Topics

181

Clandestine Stations / Korea - Voice of Freedom testing on new 5920 kHz.

« on: May 15, 2017, 2109 UTC »

KOREA SOUTH. On a new frequency of 5920, Voice of Freedom
(clandestine) (presumed), ex: 6135. Thanks to the timely tip posted
to WRTH Facebook page by Mauno Ritola. May 15, seemed to sign
on about 1130(?) UTC, checked this new frequency on and off after
1107; first noted at 1137; in Korean and playing easy listening pop
songs; an abbreviated transmission of about an hour; they went off
close to 1238* and not heard after that. Ex: 6135, heard only white
noise jamming there as usual.

The format certainly seemed correct for VOF; clearly not on their
normal 6135 (under the white noise). My audio http://goo.gl/uCblFP  .

Seems this may have been a test transmission.

Per Hiroshi's web site http://hiroshi.mediacat-blog.jp/e122168.html
(in Japanese), there are a few new frequencies (5920 & 6020)
registered with the HFCC. Thanks very much to Chulsu at
http://radio.chobi.net/bbsasia/?res:3018#3667 (in Japanese),
for his feedback.

Mauno Ritola, in WRTH Facebook page: " Me too! Definitely the final
schedule isn't clear yet, but when I heard 5920 kHz, 6135 kHz was off
(only white noise jammer, no carrier detectable)."

Ron, listening at Asilomar State Beach (near Monterey), California
Etón E1, antenna: 100' long wire

182

Shortwave Broadcast / Radio Vanuatu

« on: April 02, 2017, 2033 UTC »

VANUATU. 7259.96, R. Vanuatu. April 2 (Sunday), with the
second day of superior reception; found it hard to tune away,
as it's not often heard so well.

Highlights (UTC):

1134-1200: Syndicated Christian religious program in English -
"Tomorrow's World," talking about witchcraft, Halloween, the
occult, video games and Harry Potter.

1230-1300: Religious program in vernacular & religious music/
singing; nice organ music.

1300-1320: "Radio Vanuatu" ID; drums & blowing of conch shell;
news in vernacular ("Vanuatu's foreign policy priorities"; cultural
exchange between Vanuatu & New Caledonia; Solomon Islands
government minister; etc.).

1320: "Sports News."

1332: Drums & blowing of conch shell.

1440-1453 & 1521-1528: EZL songs; strange they played several xmas
songs ("White Christmas," etc.). Surprised to be able to still hear them
this late.

Ron, listening at Asilomar State Beach, Calif.
Etón E1, antenna: 100' long wire

183

Shortwave Broadcast / Pacific reception March 14, 2017

« on: March 14, 2017, 2229 UTC »

BOUGAINVILLE. 3325, NBC Bougainville, 1052-1134* & *1135-
1138*, March 14. Almost fair; in Pidgin/Tok Pisin; pop song (Journey
with "Don't Stop Believing"); long non-stop speech (political?); talk
about "festivals"; briefly off for about a minute, but came back till
finally cut off at 1138*; very light RRI QRM. Another day with an
early closing, so no long with 1200* sign off? 

PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3260, NBC Madang, 1141-1206*, March 14.
In Pidgin/Tok Pisin; DJ with pop songs (Air Supply with "Lost In Love,"
etc.); 1201 PNG bird call; "NBC News in Brief" (Solomon Islands Prime
Minister Sogavare in PNG for talks with Governor General, etc.; cricket
news; weather forecast); promo for "NBC Radio" and cut off; poor to
almost fair and semi-readable.

SOLOMON ISLANDS. 5020, SIBC, 1029-1046, March 14. Fairly
readable; "This is the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation,
broadcasting from Honiara"; in Pijin about the official Solomon Islands
women organization for the western province.

RE: DXLD 17-01: Glenn's comment: "GSTQ? Well, they are in the
Commonwealth." At 1045 with PSA: "Nominations are hereby invited
from organizations, communities, private business bodies and or
churches for persons deserving to receive the following 2017
Queen’s Birthday Honours: OBE, Officer of the British Empire; MBE,
Member of the British Empire and BEM, British Empire Medal. The
application form can be obtained from the receptionist at the Prime
Minister’s Office or you can also email the secretary of the Honours
and Awards Committee for the electronic copy via email address
kgalokale@pmc.gov.sb . Any further queries can be made to the
secretary on telephone 24264 or 21863. Applications should be
received by March 13th, 2017." Too late to get my name in, hi!
My audio of same at http://goo.gl/4s4uKt  .

BTW - March 13, at 1128, found 5020 (and 9545) off the air. March 14,
noted 5020 did not have an extended broadcast at 1207 and subsequent
checking.

184

North American Shortwave Pirate / YHWH 7615 AM 0240 UTC 12 Mar 2017

« on: March 13, 2017, 0211 UTC »

7615, YHWH, 0240 UTC, March 12. As Glenn Hauser has commented on,
"Joshua" had not been heard recently, but he is back now. Yesterday was able
to clearly tell it was him, even though not at a readable level. Much better
than the day before, which had a decent open carrier, but unable to confirm it
was YHWH. On March 11 he was off the air by 0417, while on March 12 was
still going at 0426+.

185

Spy Numbers / V24 Korean Numbers Station on 4925 kHz.

« on: March 11, 2017, 1907 UTC »

KOREA SOUTH. 4925, Korean Numbers Station V24, 1431-1442* UTC,
on March 11; starting with classical music, followed by numbers
in Korean; good signal strength. This is an infinitely better
frequency choice than when I last heard V24, on 4900, mixing
badly with the Voice of Strait (China), from 1531 to 1545* UTC,
on Feb 25.

My audio from today, with first half music and second half
with numbers, at http://goo.gl/yfWHUO .

186

Shortwave Broadcast / WRNO - with new Chinese schedule on 7505v kHz.

« on: March 10, 2017, 0155 UTC »

Greatly appreciate Mauno Ritola forwarding to WRNO my question
about the current Chinese language schedule. Their reply today
(March 9):

"Greetings, We are now airing our Chinese Program at 10:00 pm
CST every day. WRNO Staff"

So now daily 0400-0500 UT, BUT with this coming weekend will
probably see a time change back to daily from 0300 to 0400 UT,
as we change to Daylight Saving Time (DST) on Sunday, March 12,
and spring forward 1 hour from 02:00 (2 AM) to 03:00 (3 AM), our
local time.

Interesting that they have gone from two days a week to seven days
a week. Their Chinese language program "Praise for Today" must be
popular?

Thanks again to Mauno for is ongoing assistance!

187

Shortwave Broadcast / Korea - KBS on 6015 kHz. not jammed

« on: March 07, 2017, 1602 UTC »

Rainbow at Asilomar State Beach (Calif.), where I listen to SW while
sitting in my car. http://goo.gl/ybIhzp and http://goo.gl/dUIt6B

KOREA SOUTH. 6015, KBS Hanminjok Bangsong 1, 0637-0714
UTC, March 7. In Korean with no jamming; 0700 time pips and
news; several "KBS" IDs. Very nice to catch this without the
normal white noise jamming. My audio at http://goo.gl/zrUQFX

While Voice of Freedom, on 6135, was jammed as usual.

188

Spy Numbers / V24, mixing with Voice of Strait on 4900 kHz.

« on: February 25, 2017, 1806 UTC »

KOREA SOUTH. 4900, Korean Numbers Station V24, 1531-1545* UTC, on Feb 25.
Mixing with Voice of Strait (China) also on frequency; started out with both
stations with singing; at 1535, V24 went to numbers in Korean; both equal
strength. My audio at http://goo.gl/PdOxaY .

189

Shortwave Broadcast / ZANZIBAR. ZBC Radio, 11735 Khz., 1659-1809 UTC, January 4

« on: January 04, 2017, 2100 UTC »

ZANZIBAR. 11735, ZBC Radio, 1659-1809 UTC, Jan 4. Drums and
time pips; news in Swahili 1700-1710; several "Z B C" IDs during
the news; pop African music; 1745-1759 with sports news in
Swahili; 1759 drums and time pips (5+1).

1800-1809 news in English; items about Zanzibar (18 pharmacies
forced to close), Zanzibar (inflation not affecting the economy),
Banjul, Port-au-Prince, "This news is coming to you from Zanzibar
Broadcasting Corporation," Jakarta, Damascus, Naypyidaw, Ankara,
Jerusalem, Paris (suspends Vitamin D supplement), "This is the end
of the news from the Zanzibar Broadcasting Corporation. Thank you
for listening"; very readable. Many times stronger than reception on
6015, at 0300 UTC.

190

Shortwave Broadcast / Russia - Radio Sakha extended broadcast, 7345 // 7295 kHz., 0504+ UTC, Dec 31

« on: December 31, 2016, 0548 UTC »

RUSSIA. 7345 // 7295, Radio Sakha, via Yakutsk, is normally
broadcasting *0300-0500* UTC, but Dec 31 with special extended
broadcast; heard before 0300 and at 0504 still going with a
very good signal on 7345 and even 7295 was still being heard,
but poorly.

191

North American Shortwave Pirate / formerly known as "Radio Station YHWH" on 7410-AM Dec 18

« on: December 18, 2016, 0713 UTC »

7410-AM, religious pirate (formerly known as "Radio Station YHWH").
Dec 18, first noted at 0312 with just open carrier; 0355 able to tell
was Joshua, but unreadable; 0440 sudden and dramatic improvement
in the signal, from unreadable to readable; still on at 0453.

192

Shortwave Broadcast / R. Australia problems

« on: December 18, 2016, 0707 UTC »

AUSTRALIA. RA on Dec 17, found 9580 silent 1422 UTC +
1448, when also unable to hear 12065 nor 12085, but at
1616 did hear 12065 (very faint) // 12085 (fair), with ABC
program of pop songs; program ID "This is Double J";
9580 still off the air. 4835 ABC Alice Springs NT well
heard at 1422 with xmas songs.

RA still with one transmitter off on Dec 18; noted 17840
was off the air; 15240 // 15415, at 0300, with poor reception,
but by 0422 was readable; no RA IDs, only "ABC Local
Radio" and many promos for "ABC news" & "ABC Grand-
stand"; 0513 interview with someone from "Double J."

So both 9580 & 17840 are silent, which normally would
be their strongest frequencies.

193

North American Shortwave Pirate / formerly known as "Radio Station YHWH" on 7410 AM, till 0415* UTC, Dec 9

« on: December 09, 2016, 0720 UTC »

NORTH AMERICA. 7410-AM, religious pirate (formerly known
as "Radio Station YHWH"). Dec 9, ex: yesterday's 4865-AM; first
noted with totally unreadable signal at 0327 UTC, but reception
steadily improved till 0415*, when was mostly readable; today
identical to my Nov 27 reception on this same frequency, except
out of sync with that by being five minutes earlier today.

The major difference today was after the usual recorded "I love you.
Till next time," "Joshua" seemed to be live, which did not happen
with my Nov 27 reception. Today he said something like this:

Yes indeed, I thank you personally right now for tuning in. You
could have been watching TV. You could have been studying for
an hour or whatever, or reading a book or doing something else,
but no... I appreciate it, as does Yahweh. See you tomorrow.

194

Shortwave Broadcast / Solomon Islands with extended broadcast 9545 kHz.

« on: December 05, 2016, 0820 UTC »

SOLOMON ISLANDS. 9545, SIBC, 0501 to past 0633+ UTC, Dec 5.
Running well past their normal sign off time; 0501-0530 with brief
ABC news and long item about Canadian woman deported from
Fiji; IDs 0517 & 0530 "You are listening to Radio Australia"; // RA
on 15240, 15415 and 17840; after 0530 no longer //, but with local
SIBC programs; pop songs (Cher with "If I Could Turn Back Time,"
Dr Hook with "Sharing The Night Together," etc.); several commercial
announcements in English for "Telekom," one at 0600 incorporating
a local time check ("It's five o'clock"); announcer in Pijin; started
out poor, but slowly improved. My audio  http://goo.gl/1qJTYd

195

Shortwave Broadcast / Angola

« on: November 30, 2016, 0614 UTC »

ANGOLA. 4949.73, R. Nacional de Angola, 0207-0413 UTC, Nov 30.
Very nicely above threshold level audio; one of their best days;
0300-0304 brief news; African pop songs and indigenous chanting;
many clear IDs. Provided several hours of enjoyable listening at a
decent level of reception. SWLing at its best!

My audio of ID and chatting - http://goo.gl/1oeLWS

My audio of pop African music/singing - http://goo.gl/jHTmmH

My audio of unique indigenous music/chanting - http://goo.gl/s2uSWZ