Messages

5221

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: CKZU operating on reduced power

« on: November 11, 2016, 0606 UTC »

I've seen various unspecified hints and rumors, but this email makes it sound very much like it's going to keep operating and that there are no plans to take it down.

5222

Shortwave Broadcast / Voice of Korea, 9435 AM, 1500 UTC, 11/08/2016

« on: November 08, 2016, 1555 UTC »

Spanish (I think, could have been French) service, then English at 1530. Best copy in weeks, SIO 333. Simulcast on 11710 is audible but very noisy, SIO 211. The transmission suddenly cut off at 1550 but came back on at 1552. Usual mix of propaganda, anthems, and modern North Korean pop music. The noise level and accents always makes it difficult for me to understand (I have hearing issues and need crystal clear reception to understand what they're saying on this station).

5223

North American Shortwave Pirate / Radio Zed, 6925 USB, 0234 UTC, 7 November 2016

« on: November 07, 2016, 0244 UTC »

First heard very very faintly at 0234. Rising to noise floor level at 0243, briefly. ID's by Broadcast Announcement post.

5224

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6925 USB 0100 UTC 7 Nov 2016

« on: November 07, 2016, 0103 UTC »

0103 Hearing very weak music below the noise floor.
0105 Starting to rise up. At first I thought it was big band and that Radio Zed is responsible, but then the chorus came in and it's not sounding much like Zed's thing at the moment. Of course he could have broader taste than exhibited to date...  
0115 not hearing it anymore

5225

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Radio Free Whatever 6935 USB 2305 UTC 6 Nov 2016

« on: November 06, 2016, 2307 UTC »

2307 Stavin and Dick Weed bantering. About SIO 121. Talking about Friday's Mixlr show and I think last night's relay. Will be playing a lot of the same songs tonight.
2310 "Make America Great Again" Pussy Riot
2314 RFW ID into new tune. SIO 111 now with the fading.
2319 New tune, om vox.
2321 signal below the noise floor now.
2323 I can tell the comrades are live.
2327 New tune. I recognize the bass line from one of the tracks from the previous show
2331 briefly heard DJDW's voice.
2332 "Dead Alive" The Shinns
2335 "Way to Go" Empire of the Sun
2338 Comrades on the air. SIO 111
2340 "Follow The Leader" Foxygen
2344 Comrades.

Thanks for the show! I'm gonna listen to the rest via Mixlr.

5226

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: RNZI test transmission, 7355 AM, 1445 z, 11/06/16

« on: November 06, 2016, 2030 UTC »

It appears that the test was successful, because RNZI's schedule page at their website now says that they'll be on 7355 daily 12:59 - 16:50z to the Pacific.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/listen

5227

Shortwave Broadcast / RNZI test transmission, 7355 AM, 1445 z, 11/06/16

« on: November 06, 2016, 1459 UTC »

One-time transmission scheduled today only, 12:59 - 17:58 z. I'm getting S9+20 peaks with mild noise and fading.

5228

North American Shortwave Pirate / Radio Free Whatever, 6940 USB, 0042 UTC, 06 November 2016

« on: November 06, 2016, 0043 UTC »

0042 "Rockin' into the Night" 38 Special (SIO 242, nice lack of noise)
0045 cut off mid-song, off for half a minute, into USSR national anthem
0048 DJ Dick Weed on the mic
0052 "Make America Great Again" Pussy Riot
0054 "Telepathic Lover" Crocodiles
0057 "Fiend" Sam Roberts Band (with QRM from radar)
0102 DJ Dick Weed on the mic
0103 new song, but noise rising and signal fading
0106 RFW ID into "Great Pile of Nothing" Mozes and the Firstborn
0110 DJ Dick Weed on the mic
0111 "Trampoline" Kero Kero Bonito
0115 Dick Weed back on the mic
0116 "Press Rewind" Kaiser Chiefs
0121 "Justine, Misery Queen" Honeyblood (sudden increase in signal, still fading but much more audible)
0125 "Can't Let Go, Juno" Kishi Bashi
0130 "Orchids" The Shacks
0133 Dick Weed on the mic
0134 "Way to Go" Empire of the Sun
0137 new song? Hard to tell, signal has faded deep again
0143 nothing heard at all for five minutes
0152 Dick Weed's voice heard for about a second

At 0055 signal is subject to deep fades but nice peaks. More noise than at the beginning of the show.
0111 signal trying to make a comeback, but still fading a bit
Reception at 0123z: https://youtu.be/4-UwoJJ0ld0

5229

North American Shortwave Pirate / Moonlight Radio, 6930 USB, 0015 UTC, 06 November 2016

« on: November 06, 2016, 0015 UTC »

Dance music at the threshold.
0024 "Call Me Maybe"
0026 "Gangnam Style"
0029 "Side to Side"
0033 "Mama Said"
0034 Moonlight Radio ID
0036 CW
0037 OFF

SIO 121, some occasional QRM from radar or similar source.

Reception at 0028z: https://youtu.be/0D8hiqep1Vc

5230

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: CKZU operating on reduced power

« on: November 04, 2016, 1411 UTC »

They've been completely inaudible for the past year and a half, and they used to be audible daily (and on most nights) from my QTH in Washington state. So they must be running a couple watts or something really low like that.

Hopefully they'll get it back on the air in full power soon.

I've heard something on this frequency that I assume is CKZU and not CKZN, based on my QTH being much closer to Vancouver than St. Johns, but I've never gotten a clear copy on the station ID (which I know isn't given as either of these call signs).

5231

Equipment / Re: Purchased my first shortwave radio...not sure what to expect

« on: November 04, 2016, 0326 UTC »

Play around with the antenna. A decent external antenna will make a lot of difference. The simplest thing is get wire, hang it up and clip it to your built-in telescopic. The more you can get, and the higher you can put it up, the better. I used to have about 65' of wire up (with 45' of it straight across and above my roof, the rest bending down toward and into my window) which got a lot more signals than the whip could pull in.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can build your own. I built two different loops following these instructions (one is to specifications, the other is larger so I could get lower frequencies) and they work very well. (I bought a variable capacitor rather than dig one out of an old am/fm receiver as suggested.)

http://www.kr1st.com/swlloop.htm

There is also the broomstick antenna of Arnie Coro, a famous host with Radio Habana Cuba which I hear works well. I'm not sure precisely what kind of antenna tuner he means (there are many different ones available for different antenna styles) but I imagine a basic one is what he had in mind.

http://www.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx/antenna/special/bromstik.html

These are good places to start. You can also buy any number of antennas from online retailers, but they can be pricey and there are a large number of different styles. I think many are intended for use with tranceivers which of course are much more advanced than your portable. You're better off keeping it simple for now.

BTW I'm surprised that you're not at least hearing Radio Australia in the morning. Keep trying for that one.

5232

QSLs Received / Bat Country Radio eQSL

« on: November 04, 2016, 0141 UTC »

Thanks for the great eQSL Dr. Gonzo A.P!

5233

Shortwave Broadcast / CRI, Khmer service, 7395 AM, 11/03/16, 2323 Z

« on: November 04, 2016, 0002 UTC »

The bands from Asia to Colorado don't seem to be open just before sunrise now, as they were over summer, but they're open just before sunset today.

https://youtu.be/vAAZA0gMDKc

5234

Shortwave Broadcast / CKZU operating on reduced power

« on: November 02, 2016, 1707 UTC »

How reduced? I don't know. But according to the CBC (whom I contacted directly, with their response posted below), CKZU is still transmitting and will continue to transmit. Posting this because I think it's rumored that they're off the air, or will be going off soon.

Hello,

CKZU is currently operating at reduced power while repairs are being done on the transmitter. CBC Vancouver has not confirmed how long this will take, but we will restore full signal output as soon as possible.

Thank you,

Kim
CBC Audience Services

5235

Equipment / Re: Purchased my first shortwave radio...not sure what to expect

« on: November 02, 2016, 1704 UTC »

I contacted CBC about CKZU and got this reply:

Hello,

CKZU is currently operating at reduced power while repairs are being done on the transmitter. CBC Vancouver has not confirmed how long this will take, but we will restore full signal output as soon as possible.

Thank you,

Kim
CBC Audience Services