Vatican Radio 2015 Calendar

Vatican Radio, the voice for Catholics worldwide, posted their 2015 calender recently. Mind you, not just one, but three calendars arrived in the mail. Each featured his holiness, Pope Francis, and listed religious holidays and observances for the faithful. Along with these calendars, Vatican Radio sent their iconic sticker of the basilica in St. Peter's square, a postcard of Pope Francis and a QSL card for a previous reception report.

Catholic or not, one must commend Vatican Radio. Their effort to promote the station and inform the faithful  is exemplary. I wish more stations show as much interest in their listeners.

Random Log 23 & 25 January 2015

On two separate days, between 22.45 till 00.00 UTC, more than a dozen countries were logged on the 75, 31 and 25 metre bands. Of these frequencies, 31 metres offered the best reception and variety. China and North Korea were the dominant broadcasters on all short-wave bands. And, in a surprising twist reflective of the season, many stations from the Americas were present, most notably Radio Habana Cuba and WRMI. Brazilian stations, Radio Amazonia and Radio Aparecida, even managed to float in a few hours before 22.00 UTC. Many more stations, including Radio Taiwan International and KBS World, were observed as well. Tune in and give a listen in your quarter of the world. Reception might be better. Happy DXing from Malaysia!

ASCENSION ISLAND 

BBC // 9.915 kHz and 9.740 kHz // 44344 // 23.20 UTC with discussion about mangoes in Indian politics

CHINA

PBS Hulun Buir  // 3.900 kHz // 24332 // 23.00 UTC with talk in Chinese

PBS Xinjiang // 3.990 kHz // 34443 // 22.55 UTC with Uigher instrumental music, then ID at 23.00 UTC

CUBA

Radio Habana Cuba // 11.760 kHz and 11.840 kHz // 34443 // 23.35 UTC with commentary and snippets of music in Spanìsh

DPRK (NORTH KOREA)

KCBS Pyongyang // 3.220 kHz // 24211 // 23.00 UTC with talk in Korean

GREECE

Helliniki Radiophonia // 9.935 kHz // 34433 // 23.15 UTC with discussion in Greek and occasional music

INDIA

All India Radio // 9.690 kHz (Bangalor) and 9.705 kHz (Panaji) // 54555 // 23.50 with Indian music from Bollywood films

IRAN

Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran via Kalamabad // 9.490 kHz // 34443 // 23.22 UTC with national anthem, station ID in Indonesian, followed Quran recitation

JAPAN

Radio Nikkei 1 // 3.925 kHz // 34343 // 11.50 UTC talk in Japanese

Radio Nikkei 2 // 3.945 kHz // 34343 // Station ID in English and Japanese at 12.00 UTC followed by Funk and R&B music

Radio Nikkei 1 // 9.595 kHz // 44444 // 23.30 UTC Japanèse pop music in Japanese

Radio Japan // 11.910 kHz // 55555 // 23.40 UTC with entertaining discussion in Japanese

MALAYSIA

Wai FM // 11.665 kHz // 55555 // 23.30 UTC with Malaysian pop tunes in Malay

MOROCCO

Medi 1 // 9.575 kHz // 23442 // 23.15 UTC with music

NEW ZEALAND

Radio New Zealand International // 3.990 kHz // 12431 // 22.59 UTC with Bellbird interval under Chinese broadcaster

PHILIPPINES

FEBC // 9.795 kHz // 54555 // 23.30 UTC with talking in Vietnamese

SINGAPORE

BBC // 3.915 kHz // 55555 // 22.50 UTC in English with news

BBC // 9.740 kHz // 34343 // 23.20 UTC with discussion about mangoes in Indian politics

VIETNAM

Voice of Vietnam // 9.635 kHz // 44434 // 23.40 UTC with current event reports about Vietnam in Vietnamese

Voice of Vietnam // 9.840 kHz // 44444 // 23.45 UTC with feature of agricultural development in Vietnam in English

Voice of Vietnam // 12.020 // 55555 // 23.45 UTC with feature on "Words of Goodness" programme in English

USA

WRMI // 9.955 kHz // 24322 // 23.00 UTC with discussion in English which was still audible well past 23.50 UTC

Global 24 via WRMI (?) // 9.395 kHz // 14421 -- carrier signal only at 22.30 UTC

Radio Marti // 9.565 kHz // 23432 // 23.15 UTC with news reports about Cuba in Spanish

WTWW // 12.105 kHz //23432 // 23.45 UTC with religious programming in English

Receiver used: Tecsun S-2000. External antenna used: 1/4 wave aerial elevated at 13 meters above ground. Location: West central Malaysia

Two Novel QSLs from Germany

Two unique QSLs from Germany arrived in the mail today. One was  from Rhein-Mein Radio Club for their special DX programme which aired from Sitkunai, Lithuania. The second QSL was from Welle 370 which broadcast a special anniversary broadcast from Radio 700 in Kall-Krekel, Germany.

Danke, RMRC and Welle 370!

Radio Merlin International

Radio Merlin International* in the UK was logged on 24 January 2015. Station IDs, phone number announcements and music, including songs by Cheap Trick, Guns n Roses,  Barclay James Harvest, was observed from 10.15 till 10.55 UTC. Reception on 6.305 kHz was (SINPO) 24322 -- poor to weak with signal occasionally dropping off and inaudible at times.

Reception report was emailed on the same day. The above eQSL was received on 25 January 2015. Thanks Paul!

*Logged using remote SRD receiver at University of Twente, the Netherlands.

Radio Uferlos

Radio Uferlos*, transmittinng from Germany, was logged on 16 November 2014. Music and ID were observed at 16.15 UTC. 

Reception report was emailed on 17 November 2014 and with follow-up emails. This paper QSL card arrived on the mail on 23 January 2015.

*Twente, the Netherlands

Radio Magic AM

Radio Magic AM*, transmitting from Amsterdam, was logged on 16 August 2014. Music programme was heard on 6.319 kHz.

Reception report was emailed on the following day, 17 August 2014. This eQSL was received on 21 January 2015. Thank you, Doc Magic.

Email:
magicamradio@gmail.com

*Logged using remote SDR receiver at University of Twente, the Netherlands.

Radio Habana Cuba

Radio Habana Cuba was logged on 20 January 2015. News and editorial comments with frequent IDs and Latin American music filler was observed from 22.50 to 23.30 UTC.  With uncommon signal strength in this quarter of Asia, reception of RHC radiated a decent enough signal to yield a SINPO of 43343 on 11.840 kHz. Were it not for slight transmitter droning and persistent atmospheric noise during occasional, but minor fading, reception would have been near perfect. In any event, this Spanish language was clear and audible well after 23.30 UTC.

 A sample of this transmission may be heard HERE.

Reception report was emailed on 21 January 2015.

Email:  
radiohc@rhc.icrt.cu
radiohc@enet.cu