Radio Itahuka 15420 AM 1850 kHz 29 Sept 2018

[Treehouse SWL]

Caught Radio Itahuka via Madagascar World Voice's transmitters at 1850-1859 UTC on Sept. 29, 2018, on 15420 kHz. A good daytime signal that could be heard even without my longwire antenna with programming in presumed Kirundi, and then signoff at 1859 UTC. This broadcast toward the Great Lakes region of central Africa apparently happens only on Saturdays.

The good signal had atmospheric hiss, but overall a low noise floor and relatively little fading. SINPO 35343.

[fpeconsultant]

Considered a clandestine:
1800-1900 …..s. 15420mdc RADIO ITAHUKA – Kinyarwanda – To: Central Africa

[Treehouse SWL]

Huh - I didn't know that. Thanks for the info!

When I was listening as a teenager back in the '80s, it seemed like the clandestine stations were really secretive. I'm still getting used to this new era where "clandestines" -- like this one and the several stations from Taiwan and Japan that target North Korea -- are carried by huge transmitting sites.

[fpeconsultant]

Yes you are correct - I have some recordings from the late 80's and early 90's of REAL clandestines - one opened their BX with the sound of machine gun type fire into "bone" type drums into severe ranting & raving in some African language - I don't recall the name but I should dig it up & post somewhere.  Was a 0700z start if I'm not mistaken.
The current clandestines don't hold a candle to what went on in the good old days....
FPE