Messages

256

Shortwave Broadcast / WRNO 7505 kHz AM 0843+ UT 14 Jan 2022 (Friday) in Arabic

« on: January 14, 2022, 1941 UTC »

U S A. 7505, WRNO, 0843+ UT, on Jan 14 (Friday). Sounded like stilted Arabic. Certainly not in English, or Hindi, nor Chinese;
at 0900, WRNO contact info in English, then back to Arabic; decent reception past 0910+. My audio is at http://bit.ly/3qtDaEB .

I first heard Arabic via WRNO back in 2010. Sent a report to Larry Thom (engineer at WRNO), along with an audio file of a portion
of my June 10, 2010 reception on 7506.20 kHz. Here is a portion of his reply back to me, regarding the Arabic programming:

“I didn't even know about this until I read your email. I made a call to confirm and it seems this is something they have just started
doing in the last hour of the broadcast. Apparently they have some audience in the Middle East. . ."

Ron
Asilomar State Beach, Calif. (near Monterey)
Etón E1; external antenna of 100 ft. long wire

257

Shortwave Broadcast / Some Asian receptions on Jan 11-12, 2022

« on: January 12, 2022, 2137 UTC »

CHINA. 6200, Voice of Jinling, 1218, on Jan 11. Listening to Xizang PBS (Lhasa, Tibet) till VOJL's double
sign on (*1228* *1229+ UT); in Chinese; started with several commercial announcements; the first ad seemed
to be about buying a new house and remodeling; company provides design, materials, and construction. They
also can provide furniture and kitchen appliances. [It should be noted that new houses in China are not livable,
and buyers need to install bathrooms, a kitchen, etc.]. while the second ad was about Chinese music, inviting
people to listen to their music; at 1230, the start of “Jīngdiǎn yīnyuè qǐng fāxiàn huárén shíshàng pīntú“
(program titled Chinese Fashion Mosaic Music Edition); VOJL totally covering up Tibet. My audio is
at http://bit.ly/3rfLExZ . Thanks very much to a native speaker of Chinese for the details!

KOREA SOUTH. 6015, KBS Hanminjok Bangsong 1, at 1200 UT, on Jan 11. Time pips; audio feed from the TV KBS news
at 9 (1200 UT = 9:00 PM KST); ID after each news item as "K-B-S News"; these news programs are posted to YouTube
( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgVMWA2SUC4 ); lead story was of a building that partially collapsed during
construction in Gwangju, S. Korea; light jamming underneath KBS.

MYANMAR. 5985, Myanmar Radio, 1230-1345 UT, on Jan 12. Outstanding reception today; about the best ever; expected
to hear the Wednesday edition of "Say It In English" language lesson, but was not aired today; 1328+, usual BoH
format (their local ToH); nice three "kilohertz" station's singing jingle, with 5985 kHz. (Ngarr koe shit ngarr
kilohertz), 576 kHz. (Ngarrrar hkunait s y hkyawwat kilohertz) and 594 kHz. (Ngarrrar koe s y layy kilohertz);
thanks very much to Amano (Japan) for making out these frequencies. My audio is at http://bit.ly/33x1TyN .

Ron
Asilomar State Beach, Calif. (near Monterey)
Etón E1; external antenna of 30m long wire

258

Clandestine Stations / Korea observations Jan 10 (Monday)

« on: January 10, 2022, 2042 UTC »

KOREA SOUTH. Observations on Jan 10:

Echo of Hope - VOH: 3985 // 4890 // 5995 // 6255 // 6350 // 9105, at 1210 UT; these changes should be good through Jan 16 (Sunday).

Voice of the People - no change from last week; 3910 // 3930 // 3480 (continues to be the best reception!) // 4450 // 6520 // 6600, at 1215 UT.

Voice of Freedom, 6045, at 1220 UT; heard along with N. Korea super jamming on frequency, while ex 5920 is a clear frequency with no jamming.
So they moved to a frequency that was already being jammed, from a frequency that was not jammed. Seems their broadcasts are not actually
monitored there in S. Korea, as the frequency assignments make little sense.

Ron
Asilomar State Beach, Calif. (near Monterey)
Etón E1; external antenna of 100 ft. long wire

259

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: Radio Madagasikara 5010 AM 1145 UTC 27 DEC 2021

« on: January 10, 2022, 1426 UTC »

Jan 10 -  WRMI (5010.0 kHz.), 1202-1230 UT, in Spanish and mostly LA pop songs; 1230+ with preaching in English
(Brother Stair); last checked at 1320 and he was still on. At my QTH, no possibility of hearing Madagascar through stronger
WRMI. Also it should be noted that Madagascar is fairly easy to ID, as it is off frequency (5009.95 kHz.).

Ron
Asilomar State Beach, Calif. (near Monterey)
Etón E1; external antenna of 100 ft. long wire

260

Clandestine Stations / Korea observations January 5-6, 2022

« on: January 06, 2022, 1143 UTC »

KOREA SOUTH. Observations on Jan 5 (Wednesday):

Voice of Freedom, on 5920 (next day noted they moved up to 6045 - see log below)

1157 UT - Closing ID for "Aneun geos-i him-ida" (Knowledge is power).

1200 - Single tone; "Jayu-e solibangsong-eseo bam 9 (ahob) sileul allyeodeulibnida." (In English - Voice of Freedom
has announced 9pm); singing station jingle - "jinsil-e soli, huimang-e soli, jayu-e soli bangsong!" (Voice of Truth,
Voice of Hope, Voice of Freedom broadcast); "Bodo gwangjang" (News Plaza). My audio is at https://bit.ly/3pVipRL .

1210 - Program "Nalssi Jeonmangdae" (Weather Observatory). My audio is at https://bit.ly/3n0RLFa .

1215 - Program "Dodbogilo boneun sesang" (The world through a magnifying glass). My audio is
at https://bit.ly/3qROs4q .

1340 - With the 20 minutes program "Sigan-yeohaeng, yeogsa tamheomdae" (Time travel, history exploration party),
with the theme music by South Korean electronic group Idiotape - "Melodie" ("6 synthesizers and 1 drummer formed
an electronic band Idiotape to play synth playing rock music" -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emoadwiK4TM&feature=youtu.be ). My audio is at http://bit.ly/3eTiejC .

Observations on Jan 6 (Thursday):

Echo of Hope - VOH, 3980 // 4885 // 5990 // 6250 // 6348 // 9100, early reception at 0724 UT; start of the weekday
audio feed from a TV program called "Wang cho bo yeong-eo" (translated into English - Beginner's English); intro &
exit theme song is the "Party Will Come Alive" by Wizardz Of Oz (with Ruben Martinez); the usual intro with announcer
saying "English trainer" and gives his name ("Mayu"), then the woman announcer says her name ("Mini"), then they both
say in English, "Good morning everybody." "I am starving. I am hungry. Do you want to go to a convenience store?";
as it was so early, reception was rather weak.

Voice of Freedom, noted starting at *0753 UT; first day back on alternate frequency of 6045 (ex 5920),
heard along with N. Korea super jamming currently operating here. A very poor frequency assignment!

Thanks again to Amano (Japan) for his wonderful ongoing guidance with the VOF details and program names!

Ron
Asilomar State Beach, Calif. (near Monterey)
Etón E1; external antenna of 30m long wire

261

Clandestine Stations / Korea

« on: January 04, 2022, 0537 UTC »

KOREA SOUTH. 9095, Echo of Hope - VOH, 0545-0600* UT, on Jan 1. New Year's show of all pop songs in English
(Britney Spears - "Oops!...I Did It Again," etc.); fair-good. At *0600 UT, heard VOH start on 5995 // 6350.

VOH, 5995 // 6350, at 0724, Jan 2 (Sunday). Start of the weekend only English lesson, with reading of a "Harry Potter" story.

Jan 3 (Monday) observations:

Echo of Hope - VOH: 3980 // 4885 // 5990 // 6250 // 6348 // 9100, at 1005 UT; these frequencies should be good through Jan 9.

Voice of the People: 3910 // 3930 // 3480 (best reception!) // 4450 // 6520 // 6600, at 1010 UT; these frequencies do not change.

Ron
Asilomar State Beach, Calif. (near Monterey)
Etón E1; external antenna of 30 long wire

262

Clandestine Stations / Shiokaze/Sea Breeze, via Yamata (Japan) with special year-end program

« on: December 29, 2021, 2326 UTC »

6085 kHz., Shiokaze/Sea Breeze, via Yamata (Japan), 1307 UT (scheduled 13-14), Dec 29. Normally would be in English
on Wednesday, but today in Japanese, with the annual, special year-end program; with a totally different format than usual; a
presentation of Jang Jin-Sung's poems "I Sell My Daughter for 100 Won" (Won, the currency of N. Korea); reception was fairly
good, without jamming till after 1130, while // 7250 was totally unusable; thanks to Hiroshi for a lot of info about this special show;
he indicates this same show was first aired in May, 2011 and has been repeated numerous times over the years. My audio is
at http://bit.ly/32Id0Ew .

Additional online info about Jang Jin-Sung and his poems is at http://bit.ly/3HlbBTh :

"The poet, Jang Jin-Sung, used to be a citizen and well renowned poet of North Korea. Kim Jong-Il even read and appreciated his
work. In 2004, he left for South Korea and published several memoirs on living conditions in the North. This poem, published in a
collection, shows the poor quality of life of the working class. Jang Jin-Sung criticized the North Korean regime through his poetry
as he remembered the great famine of millions of citizens while the wealthy did not nothing but watch."

Ron
Asilomar State Beach, Calif. (near Monterey)
Etón E1; external antenna of 30m long wire

263

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: Radio Madagasikara 5010 AM 1145 UTC 27 DEC 2021

« on: December 27, 2021, 2223 UTC »

Sorry, believe this must be WRMI via Okeechobee FL. Ron

264

Clandestine Stations / Korea

« on: December 27, 2021, 2218 UTC »

KOREA SOUTH:

Regarding Glenn Hauser's log in WOR iog - "KOREA SOUTH [and non]. 6000, Dec 24 at 0741, checking RHC frequenciesbut this one
normally off by a sesquihour earlier, yet something weak is here and also with jamming noise. Must be Echo of Hope, instead of
alternate 5995. No report from Ron this week about its current jumparounds, but Dec 24 Aoki has it on 6000 from 0500 but no
indication of jamming (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)"

Glenn - You were correct! From Dec 20 (Mon.) to 26 (Sun.), Echo of Hope - VOH frequencies were - 3990 // 4885 // 6000 // 6250 //
6355 // 9100 kHz.

VOH frequencies heard on Dec 27 (Mon.) -  3985 // 4880 // 5995 // 6245 // 6350 // 9095 kHz., all were fair-good with no N. Korea
jamming yet; at 1140 UT, with EBS TV audio feed for the English language lesson "Wang cho bo yeong-eo," which is always aired
only on weekdays; later at 1239, with the EBS news headlines and news stories in English and Korean. These frequencies should be
good through Jan 2 (Sun.) 

Voice of the People frequencies on Dec 27 (Mon.) - 3910 // 3930 // 3480 (heard daily now after the reactivation on Dec 6) // 4450 //
6520 // 6600 kHz., at 1145 UT.

Voice of Freedom, on 5920, at 1200 UT, on Dec 25; single tone; "Jayu-e solibangsong-eseo bam 9 (ahob) sileul allyeodeulibnida." (In
 English - Voice of Freedom has announced 9pm); singing station jingle - "jinsil-e soli, huimang-e soli, jayu-e soli bangsong!" (Voice of
Truth, Voice of Hope, Voice of Freedom broadcast); "Bodo gwangjang" (News Plaza); fair-good reception with no N. Korea jamming. If
they are smart, they will stay on this frequency, as their alternate frequency of 6045 is again being heard with N. Korea super jamming.
KBS Hanminjok Bangsong 1, on 6015, continues to be free of the usual strong white noise jamming from NK, but instead has light jamming
heard underneath, at 1150 UT.

CDNK North Korean Democratization Committee, on 6085, with *1400, on Dec 23. Heard just after the first day closing of Shiokaze at 1400*,
on their alternate frequency of 6085 (// 7250); CDNK with good reception, but by Dec 25, N. Korean jamming had found Shiokaze and is now
causing QRM for CDNK 1400+. 

KOREA NORTH - On Dec 27, at 1205 UT: 

Echo of Unification, 3945 // 5905, both fair.

Also N. Korea super jamming returned to 6045 kHz. on Dec 25 and still here Dec 27. We can only hope Voice of Freedom does not again use this
alternate frequency while the super jamming is active.

Ron
Asilomar State Beach, Calif. (near Monterey), USA
Etón E1; external antenna of 30m long wire

265

Clandestine Stations / Re: Echo of Hope VOH 6348 AM 2143 UTC 1 Dec 2021

« on: December 03, 2021, 0342 UTC »

Echo of Hope - VOH, has several programs in both English and Korean. This week's frequencies (started Monday, Nov 29):
3980 // 4885 // 5990 // 6250 // 6348 // 9100  kHz. My audio posted at -  http://bit.ly/3oga5LI - which was recorded Nov 29, at
0855 UT, with the EBS (Educational Broadcasting System - https://global.ebs.co.kr/global/main/index ) produced English
news and also in Korean; fairly readable. VOH runs a four hour program loop (programs repeated every four hours).

266

Clandestine Stations / Korea - Voice of Freedom back on alternate 5920 kHz.

« on: December 02, 2021, 1108 UTC »

KOREA SOUTH. first day back to alternate frequency of 5920, Voice of Freedom (ex: 6045). *0753+ UT, Dec 2.

*0753 - Sign on; gong rung three times; Voice of Freedom ID; Republic of Korea choral National Anthem; VOF FM frequency announcement;
VOF singing station jingle; 0500 PM KST announcement; 0800, program "Hamkke tteonaneun eum-ag-yeohaeng" (Let's go music together).

Later - 0915, program "Ma-eum-e swimpyo" (Resting heart); 0920, program “Kkumkkuneun cheongchungeug“ (Dreaming youth drama); fair
with no jamming of any kind.

267

Clandestine Stations / Korea

« on: December 01, 2021, 0207 UTC »

KOREA SOUTH. Monday (Nov 29) observations:

Echo of Hope - VOH - This week on 3980 // 4885 // 5990 // 6250 // 6348 // 9100; at 0851 UT; weekday EBS (Educational Broadcasting
System) produced English news and Korean. N. Korea jamming is getting smarter, as at 0810, the jamming was on ex 4880, but by
0851, jamming had already moved up to block VOH on 4885. They have learned that Monday is when VOH changes frequencies!

Voice of the People, this week unable to confirm; only some frequencies seemed to have a carrier, but no audio detected. Will have to
wait and see what happens during the week. Nov 30, only able to make out audio on 6520 at 1115 UT, while other frequencies seemed
to just have a carrier; 3480 continues to be off the air.

Voice of Freedom (6045). Continues to be free of the former super jamming from N. Korea; at 0900 UT with the usual format (single time
tone; station jingle "jinsil-e soli, huimang-e soli, jayu-e soli bangsong!" [Voice of truth, Voice of hope, Voice of Freedom Broadcast], "Jayu-e
solibangsong-eseo ohu 6 [yeoseos] sileul allyeodeulibnida" ["Voice of Freedom announces 6pm"], "Bodo gwangjang" [News Plaza]).

268

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: Sound of Hope 6865 AM 2230 UTC 29 NOV 2021

« on: November 29, 2021, 2322 UTC »

Please see "Sound of Hope (or Jammer)? 6865 AM 1230 UTC 22 NOV 2021," postings under "Clandestine Stations."

269

Clandestine Stations / Re: Sound of Hope (or Jammer)? 6865 AM 1230 UTC 22 NOV 2021

« on: November 24, 2021, 0303 UTC »

Nov 23 - Sound of Hope (Taiwan), on 6865.07 kHz. (SOH is often found slightly off frequency, unlike CNR1 jamming
which is always on exact frequency), at 0806 UT, with the news in Chinese; very weak reception; SOH // 6214.96 //
6230 // 6280 kHz. Checked later and heard 6865.00 kHz., with *0917, start of very strong CNR1 program jamming,
which was // 6175 kHz.

To determine if you are hearing SOH or CNR1 jamming, please check for a non-jamming CNR1 frequency (I normally
like to check 6125 or 6175, to find if it is CNR1 programming) to find if they are parallel. The other positive way to
confirm which it is, please check at top-of-the-hour. CNR1 always has time pips, while SOH never has time pips.
Signal strength is also important. SOH is normally weak, unlike the much stronger CNR1 signal.

If you are fortunate enough to catch the ToH SOH ID, it is "Xiwang zhi sheng guoji guangbo diantai" (Sound of Hope
international broadcast station), given twice (once by OM and once by YL), then into the news. My audio of a typical
ToH SOH ID format is posted at http://bit.ly/3l6V2kn .

Hope this helps. Ron

270

Clandestine Stations / Re: Korea - Voice of the People now on 9100 kHz. (ex: 3480) (ex: Echo of Hope - VOH)

« on: November 20, 2021, 2102 UTC »

Nov 20 - Yesterday's VOP reception on 9100 kHz., seems to have been a one-day-only anomaly. Today heard
*0900, and // to all the other Echo of Hope - VOH frequencies, so back to normal with VOH having six active frequencies.