QSLs for May 2012

QSLs received during the month of May 2012 include the following:

BBC-British East Mediterranean Relay Station (QSL card) transmitting from Zygi, Cyprus
Auckland VOLMET (eQSL letter) transmitting from Aukland, New Zealand

Hong Kong VOLMET (QSL letter) transmitting from Hong Kong
KBS World Radio (QSL card) transmitting from Seoul, South Korea

Radio Prague  (QSL card) via the Internet from Czech Republic

Radio Prague  (QSL card) via the Internet from Czech Republic

Lao National Radio (QSL card) transmitting from Vientiane

3AC Radio Monaco (eQSL) transmitting from Monaco

Atlantic 2000 International (eQSL) transmitting from Internet stream in France

Trans World Radio India (eQSL) transmitting from Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Bangladesh Betar (QSL card and letter) medium-wave transmission from Dhakka

The Voice Asia/CVC International (eQSL) transmitting from Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Radio Taiwan International (QSL card) medium-wave transmission from Taiwan

Voice of America / IBB (QSL card) medium-wave transmission from Thailand

Radio Australia (QSL card) transmitting from Brandon, Australia

DX-Antwerp 30 Anniversary QSL (eQSL and QSL card) transmitting from Montisenry, French Guiana

DX-Antwerp 30 Anniversary QSL (eQSL and QSL card) transmitting from Issoudun, France

Radio Africa No 1 (eQSL letter) transmitting from Libreville, Gabon

Radio Free Asia (2 QSL cards) transmitting via Tanshui, Taiwan

Radio Free Asia (QSL card) transmitting via Dhabbaya, UAE

China Radio International (QSL card) transmitting from Yunnan Province, China

Radio Canada International (QSL letter) transmitting from Tinang, Philippines

Radio Spaceshuttle International (eQSL and QSL card) transmitting from Finland

National Radio of Kampuchea (QSL letter) medium-wave transmission from Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Kampuchea)

Deutsche Welle (QSL card) transmitting from Kigali, Rwanda

Voice of Russia (QSL card) transmitting from Moscow

Promised QSLs:

Caribbean Beacon transmitting from The Valley, Anguilla

Tokyo VOLMET (QSL letter) transmitting from Japan

BBC - BEMRS (Cyprus)

BBC - BEMRS (British East Mediterranean Relay Station) in Zygi, Larnaca, Cyprus was logged on 1 November 2011. An English language broadcast was monitored from 19.00 to 20.00 UTC (broadcast time from 18:00 to 20:00 UTC (monitored 19.00 to 20.00 UTC) on 5.875 kHz. Reception(SINPO) was 45434 -- good signal strength with clear speech despite some minor fading and noise.

Reception report was emailed and posted in December 2011. In April 2012 I relayed the reception report to a friend in Cyprus who emailed and called the relay station. He had difficulty with the staff, so I  suspect this was all to no avail. Finally, as a last resort, I faxed the original reception report in early May 2012. This QSL card arrived in the mail on 31 May 2012.

Auckland VOLMET

Auckland VOLMET  in  New Zealand was logged on 25 May 2012. Time monitored was from 16.30-16.43 UTC on  8.828 kHz in SSB/USB mode. Reception (SINPO) was 25231 -- weak signal strength and severe atmospheric noise, yet speech was detected and clear at times. The broadcast featured an English speaking male announcer who repeatedly reporting meteorological data, i.e. temperature, dew point, wind speed and direction, precipitation, cloud cover and heights, visibility, barometric pressure, for Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Nadi, Faleolo, Tontouta and Rarotonga.

Reception report was emailed. A QSL letter was received on 30 May 2012.

Tokyo VOLMET

Tokyo VOLMET, a 1.5 kW station operating  in Japan, was logged on 25 May 2012. Time monitored was from 12.10 to 12.14 UTC on  8.828 kHz in SSB/USB mode. Reception (SINPO) at 22.10 UTC was 33443 -- fair signal strength and clear audio, but strong interference from Honolulu VOLMET for about a minute. After Honolulu transmission ended, reception was 35443. The broadcast featured an English speaking female announcer who repeatedly reported  meteorological data, i.e. temperature, dew point, wind speed and direction, precipitation, cloud cover and heights, visibility, barometric pressure,  for Tokyo, Sapporo, Nagoya, Kansai, Fukuoka and Inchon.

Reception report was emailed. Acknowledgement of receipt and confirmation was emailed on 29 May 2012. A QSL letter and cover letter was received on 7 June 2012.

Belaruskaye Radyo 1

Belaruskaye  Radyo 1 in Minsk-Kalodzicy, Belarus was logged on 24 May 2012. A news magazine, presented by female and male announcers, speaking Belarussian, was wonitored from 16.30 to 17.00 UTC (broadcast time 15.00 to 17.00 UTC). Transmission was observed on 7.255 kHz. Reception (SINPO) from 16.30 to 17.00 was 22442.  Signal strength could have been better were it not for strong interference from China Tibet Broadcasting. Nevertheless, speech was detected and clear at times.  Before 16.00 UTC reception was was marred in QRM from CRI as well as CTB.

Reception report was emailed and submitted online. This QSL card arrived in the mail on 7 September 2012.

Website: 
www.tvr.by/eng/default.asp

Brochure

KBS World Radio

KBS World Radio in Kimjae,  Republic of Korea was logged on 13 April 2012 Their English language broadcast was heard from 13.56 to 15.00 UTC on 9.640 kHz, immediately after Radio Canada International signed-off using their Kimjae relay station. Reception (SINPO) was 54544 -- excellent signal strength except for nearby station splatter and slight fading.

A reception report was submitted online at the KBS website shortly after their transmission ened. A QSL card and programme schedule arrived on 22 May 2012. Curiously, I have yet received a QSL card for their Indonesian broadcast heard in January this year; only a couple of emails acknowledging my communication was mentioned.

Atlantic 2000 International (Internet)

Atlantic 2000 International was logged on 19 May 2012. A French language broadcast of pop music was heard from 19.30 to 20.35 UTC. Mode of transmission was by Internet and short-wave on 6.966 kHz.  Atlantic 2000 was monitored on a 24 kps stream via Shoutcast, which originates from France. Reception was clear with good sound quality and unbroken stream. However, on short-wave a carrier signal was  best heard on 6.965 kHz LSB/SSB, rather than 6.966 kHz. Reception (SINPO) was 15331 --  very faint audio feed at the beginning of transmission which faded occasionally, otherwise reception was poor and incoherent during much of the broadcast time. Location of transmitter is purportedly in Germany.

Reception report was promptly submitted. An eQSL for Internet stream and information sheet was emailed on 20 May 2012.

Email:
atlantic2000international@gmail.com

Hong Kong VOLMET

Hong Kong VOLMET was logged on 16 May 2012.  A synthesized male voice speaking English repeatedly announced the temperature, dew point, visibility and surface wind speed for Hong Kong, Naha, Taipei, Gaoxiong, Manila, Mactan and Guangzhou. This was monitored from 19.15 to 19.20 UTC on  6.679 kHz USB/SSB. Reception  (SINPO) was 45554 -- excellent reception 

Reception report was emailed. Within a few hours the following message was received from Daniel K.C. Yeung, Director of the Hong Kong Observatory: 

" Nice to hear from you again. Thank you for your email regarding your report on Hong Kong VOLMET Broadcast. Your email has been referred to Mr. C.L. Leung, Chief Aeronautical Communications Supervisor of the Civil Aviation Department, who will also reply to your direct. We are pleased to be of service."


A confirmation letter from Mr. C.L. Leung arrived in the mail on 24 May 2012.

Email:

mailbox@hko.gov.hk

CVC International / The Voice Asia (via Tashkent)

CVC International (The Voice Asia), transmitting fromTashkent, Uzbekistan, was logged on 13 May 2012. A Mother's Day tribute of listener comments and music in Hindi was monitored: 18.55 to 20.00 UTC (broadcast time 14.00 to 20.00 UTC) on  6.260 kHz. Reception (SINPO) was 35343 -- fair signal strength affected by slight atmospheric noise and minor fading, otherwise clear and audible speech throughout broadcast that was monitored.

Reception report was emailed to The Voice Asia. Wayne Merricks of the Voice Asia emailed the following day. Here's what he had to say regarding my reception report:
"Thanks for the info.  We broadcast out of the UK and aim to hit Northern India and Pakistan (via transmitters in Tashkent).  It must have been a good signal day to bounce that far and be audible.

"For your information, we're part of a bigger company that used to operate transmitter sites in Germany and Darwin in Northern Australia.  Sadly they were mothballed some years ago although I'm pretty sure the old Malaysia SW service is now Internet only.

"I'll pass your details on to the admin team, we don't get asked for QSL cards with any regularity any more so I'm not sure what we have available.  We can certainly send something your way. Happy monitoring."

Sonia Paul of Voice Asia replied with an eQSL on 16 May 2012.

Email:

mail@thevoiceasia.com

DX Antwerp (via Montsinery)

DX Antwerp via Montsinery, French Guiana was also heard on 12 May 2012 from 17.00  to  18.00  UTC. In a rebroadcast to the Americas on  21.680 kHz, reception (SINPO) in South East Asia was 25212 -- weak signal strength, occasional fading and severe atmospheric noise,  despite these factors, speech was faintly audible and clear at times

A reception report was emailed shortly after the broadcast. An eQSL arrived on the following day. A postcard size QSL arrived in the mail on 19 June 2012. In the upper right hand corner, the number "3" indicates the series of cards isued. According to Guido Schotmans of DX-Antwerp there were 168 QSLs issued.

DX Antwerp (via Issoudun)

DX Antwerp, a Belgian Radio Club sponsored by TDP, aired a Special 30th Anniversary  broadcast on 12 May 2012. The first broadcast was to  South Asia from the transmitter site in Issoudun, France. It was heard here, in South East Asia, from 04.27 to  05.30 UTC on 17.880 kHz. Reception (SINPO) throughout this one hour broadcast was 43444 -- fair signal strength, despite occasional station splatter from an adjacent broadcaster and minor fading. The programming featured pop music of the 60s and 70s, along with details of scheduled broadcasts to various continents, congratulations from international broadcasters and radio listeners.

A reception report was email shortly after the broadcast. Later in the evening an email and eQSL arrived. The email from Guido Schotmans at DX-Antwerp stated the hard copy of a QSL card would be posted. A postcard size QSL arrived in the mail on 19 June 2012. In the upper right hand corner, the number "3" indicates the series of cards isued. According to Guido Schotmans of DX-Antwerp there were 168 QSLs issued.

Address:

DXA QSL
c/o TDP Radio,
PO Box 1,
B-2310 Rijkevorsel,
 Belgium


Email:
dxaqsl@gmail.com

Lao National Radio

Lao National Radio, transmitting from Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic was logged on 10 May 2012. An English language broadcast of domestic and regional news was heard from 14.00 to 14.30 UTC on 6.130 kHz. Reception (SINPO) was 55545 -- excellent reception overall, despite slight fading.

Here is a summary of the programming received on this date:

14.00 - Station ID of Lao National Radio, location and frequencies was announced by a female announcer.

14.01 - News headlines, followed by news reports about Laos, particularly comparative ASEAN financial aid, rural water supply/hygiene development, doctor visits to rural areas, transport road work upgrading and European food festival, were presented by female and male announcers.

14.18 - Station ID, frequencies and website address was presented by a female announcer.

14.19 - Regional News featured reports about the ASEAN meeting in Brunei at the German Consulate, the Russian airplane crash in Indonesia, a health programme for HIV infected children, ASEAN tourist promotion in Cambodia, which was presented by a female announcer

14.27 - Station ID presented by female announcer, followed by instrumental music.

14.30 - English language broadcast ended, followed by a broadcast in French.

A SoundCloud file with LNR signing-on -- as heard in Malaysia -- may be heard by clicking this (LINK).

Reception report was emailed on the following day. On 15 May 2012,  Inpanh Satchaphansy, Director of Foreign Language Service for Lao National Radio, emailed  promising to send a QSL. His message follows:  "Thanks for your mails. I am arranging the QSL to send you soon. Hoping you will receive it. It will take some time." A QSL card arrived in the mail on 22 May 2012.

Deutsche Welle (via Kigali)

Deutsche Welle via Kigali, Rwanda was logged on 4 April 2012 from 11.59 to 12.57 UTC on 15.275 kHz.

Reception report was submitted online at DW. QSL card arrived in the mail on 8 May 2012. I had hoped DW would update their QSL cards, considering their website, logo and number of broadcasts had been revised. 

Voice of America (via Thailand on MW)

Voice of America (VOA), transmitting from Thailand, was logged on 5 May 2012. An English language broadcast of world news and Ray McDonald hosting Music USA was heard from 11.00 to 12.00 UTC on the medium- wave frequency of 1575 kHz. Reception (SINPO): 45434 -- good signal strength and no interference, only occasional fading every ten or more minutes.

Reception report was emailed. QSL card arrived on 15 May 2012.

Radio Romania International (via Tiganesti)

Radio Romania International, transmitting from Tiganesti, Romania, was logged on 5 May 2012. An English language broadcast of Romanian news and commentary on the upcoming Presidential election in France was observed from 05.28 to 05.56 UTC.  RRI was heard on 21.500 kHz. Reception (SINPO) was 45544 -- good signal strength with slight atmospheric noise. At the start of transmission, the transmitter shut down intermittently and briefly for about six times.

Reception report was emailed moments after the broadcast ended. This QSL card arrived in the mail on 3 November 2012.

Radio Spaceshuttle International (Finland)

Radio Spaceshuttle International, a pirate station in Finland, was logged on 5 May 2012. An English language broadcast of Rock music, frequent station IDs and announcements was monitored from 15.28 to 16.15 UTC (sign-off was at 16.45 UTC).  This 500 kW station was received on 15.880 kHz in USB mode; in AM mode it was faintly detected. Reception (SINPO) was 25332 -- fair signal strength, no interference, occasional fading and slight heterodyning, otherwise reception was reasonably audible and clear at times during their transmission.

Reception report was emailed. The following day (6 May 2012), DJ "Dick Spacewalker" replied thanking me and stating:

"I shall send you a QSL- it will take some time because we have a lot of reports in hand now. We shall send it both ways e-mail and via snail-mail.

Transmitter and studio of Radio Spaceshuttle is situated in Finland. Transmitting power used was 500 watts; antenna used is a halfwave dipole on 10 meters high.

Very pleased to see we can cover nearly whole world, east to west from New Zealand to west coast of USA. And specially liked to get report from Malaysia -- I think not many free radio has :)  Very long distance...

Thanks again. We shall write these QSLs when having time for them. But do not worry, it will come.

The above eQSL card arrived on 10 July 2012. According to Dick, a paper QSL card will be posted later.

Email:

spaceshuttleradio@yahoo.com

Address:

Radio Spaceshuttle International 

P.O.Box 2702 

6049 ZG Herten 

The Netherlands

Voice of Mongolia

1st QSL card for 4 May 2012 reception report

Voice of Mongolia in Ulaanbaator was  logged on 4  May 2012. An English language broadcast of VoM's "Weekly Round-up" on financial events in Mongolia  and an interview with Deutsche Welle media trainer was heard from 10.30 to 11.00 UTC.  The broadcast was observed on VoM's usual operating frequency of 12.085 kHz. Reception (SINPO) at 10.30 UTC was 45444 -- good signal strength and audio quality, despite minor fading and atmospheric noise. At 10.35 UTC audio feed and transmitter shut down briefly, then was  restored five minutes later, apparently due to some technical problems.

Reception report was emailed to Voice of Mongolia on the same day. This QSL card arrived on 19 September 2012. A second QSL arrived by registered mail on 28 September 2012.

Email:

vom_en@yahoo.com

2nd QSL card for the same reception report

Radio Free Asia (via Tanshui)

Radio Free Asia, transmitting from Tanshui, Taiwan, was heard on 3 and 4 May 2012. A Vietnamese language broadcast of news features related to events in Myanmar, Vietnam, Kamuchea and the Philippines was monitored from 23.35 to 00.30 UTC (broadcast time 23.30 to 00.30 UTC). Reception (SINPO) on 11.605 kHz was 54544 -- excellent signal strength except for a whirring whine like a siren and slight fading.

Reception report was emailed to RFA on the same day. Two QSL cards for different dates and times arrived at the same transmitter site arrived in the mail on 11 May 2012.

Voice of Vietnam

Voice of Vietnam in  Hanoi was logged on 2 May 2012. An English language broadcast of News, Vietnamese pop music and "Letterbox" programme was hear from 15.00 to 15.28 UTC on VoV's frequently used 12.020 kHz. Reception (SINPO) was 44444 -- good signal strength, despite severe transmitter hum, slight interference from nearby stations.

Reception report was emailed to VoV.

Voice of Turkey

Voice of Turkey via Emirler was logged on 3 May 2012. A German language broadcast was  monitored 17.55 to 18.25 UTC (broadcast time 17.30 to 18.25 UTC) on 11.835 kHz. Reception (SINPO) at 17.55 UTC was 34333 -- fair signal strength with some fading, slight atmospheric noise and minor heterodyning.

Reception report was emailed. This QSL card arrived on 7 May 2012.

Email:

englishdesk@trt.net.tr

Radio France International / China Radio International on MW

Radio France International (RFI) / China Radio International (CRI), transmitting from Gancheng  {感城}, Dongfang {东方}, Hainan Province {海南} was logged on 2 May 2012. RFI's French language broadcast was  monitored from 13.25 to 14.00 UTC (broadcast time 13.00 to 14.00 UTC); CRI signed on at 14.00 UTC with a broadcast in Vietnamese. Both stations used the same transmitter and frequency of 684 kHz (MW). Reception (SINPO) at 13.30 UTC was 45444 -- good signal strength with minor atmospheric noise and occasional fading. Reception remained constant after 14.00 UTC.

A SoundCloud file of RFI closing and CRI signing on from 13.59 UTC on 2 May 2012 may be heard at this link.

A reception report was emailed to CRI and RFI. Unfortunately RFI has made no effort to QSL in recent years. Insomuch as the transmitter site is located in China, operated by CRI and CRI does QSL regularly, my hope of a QSL rests with CRI.

Surprisingly RFI sent this email later in the evening: "Hello, Thank you for your interest to France Inter. We forward your message to  RFI. Best regards, Bérénice" 


CRI confirmed the RFI transmission with a CRI QSL card on 22 June 2012.

Radio Canada International -- Action Committee

WHAT YOU CAN DO – 2012 CUTS-COMPRESSIONS

As a result of the huge 80% budget cut announced at Radio Canada International on April 4, 2012 we are working on an action plan – part of it involves your help. (Details of cuts: go here,) Thanks for your support!

To see full blog site, go to this link: 

Radio Free Asia (via Dhabbaya)

Radio Free Asia, transmitting via  Dhabbaya, UAE, was logged on 1 May 2012. Tibetan language broadcast was monitored from 06.57 to 07.02 UTC (broadcast time 06.00 to 07.02 UTC) on 21.690 kHz. Reception (SINPO) was 34443 -- fair signal strength with clear and audible speech, despite slight interference from a Chinese station and slight fading.

Reception report was emailed to RFA. QSL card was received in the mail on 9 May 2012.

Radio Prague (Internet)

Radio Prague in the Czech Republic was logged on 2 May  2012. Their English language broadcast from 22.00 to 22.30 UTC was heard on the Internet at: www.radio.cz/en/?set_default_version=1. Excellent streaming and sound quality was observed. 

Reception report was submitted on-line at Radio Prague's website. Seconds after completing their on-line form I was informed a QSL card would be forthcoming. A QSL card indeed arrived in the mail with a programme schedule and souvenir ruler on 23 May 2012.

Siang Khai Jak Krapong (Thailand)

Siang Khai Jak Krapong (Voice of Camp Chakkrapong) in Prachin Buri, Thailand was logged on 30 April 2012. A Thai language broadcast of mostly talk, occasional Thai music and listener phone-in discussion was monitored from 16.30 to 19.00 UTC on 855 kHz (MW). Reception (SINPO) was 34433 -- good signal strength from 16.30 UTC to well after 20.00 UTC. Only interference was from a Chinese station when signal faded. Despite this, speech and music was loud and clear.

Reception report was posted.

Pyongyang Broadcast Station (via Kanggye)

Pyongyang Broadcast Station, transmitting from  Kanggye, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), was logged on 30 April 2012. A Korean language broadcast of mostly commentary and occasionally revolutionary opera music was monitored from 12.00 to 12.40 UTC (broadcast time 21.00 to 19.00 UTC) on 6.400 kHz. Reception (SINPO) at 12.00 UTC was 35443 -- fair signal strength and slight fading, otherwise clear and audible speech. Reception after 15.00 UTC remained unchanged. 

Reception report was mailed. This QSL card from Pyongyang Broadcast Station arrived in the mail on 9 August 2012. A second QSL arrived on 2 October 2012 for the same report, but on 70 gramme paper, not postcard weight.

Address:

Pyongyang Broadcast Station

Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea