and has said they'd remain off air until they get their antenna retuned. This is per a post I saw in a SWL/DX group on Facebook, but was from an email direct from the source.

I know nothing about Radio Vanuatu or SIBC.

[Looking-Glass]

MDK2: Thanks, wondered where Ozy Radio went, will keep an ear to the new frequency.  4KZ relay on 5.055MHz virtually useless here, only running 500w, just audible.

Radio Vanuatu's web site makes no mention of 7.260MHz so guess they have "retired" from SW.

SIBC on 5.020MHz out of Honiara still going strong as too Madang and Bougainville down om 3MHz from Papua New Guinea.

[shadypyro]

I check the site as well, and i see no mention of 7260 AM. However i did see a live stream for it. So i guess they are officially "retired" from shortwave?

[Looking-Glass]

It would be safe to say that Radio Vanuatu on 7.260MHz AM is now history, that has been the trend in the Pacific in recent years, the retirement of shortwave services in favour of the internet/streaming and FM localised transmission with relays.

Radio Australia also jumped on the bandwagon of snubbing their noses at shortwave, wonder if Radio New Zealand will end up doing same?

However, despite many countries giving shortwave the chop, there are no shortage of SW stations from China, they seem to be on the increase rather than the decline.

NBC in Papua New Guinea had a big clean out of their "external services" a couple of years back and now only two or three remain on 3MHz, all the others were terminated.

I wonder what the SWLing hobby will look like in 10 years time? 

[MDK2]

RNZI is on the record as remaining committed to shortwave broadcasts. That's as of last year, following the demise of RA and its apparent failure to find enough support in the government for resumed broadcasts. We'll see if that holds, but for now it seems safe to say that they're staying.

[shadypyro]

And another station bites the dust..

[Ron - Calif.]

- - - - from WRTH Facebook page:

Mauno Ritola
R. Vanuatu says, that they have managed to find a supplier for the SW transmitter spare parts and they
hope to get them soon to fix it. (Feb 6)

Bryan Clark
I asked for an update this week on when the shortwave transmissions would resume and got the response
"..yes currently the PA 's of our Shortwave transmitter have been faulty. we have just located our supplier
and will order them soon." The "soon" suggests the wheels are turning slowly at VBTC! (Feb 7)

Mauno Ritola
Radio Vanuatu informs, that they hope to be back on shortwave by the end of January. (Jan 10)

[Looking-Glass]

Thanks Ron for that information, as for the being back on 7.260MHz AM by end of January they are probably referring to "island time" as it's near the end of March and still off air...

MDK2...As for the assurance of Radio New Zealand remaining committed to short wave broadcasting, we all know what politicians are like and how tables can turn behind a screen of smoke and mirrors at a very instant.