Topics

256

Clandestine Stations / 17630 - R. Xoriyo Ogaden

« on: February 14, 2016, 0311 UTC »

17630   FRANCE. R. Xoriyo Ogaden - Issoudun. Telephone talkback interview in Somali at 1615, heard on a Sat with a fair signal. Service is listed at 500 kW and scheduled Tues and Sats only. Feb 13.

257

Clandestine Stations / 15420 - R. Free Sarawak

« on: February 14, 2016, 0310 UTC »

15420   PHILIPPINES. R. Free Sarawak - Palauig. Two classical songs at 1125, station ID at 1130 in the Iban language and into usual programming. Big signal on Feb 13.

258

Clandestine Stations / 11845 - Dimtse Radio Erena

« on: February 14, 2016, 0308 UTC »

11845   BULGARIA. Dimtse Radio Erena - Kostinbrod. Oromo service 1700-1730, Arabic 1730-1800 for EAf (Eritrea specifically). Fair signal on Feb 13 at 1750. This station has been hopping around between 11855 kHz in December, then 11850 from Jan 1, and now here on 11845 kHz since Feb 3. I don't know why it changed from 11850 (perhaps to avoid splatter from the powerhouse R. Sanaa on 11860?), however, the new 5 kHz down seems fine at the moment here at Mount Evelyn.

259

Clandestine Stations / 11720 - Eritrean Forum Radio

« on: February 14, 2016, 0306 UTC »

11720   FRANCE. Eritrean Forum R. - Issoudun. Runs this Arabic service for EAf from 1800 to 1900 on Sats only. Very good signal from its listed 250 kW on Feb 13.

260

Clandestine Stations / 11720 - Voice of Assenna

« on: February 14, 2016, 0306 UTC »

11720   FRANCE. Voice of Assenna - Issoudun. S/on 1700 with the station ID in the Tigrinya language for EAf. A mix of talk/discussions and East African music programming. Big powerful signal on Feb 13. This service runs on Mon/Thurs/Sat. Don't confuse with the Eritrean Forum R. which also runs here at this time on Tues/Wed/Fri/Sun.

261

Clandestine Stations / Radio Sanaa - Location Unknown!

« on: February 14, 2016, 0302 UTC »

11860   R. Sanaa - Location Unknown. Music at 1756, ID and news at 1800. A powerhouse signal at this time, supposedly from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia…..but I don't think anyone has actually confirmed this txer site as yet! If it is really from Jeddah, then its 50 kW non-directional antenna is certainly stronger here at Mount Evelyn than Riyadh's 500 kW on 11930 kHz, but not quite as strong as Riyadh's 500 kW on 11915 kHz at the same time! I notice that the Bulgarian DX blog, which originally called this out as Jeddah, is now listing it as an unknown location. I've never been convinced that it's Jeddah, because it certainly seems to be using something other than the supposed 50 kW ND! Unless Jeddah has had an upgrade of facilities…… Who knows???

262

Shortwave Broadcast / 11750 - Sri Lanka BC

« on: February 14, 2016, 0256 UTC »

11750   SRI LANKA. Sri Lanka BC - Trincomalee. A strong and clear signal at 1716 with Sinhalese programming and music selections. This service is beamed to the ME and I think it runs daily 1630 to 1830, Feb 13.

263

Shortwave Broadcast / 9800 - Voice of Gospel (R. Sawtu Linjilia)

« on: February 14, 2016, 0255 UTC »

9800   FRANCE. Voice of Gospel (R. Sawtu Linjilia) - Issoudun. S/on 1830 with ID, African flute and cows mooing!! Quite a humorous start to the broadcast! The service is in the Fulfulde language and beamed to WAf. Very good signal on Feb 13.

264

Shortwave Broadcast / 9595 - Palau

« on: February 14, 2016, 0254 UTC »

9595   PALAU. T8WH - Medorn.  English religious programming from something called the Faith Free Presbyterian Church at 1140 on Sats, strong signal Feb 13.

265

Shortwave Broadcast / 9535 - Take Your Pick!

« on: February 14, 2016, 0253 UTC »

9535   TAKE YOUR PICK! This is a very busy channel between 2300 and 2400. You can choose from R. Havana-Bejucal in Spanish to CAm, or CRI-Kunming in English to the Philippines, or R. Free Asia via Kuwait in Tibetan to EAs, or hum along to the CNR 1 jammer meant for RFA listeners! All noted at 2353 with varying fair to poor signals. Suddenly, there is a mass rush for the exits at 2400, leaving just Cuba with some jivy music! Feb 12.

266

Shortwave Broadcast / 6200 - Lhasa in English

« on: February 14, 2016, 0252 UTC »

6200   TIBET. PBS Xizang - Lhasa. English service at 1648 with a talk on cultural highlights and traditions as a part of tourism in Tibet during the Tibetan New Year. Traditional Tibetan music items also noted, pleasant and interesting listening! Good signal but with some QRN static. This is one of the two times in the day when English programming is heard (1600-1700 and 0700-0800). The service runs // 7255 but it is difficult to hear there under CRI's English to Eu. It can also be regularly found on 4920 competing with AIR, but I didn't get a chance to check it there on this occasion. Back into regular Tibetan programming at 1700. Feb 13.

267

Shortwave Broadcast / Vanuatu Back On-Air

« on: February 06, 2016, 0400 UTC »

Radio Vanuatu - Port Vila - 3944.98 kHz. Last night, I was scanning through the tropical bands when I stumbled across R. Vanuatu, back on air after an absence. Bislama talks at 1112, a reggae-style song at 1118, canned anncts at 1122, then more pop music. ID at 1129, sandwiched between more music. Fair signal through the summertime atmospherics on Feb 5. No sign of R. Nikkei during the first 40 minutes of monitoring, although the Japanese station started to appear and strengthen around 1155. Vanuatu is still reeling after Cyclone Pam tore through the 65 islands in March last year. Some isolated villages are still waiting for aid to reach them!! Reconstruction is way behind schedule at this time and the island nation is struggling to cope and recover. Apparently, tourist areas are in OK shape, but the rest of the country has little money and few materials to repair important infrastructure. Of course, Vanuatu is in the middle of the current cyclone season right now, so the population is very much on watch. Hence, the importance of a communications presence from Radio Vanuatu. Our thoughts are with this lovely island nation at this time.

There's some other news at my blog: http://medxr.blogspot.com.au/2016/02/station-news-and-log-book-february-6.html[/b]]http://medxr.blogspot.com.au/2016/02/station-news-and-log-book-february-6.html

Have a great weekend everyone!  Rob VK3BVW

268

Shortwave Broadcast / Wantok Radio Light

« on: January 16, 2016, 1134 UTC »

7324.94   PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Wantok Radio Light - Port Moresby (presumed). Heard in the 30 min gap between CRI's s/off at 1930 and s/on at 2000. The carrier was fairly strong but the audio was quite low at times. Programming consisted of continuous slow music (possibly religious songs, some with church organ accompaniment) but no anncts for the whole half hour monitored. I could still it through CRI's dead-air carrier switch on at 1957, and it could be heard faintly under CRI's Serbian service till about 2015 when it faded due to the emerging daylight path between PNG and Mount Evelyn, Jan 15.

269

Shortwave Broadcast / 41m at 1830-1005

« on: January 15, 2016, 1916 UTC »

7210   D.P.R.KOREA. VoKorea - Kujang. French service to SAf at 1835 with news, strong co-channel QRM CRI-Urumqi's Russian service, fair signal from both stations on Jan 15.

7220   IRAN. VOIRI - Sirjan. Russian to EEu at 1844, weak signal here till s/off 1852 after the usual piano music, Jan 15.

7235   ENGLAND. KBS World R. - Woofferton. Russian to EEu 1853, excellent signal but with a hint of audio hum, Jan 15.

7275   KOREA REP. KBS World R - Kimjae. English service to Eu at 1855 till s/off 1900, fair signal and not as strong as the Russian service on 7235 via Woofferton, Jan 15.

7280   VIETNAM. VoV - Son Tay. S/on English to Eu 1900, news at 1902, fair signal on Jan 15.

270

Shortwave Broadcast / Hargeisa.

« on: January 15, 2016, 1834 UTC »

7120   SOMALIA. R. Hargeisa - Hargeisa. A fair signal at 1827 with music programming in Somali, ID at 1833, Jan 15.