QSLs for June 2013

The following  QSLs were received or promised for the month of June 2013:

Voice of Arabs (ERTU - Radio Cairo) (QSL card) transmitting from Abu Zaabal, Egypt
ERTU - Radio Cairo (QSL card) transmitting from Abis, Egypt
Deutschlandfunk (QSL card) broadcast via web-radio/Internet from Berlin
Voice of Russia (QSL card) transmitting from Kishinev, Republic of Moldova
Voice of Turkey (QSL card) transmitting from Emirler
Voice of Turkey (QSL card) transmitting from Emirler
PCJ Radio International (eQSL) 5th test transmission  from Trincomalee, Sri Lanka
PCJ Radio International (eQSL) 4th test transmission  from Nauen, Germany  and Trincomalee, Sri Lanka
PCJ Radio International (eQSL) 3rd test transmission  from Trincomalee, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (eQSL) transmitting from Trincomalee
Radio Oriental (QSL card and letter) transmitting from Napo, Ecuador
Radio Asena (eQSL email) transmitting from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria

Promised:
Vatican Radio (QSL) transmitting from Santa Maria di Galeria
Voice of Mongolia (QSL) transmitting from Ulaanbaator
WWV (QSL) transmitting from Fort Collins, Colorado (USA) on 20 MHz

PCJ Radio International (via Trincomalee)

PCJ Radio International, transmitting from Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, was logged on 30 June 2013. This seventh test transmission began a half hour later owing to co-station interference. The broadcast began at 13.30 UTC with Andy Sennitt's "Focus Asia Pacific", then a Tecsun advertisement and "PCJ Happy Station Show". Reception on 11.835 kHz was at sign-on was (SINPO) 55545 -- excellent signal strength and  audio clarity despite slight fading. At 13.40 UTC, increased QRN, transmitter hum and fading reduced reception to 45433. At 13.50 UTC, for some inexplicable reason, reception improved to 55444. By 14.00 UTC, fading and severe transmitter hum  buried audio. At 14.13 UTC, hum and fading disappeared, improving reception to 55555. Transmission closed with Latin American tune, "Suarez" and PCJ interval tune at 14.30 UTC.

A sample of the transmission early in the broadcast may be heard HERE, and later the horrible transmitter noise HERE.

A reception report was emailed after the broadcast and posted a few days later to PCJ Radio. This eQSL arrived on 4 July 2013.

Postal address:
PCJ Radio International
8th Floor, Number 47, Lane 31,
Sanmin Road, Section 1,
Banciao, New Taipei City
Taiwan, 22070
Republic Of China

Email:
pcjqsl@pcjmedia.com

Website:
www.pcjmedia.com/about

Souvenir from PCJ Radio International (RNW 55 Anniversary Card)

KBS World Radio / Indian DX Report

KBS World Radio, transmitting from Kimjae, Republic of Korea, was logged on 29 June 2013. A Bahasa Indonesia broadcast was monitored from 12.45 to 13.00 UTC, followed by English programming from 13.00 to 14.00 UTC. During the English broadcast, KBS Korean News, "Touch Seoul", "Listeners Lounge" and "Indian DX Report" was observed. Reception on 9.570 kHz was (SINPO) 54534 -  fading and adjacent station splatter made reception difficult to copy at times, although signal was strong and audible.

A reception report was submitted on-line to KBS and Indian DX Report. This eQSL was received from IDXR on 9 July 2013. Two QSLs from KBS World Radio arrived in the mail on 19 August 2013.

Query about Radio Republik Indonesia Stations

After sending an on-line query late last month  to the Voice of Indonesia (VoI) and asking assistance to obtain Letters of Verification from several Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) stations, I received this encouraging message on 28 June 2013: Thank you for your email. We really appreciate it. We will forward your email to RRI Program & Production Directorate. Perhaps they will be able to help you connect to RRI stations.

While VoI wins kudos for replying to my query, I am wary of any response soon from the RRI stations in question, chiefly RRI Kendari, RRI Makassar, RRI Fak Fak, RRI Maidun, RRI Ternate and RRI Wamena. Each station was previously contacted in Bahasa Indonesia, with SAE and PPC (Self-prepared Verification Letter), by mail and/or email. And yet, months have passed without yielding any response.

I am aware budgetary constraints, poor management and inadequate mail service affect some of these RRI stations. IRCs may be impossible to exchange in some outposts, in which case money or Indonesian postage stamps would suffice. Money and IRCs  were previously sent to a few RRI stations and, again, there was no response. An Indonesian SWL made this known to me nearly a month ago. The situation is not unlike the NBC provincial stations in Papua New Guinea.

Still, it is gratifying to learn at least someone at the Voice of Indonesia is thoughtful enough to acknowledge a listener, even one in neighbouring Malaysia. Thank you, Voice of Indonesia!

Voice of Turkey

Voice of Turkey, transmitting from Emirler with 500 kW of power, was logged on 26 June 2013. An English language programme of news, Turkish music and letters from listeners was observed from 16.55 to 17.22 UTC (broadcast time 16.30 to 17.22 UTC). Reception on 15.520 kHz was (SINPO): 55545 -- excellent reception on all accounts, except for slight flutter. With reception quality like this, who needs the internet?

A reception report was emailed to the English Desk of TRT on the following day. QSL card, coaster with landmark of Turkey and pocket calendar arrived in the mail on 31 August 2013.

Email:

englishdesk@trt.net.tr

Coaster

A13 Schedules from Middle East Stations

Radio Kuwait A13 Schedule

ERTU Radio Cairo A13 Schedule

TRT Voice of Turkey A13 Schedule

Galei Zahal on 6.885 kHz (Israel)

Galei Zahal, transmitting from Tel Aviv-Yavne, Israel, was logged on 25 June 2013. A broadcast of Israeli songs and news on the hour in Hebrew, hosted by a male announcer, was monitored from 18.30 to 19.05 UTC. Reception on 6.885 kHz was (SINPO) 23321 -- weak signal strength but audible, despite QRM (jamming) and fading. It should be noted Galei Zahal is rarely heard on this frequency in South East Asia. I  first observed their signal on 8 June 2013 at 17.30 UTC onward. At the time, there was no QRM (jamming or other interference), unlike reception conditions for the past few weeks. Generally Galei Zahal is received best on 15.850 kHz. Note previous entry with sound files HERE

A reception report was emailed on 26 June 2013. I will be pleasantly surprised if and when a QSL card arrives. It took several months to receive their QSL, owing to delays in the mail. Galei Zahal was previously QSLed on 15.850 kHz, hence my interest in submitting a new reception report on 6.885 kHz.

Owing that Malaysia has no diplomatic ties with Israel, this QSL was routed to Ho Chi Minh City, then to Malaysia. In addition to this, the postman folded the card in half and delivered it on 2 August 2013, in less time than my previously received Galai Zahal QSL. All told, I'm surprised it arrived at all.

Address:

Galei Zahal

Israel Defence Forces

Military Post Office 1005

Zahal, Israel

Email:

glz@galatz.co.il

Vatican Radio

Vatican Radio African Service in Swahili, transmitting from Santa Maria di Galeria, was received on 22 June 2013. A broadcast of religious news and African choral music segued between reports was observed from 15.58 to 16.15 UTC. Reception on 15.570 kHz was (SINPO) 45444 -- good single strength with slight fading and atmospheric noise. 

Reception was emailed to Vatican Radio. An email was received on 24 June 2013, promising to send a QSL. A QSL card arrived, together with Vatican Radio stickers, calendar and brochure about the history of the station, on 2 October 2013.

PCJ Radio International Test Transmission (via Trincomalee)

PCJ Radio International, fifth test transmission from Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, was logged on 16 June 2013. "Focus Asia Pacific" and "The Happy Station Show" was observed from 13.00 to 14.00 UTC. Reception on 11.835 kHz was (SINPO) 54545 -- At sign-on there was some QRM from a station on the same frequency. This disappeared after 13.15 UTC. There appeared to be some minor fading. Despite these conditions signal strength and audio clarity was excellent.

Reception report was emailed on the same day to PCJ Radio. This eQSL was received on 19 June 2013.

Postal address:

PCJ Radio International

8th Floor, Number 47, Lane 31,

Sanmin Road, Section 1,

Banciao, New Taipei City

Taiwan, 22070

Republic Of China

Email: 

pcjqsl@pcjmedia.com

Website:

www.pcjmedia.com/about

Voice of Turkey

Voice of Turkey in Emirler was logged on 20 March 2013. An English language broadcast news, cultural programmes and Turkish pop music from 16.50 to 17.22 UTC. Reception on 15.520 kHz was (SINPO) 55555 - excellent reception with clear audio and strong signal.

A reception report was emailed to TRT the following day. This QSL card arrived in the mail on 14 June 2013.

Email:
englishdesk@trt.net.tr

Radio Station WWV (Fort Collins, Colorado)

Radio Station WWV, transmitting from Fort Collins, Colorado (USA), was logged on 11 and 12 June 2013. Transmission was monitored on 20 Mhz from 15.58 to16.10 UTC (11 June 2013) and 15.36 to 16.15 UTC (12 June 2013). On both days, transmission was best received between 15.58 to 16.05 UTC.

Reception on 11 June 2013 at 15.58 UTC  was (SINPO) 25221 -- weak signal, time pips and voice were audible and recognisable before 16.00 UTC. By 16.10 UTC, only faint time pips/pulses were detected amidst QRN. After 16.15 UTC, no signal was observed.

WWV facility in Fort Collins

Reception on 12 June 2013 at 15.36 UTC  was (SINPO) 15221 -- intermittent time pips began to peak through severe QRN. By 15.40 UTC, time pips, male voice stating the time and chime on the minute was faintly detected; QRN persisted to be heavy. At 16.00 UTC, signal peaked to 25232 -- speech of male voice announcing time, followed by minute chime and time pipes was clearly audible. Signal continued to be received up to 16.15 UTC. After this, signal was buried in QRN.

Reception was much better on 13 June, after 14.30 UTC. Voice-over and time pips/pulses were much cleared at (SINPO) 35343. Click HERE to listen.

To provide an idea of reception  in Malaysia on 12 June at 16.00 UTC,  listen to  time pips/pulses and male voice-over HERE.

RECORDED ON 12 JUNE 2013 USING SANGEAN ATS-909W

This is doubly satisfying to hear Radio Station WWV. One, it is a rarity to receive WWV on 20 Mhz given the  frequency, transmitter output power of 2.5 kW and the distance to Malaysia. Secondly, I am a native of Colorado and lived not far from Fort Collins and Boulder. So quite naturally, it's nice to hear a bit of home on short-wave, even though it is a time station :-)

A reception report was emailed on 12 June 2013. An email was received from WWV on 12 June 2013, indicating a QSL card would be forthcoming. The QSL indeed arrived on 18 July 2013.

Website:

www.nist.gov/pml/div688/grp40/wwv.cfm

Email:

nist.radio@boulder.nist.gov

inquiries@nist.gov

feedback@nist.gov

PCJ Radio International (via Nauen and Trincomalee)

eQSL for PCJ Radio via Nauen to North America

PCJ Radio International in their fourth test transmission from Nauen, Germany and Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, was logged on 9 June 2013. Andy Sennitt led off with "Focus Asia Pacfic", then Keith Perron followed a comercial for Tecsun, then "The Happy Station Show", between 13.00 and 14.00 UTC. The highlight of the show included an interview with Tom Meijer.

Reception of PCJ via Nauen on 5.955 kHz was (SINPO) 24331 -- weak signal strength and poor audio quality. Eventually a Chinese broadcaster (suspect CRI) dominated the frequency. I listened for approximately seven minutes, from 12.58 to 13.05 UTC.

Reception of PCJ via Trincomalee on 11.835 kHz was (SINPO) 54544 -- some moderate QRM from a station sharing the same frequency. This interference disappeared at around 13.20 UTC. At this point, reception improved and remained excellent at 55555.

eQSL for PCJ Radio via Nauen to Europe

Reception of PCJ  via Nauen on 10 June 2013 was heard as well, between 00.00 to 00.20 UTC. Reception on 9.925 kHz was detected but equally as bad as their transmission on 5.955 kHz. SINPO was 23321.Carrier was present with peaks of modulation when signal spiked upward. Otherwise audio was barely audible due to signal weakness, fading  and QRN. I did recognise the PCJ chimes at sign-on, the station ID, some content from "Focus Asia Pacific", Keith's promotion for Tecsun and the Brazilian singer introduced during "The Happy Station Show".

A sample of "Focus Asia Pacific", shortly after sign-on, from Nauen on 9 June may be heard HERE. The start of "The Happy Station Show" with Keith Perron and a Brazilian singer on 9 June may be heard HERE.

Initial reception report for an eQSL was emailed to verisigner V.G. A follow-up report for QSL card was mailed later. I received a prompt eQSL for the Nauen to North America transmission within an hour of submitting my reception report. Thank you, Victor. I admire your dedication to our hobby!!!

eQSL for PCJ Radio via Trincomalee
to South Asia and South East Asia

Postal address:
PCJ Radio International
8th Floor, Number 47, Lane 31,
Sanmin Road, Section 1,
Banciao, New Taipei City
Taiwan, 22070
Republic Of China



Email:
pcjqsl@pcjmedia.com

Website:
www.pcjmedia.com/about

Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (via Trincomalee)

Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), transmitting from Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, was logged on 5  June 2013. The All Asia Service in English was monitored from 02.15 to 03.30 UTC. The broadcast contained  news on the hour and a mix of contemporary pop tunes. Reception on  9.770 kHz  at 02.15 UTC was (SINPO) 24221 -- poor signal strength, fading and barely audible except when signal peaked upward. At 03.14 UTC there was a suddenly surge of power and increased audio, improving reception to 34433. Signal dropped back down after a few minutes and  remained buried in static; audio was faint and unintelligible at sign-off. Reception was essentially poor throughout the broadcast. QRN is just too heavy for this time slot and frequency in South East Asia. The 19 and 25 meter bands are good during this period. In fact,  SLBC  on 11.905 kHz  was received at a pleasant (SINPO) 35443. 

To assess the quality of this transmission, click HERE.

A reception report was emailed on the same day to Victor Goonetilleke, the veri-signer for SLBC. This eQSL arrived on 8 June 2013.

Kol Israel and Galai Zahal

Kol Israel was logged on 4 June 2013. A Persian language broadcast with music was monitored just before sign-off at 15.25 UTC (broadcast time 14.00 to 15.30 UTC) on 15.760 kHz. Reception in central Malaysia (SINPO) was 55545 -- excellent on almost every account. HERE is a sample from this transmission.

Galai Zahal was logged on 4 June 2013. A broadcast of music in Hebrew was monitored at 15.30 UTC on 15.850 kHz. Reception was (SINPO) 34433 -- fair signal strength with relative clarity, despite fading. Galai Zahal is rarely received this well in South East Asia. To hear how this transmission sounded in Malaysia, click HERE.

UPDATE!!!
Galai Zahal with music in Hebrew was logged on 8 June 2013 at 17.30 UTC onward, transmitting on 6.885 kHz . Reception was  (SINPO) 24332. Previous attempts on this frequency were null.

VMW (Wiluna, Western Australia)

VMW, the Australian Meteorological station in Wiluna, Western Australia, was logged on 4 June 2013. A male announcer speaking in English provided the week's (5 to 7 June) meteorological forecast pertaining to wind, barometric pressure, etc for coastal waters between the South Australia - Victoria border and Torres Strait in Queensland including all South Australia, Western Australia and Northern Territory zones as well as high seas for the northern, western areas and south eastern high seas. Specific islands were mentioned in the broadcast too. Transmission was monitored from 09.35 to 10.00 UTC. Reception on 16.528 kHz / USB mode was (SINPO): 35433 -- fair signal strength, no QRM and good audio clarity, despite minor fading. The station was previously QSLed on another frequency (6.230 kHz / USB).

To provide an idea of reception conditions in central Malaysia, listen HERE. 

A reception report was emailed the following day. The following week, Mr. Navin Chandran at Bureau of Meteorology Australia sent the above email in response to my reception report of VMW (Wiluna). In so many words, it would appear BOM Australia no longer issues, nor plans to issue a QSL. 

Email: 

n.chandran@bom.gov.au (Mr. Navin Chandran)

PCJ Radio International (via Trincomalee)

PCJ Radio International, broadcasting their third test transmission from Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, was logged on  2 June 2013. Another nostalgic broadcast with "Focus Asia Pacific" hosted by Andy Sennitt  and "Happy Station" with Keith Perron was heard from 13.00 to 14.00 UTC. What a delight! DXer extraordinaire Victor Goonetilleke, Victor Qian from Voice of Pujiang and Tom Meyer hosting "Happy Station" from a Radio Nederland archived recording was part of the evening's treat. To ensure improved reception the frequency was shifted to 11.835 kHz, after interference  from Voice of Korea was reported last Sunday. Fortunately reception on this new frequency was (SINPO) 55545 -- excellent signal strength and audio clarity with no QRM, only slight fading. 

To  provide an idea of reception conditions in South East Asia, you may listen to the broadcast HERE (using a Grundig Satellit 500) and HERE (using a Tecsun S-2000/Grundig Satellit 750). 

A reception report was emailed shortly after the broadcast. Later this week a reception report will be posted for a QSL card. An eQSL was received on 12 June 2013. A QSL Letter, along with Taiwanese postage stamps, photo of Keith Perron and Tom Meijer in the 45th Anniversary QSL card of Happy Station, arrived in the mail on 26 June 2013.

Postal address:

QSL Letter with souvenirs

PCJ Radio International
8th Floor, Number 47, Lane 31,
Sanmin Road, Section 1,
Banciao, New Taipei City
Taiwan, 22070
Republic Of China

Email:
pcjqsl@pcjmedia.com

Website:
www.pcjmedia.com/about