QSLs / ARTICLES

Monday, December 30, 2013

QSLs December 2013

QSLs received and promised for the month of December 2013

World Harvest Radio via WHRI (QSL card) transmitting from Cypress Creek, South Carolina (USA)
World Harvest Radio via T8WH (QSL card) transmitting from Palau
PCJ Radio International (eQSL) transmitting from Trincomalee, Sri Lanka
Atlantic 2000 International (eQSL) Internet stream from France
Radio Nikkei 2 (QSL card) transmitting from Chiba-Nagara, Japan
Australian DX Report via Adventist World Radio/KSDA (eQSL) transmitting from Agat, Guam
Pilipinas DX Report via Adventist World Radio/KSDA (eQSL) transmitting from Agat, Guam

Promised:
Radio Slovakia International via WRMI (QSL) transmitting from Okeechobee, Florida (USA)
WWV on 15 Mhz (QSL) transmitting from Fort Collins, Colorado (USA)

Radio Nacional Angola 1

Radio Nacional Angola 1, transmitting from  Mulenvos, Angola, was logged on 30 December 2013. African pop music hosted by a male announcer was monitored from 17.40 to 18.10 UTC. Reception on 4.950 kHz was (SINPO) 25331 -- weak carrier signal with peaks of audio, noise and fading.

Reception report was emailed to RNA the following day. Received email delaying delivery on 1 January 2014.

Email:
rna@rna.ao

Website:
www.rna.ao

Postal address:
Radio Nacional de Angola,
C.P.1329,
Luanda, Angola

Friday, December 27, 2013

KBS World Radio Calendar 2014

Cover 2014
KBS WORLD RADIO calendar 2014. This desktop calendar, entitled "Vibrant Scenes From Korea" features 12 Korean cultural and scenic sites around the Republic of Korea.  A brief description about each photo is included, along with a barcode for scanning. The calendar concludes with a page on UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Korea.

April 2014
May 2014

December 2014

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Season's Greetings

Taldom TX Center,
'Tis the time of year again when season's greetings pour in from all around the world. International broadcasters and DXing friends take time to share their Christmas cheer and New Year wishes

"Dear  friends, Many thanks for your attention to our transmissions  and for your useful reports! We wish all the best to you and your families for the next year  -  2014! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!" On behalf of the team of TALDOM TX CENTER, Andrey Shaydurov,Taldom, Moscow region, Russia.


Indian DX Report
The next e-card came from Prithwiraj Purkayastha, Editor & Presenter, INDIAN DX REPORT.


RADIO HABANA CUBA sent this festive email: “Wishing that the New Year fills you and your family with love and welfare, we reiterate our friendship and remain." Rosario Lafita Fernández, Head of Correspondence Dept., Radio Havana Cuba
 

THE VOICE OF VIETNAM chimmed in with this greeting card and 2014 pocket calendar. 

Voice of Vietnam

NHK WORLD - RADIO JAPAN Urdu language service posted this Mt Fuji inspired greeting card with signatures of Radio Japan Urdu staff.




















ATLANTIC 2000 INTERNATIONAL  sent along this New Year 2014 eCard.



Log on 25 December 2013

UNITED STATES
Radio Prague and Radio Slovakia via WRMI (Okeechobee Florida) // 9.955 kHz // 12.00-13.00 UTC with Christmas music (Jingle Bells) and talk in Spanish // 23322 - weak, noisy, but audible. On a whim I emailed a reception report to WRMI about a week later. This QSL card arrived on 28 February 2014 confirming both stations via WRMI.





HAWAII / CHINA
WWVH / BPM // 10 Mhz // vocal ID and pips audible at 12.00 UTC. SINPO was 13421 - very weak, only time pips audible and distinctly different from WWV and BPM

ALASKA
KNLS // 9.615 kHz @ 34433 // 11.15 UTC // Talk about Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma in English

SOUTH AFRICA
Channel Africa via Meyerton // 15.235 kHz // 44444 // 17.00 UTC onward

Receiver: Degen DE-1102. Antenna: random wire of 4 meters. Location received: Bukit Fraser, Pahang,  which is located in the Highlands of Malaysia at approximately 1,200 meters above sea level.


Banglo Glenn in Bukit Fraser, RX location for this log.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

WRMI - Radio Miami International (Okeechobee)

WRMI - Radio Miami International in Okeechobee, Florida (USA), was received on 22 December 2013. Spanish language programmed called "Foro Revolucionairo" was monitored from 22.35 to 23.00 UTC. Reception on 9.955 kHz at 22.35 was (SINPO) 24432 -- weak signal, yet clear, audible and discernible speech was observed; at 22.42 UTC interference  from Taiwanese transmitter site in Paochung degraded reception to 23332; at 23.00 swamped by Taiwanese transmitter.

Reception report was submitted on-line and emailed the following day. QSL card arrived on 6 February 2014.



Email:
info@wrmi.net


PCJ Radio International (Trincomalee)

PCJ Radio International, transmitting from Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, was logged on 22 December 2013. PCJ Radio's Annual Christmas broadcast was monitored from 13.35 to 14.30 UTC (broadcast time 13.30 to 14.30 UTC). Peggy Lee was heard singing a traditional Christmas tune; Chipmonks & David Saville (Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.) performed "All I want is a Hula-hoop"; Keith Perron recited "Twas the Night Before Christmas"; Tom Meijer performed "It's a Marshmallow Day"; Burl Ives sang "A Holly Jolly Christmas"; a 1963 Beatles "flexi-disc" Christmas greeting was played; John Lennon and Yoko sang "War is Over/Happy Christmas"; Keith Perron recited Dr. Suess's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"; Tony Bennett crooned "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"; Keith Perron mentioned email and postal addresses for special Christmas QSL; Bing Crosby & The Andrew Sisters performed "Mele Kalikimaka"; Keith Perron sang "Winter Wonderland"; "Let It Snow" followed;  then station ID and frequencies were announced by Keith Perron. Reception on 9.335 kHz was (SINPO): 55555 -- excellent on all accounts. This was by far the best reception of PCJ Radio International.

Reception report was emailed immediately after the broadcast.

Email:
pcjqsl@pcjmedia.com


Has ELWA Returned To Short-wave?

Old QSL from the 1970s
Radio ELWA, an Evangelical radio station operating from Monrovia, Liberia, purportedly has begun broadcasting on short-wave again. The frequency is 4.760 kHz (60 meters), with a transmission power of 1000 watts. ELWA also transmits on 94.5 FM. The station provides  daily programming in English for 19 hours and 1 1/2 hours in Liberian vernacular. THIS INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE CONFIRMED. Personally, I have not heard this station since the 1970s.

For more information, please refer to their WEBSITE.

Contact information:
Mr. Moses Nyantee, Manager 
E-mail:  elwaradio@yahoo.com,  mtnyantee81@yahoo.com 
Phone: 011-231 886-515511, +231 5 788710

Friday, December 20, 2013

RAE Radiodifusion Argentina al Exterior



RAE Radiodifusion Argentina al Exterior, transmitting from General Pacheco, Argentina, was received on 20 December 2013. A Spanish language broadcast with Latin American music, news brief and commentary was monitored from 22.20 to 22.40 UTC. Reception on 15.345 kHz at 22.20 UTC was (SINPO) 34433 -- fair signal strength, clear and discernible speech. This was by far the best I've heard, in fact. By 22.30 UTC -- as daylight approached in Malaysia -- reception was significantly degraded to 23331 due to increased atmospheric noise, fading and weakened signal. A horrible transmitter hum was observed at 22.38 UTC, then transmission closed at 20.40 UTC.

Reception report was written in Spanish (courtesy of Google translator) and emailed to two different and publicised email portals on their websites. Each one bounced.
It would appear RAE has problems other than their transmitter. Finally on 27 February I received a nice email in Spanish and eQSL from Gustavo Eduardo Rios.

 
Email:
portal@radionacional.gov.ar (bounced)
rae@radionacional.gov.ar (bounced)
conexionrae@radionacional.gov.ar (connected)

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Radio Africa (Bata, Equatorial Guinea)

Radio Africa, transmitting from Bata, Equatorial Guinea, was logged on 18 December 2013. A selection of  Evangelical music and "Radio Africa Network" ID in American English, just before closure, was observed  between 22.40 to 23.00 UTC. Reception on 15.190 kHz was (SINPO) 25432 -- weak signal, but audible and clear speech

Reception report to Radio Africa was emailed the following day. On 16 January 2014 I received an email stating a QSL had been posted the previous week. QSL card and verification letter arrived in the mail on 21 January 2014.


Email:
info@panambc.com



WWV on 15 Mhz (Fort Collins, CO)

Radio Station WWV, in Fort Collins, Colorado (USA), was logged on 18 December  2013, between 23.06 to 23.20 UTC. Earlier this year WWV's signature time pips/pulse with male announcer was detected on 20 Mhz. Today, marks the first time WWV has been received on 15 Mhz in Malaysia.  

An audio file from this transmission may be observed HERE.  Listen very closely. Two voices, faintly received under QRN, will be heard: first, the female announcer from WWVH; and then, the male announcer from WWV.

Reception on 15 Mhz at 23.06 UTC was (SINPO) 25432 -- weak signal, atmospheric noise, fading, but faintly audible and clear male announcer speaking in American English was heard. WWV disappeared after 23.25 UTC, but time pips/pulses and faint female announcer from WWVH gradually became more prominent.

Reception report was emailed to WWV on the following day. An email on 25 December 2013 confirmed and promised QSL card: 


"Thank you for your reception report. It has been forwarded to our administrative staff, who will be sending a QSL to you shortly. Sincerely, Glenn Nelson, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Radio Stations WWV/WWVB."

QSL card arrived in the mail on 4 February 2014.

Email:
wwv@nist.gov


Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Family Radio / WRMI (Okeechobee)

Family Radio via WRMI, transmitting from Okeechobee, Florida, (USA), was logged on 17 December 2013. A Spanish language broadcast of Evangelical music and religious sermons and frequent Family Radio IDs with signature jingle was heard from 23.05 to 00.00 UTC. Reception on 13.695 kHz  at 23.05 UTC was (SINPO) 35443 -- fair signal strength, clear and audible speech, minor atmospheric noise. By 23.30 UTC as greyline between Malaysia and USA ended reception gradually weakened to 25332 with speech still clear and audible even after 00.00 UTC.

Reception report was submitted to Family Radio and WRMI on  the following day. WYFR posted a QSL card of their 50th Anniversary (an old design) along with religious literature and bumper sticker.. These arrived in my letterbox on 25 February 2014. WRMI replied with their QSL card which arrived in the mail on 28 February 2014.

Email:
info@wrmi.net
espanol@familyradio.org





Radio Slovakia International / WRMI (Okeechobee).

Radio Slovakia International via WRMI, transmitting from Okeechobee, Florida (USA), was logged on 17 December 2013. Spanish language broadcast of mostly talk and one vocal song was monitored from 11.30 to 12.00 UTC. Reception on 9.955 kHz (SINPO): 25321 -- weak signal with peaks of audio and  unintelligible speech.

Reception report was emailed to WRMI and Radio Slovkia. On 18 December2013, Gavin Shoebridge of Radio Slovakia International, replied with this email: "Thanks very much for your detailed shortwave reception report, it’s very helpful for us. I will arrange for a QSL card to be sent out at once. If you enjoy what you heard with Radio Slovakia International, I invite you to check out our webpage www.rsi.sk to see what’s new in the world of technology, sports, politics, and culture in the Slovak Republic. You can also listen live without interference, via the internet. Have a lovely Christmas and a wonderful new year."
  
On 4 February 2014 I received a QSL card for this broadcast, a Christmas photo of RSI English staff, RSI sticker, Slovakia commemorative postage stamp, Slovakia coin and Gavin Shoebridge's business card.
 
Email:
info@wrmi.net



Radio Prague / WRMI (Okeechobee)

Radio Prague via WRMI, transmitting from Okeechobee, Florida (USA), was logged on 17 December 2013. Spanish language broadcast of mostly news/current events talk between female and male announcers with one vocal song, which was monitored from 11.00 to 11.30 UTC. Reception on 9.955 kHz (SINPO): 25321 -- weak signal with peaks of audio and  unintelligible speech.

Reception report was emailed to WRMI and Radio Prague. QSL card arrived on 16 January 2014.

Email:
info@wrmi.net
cr@radio.cz



Monday, December 16, 2013

Overcomer Ministry / WRMI (Okeechobee)

Overcomer Ministry via WRMI, transmitting from Okeechobee, Florida (USA), was logged on 16 December 2013. Brother Stair sermons on hell fire and salvation with at least two station IDs were noted from 22.30 to 23.00 UTC. Reception at 22.30 UTC on 9.955 kHz was (SINPO) 25342 -- weak signal, clear and audible speech, despite some atmospheric noise. At 22.59 UTC some interference from Radio France International via Paochung, Taiwan degraded reception to 23342 -- still audible but terribly distorted. Suspected carrier of WRMI is also received at 12.00 UTC on 9.955 kHz, but unidentifiable and weak.

Reception report was emailed to Overcomer Ministry and WRMI shortly after listening to broadcast. It was also submitted on-line at WRMI. Brother Stair commented the following day (17 December 2013), during his broadcast, that a "listener in Malaysia" (must be me) received his Overcomer Ministry programme on WRMI short-wave. He added he would look into my request. After a follow-up email I received this eQSL on 16 January 2014.

Email addresses:
info@wrmi.net
lastime@overcomerministry.org

Website:
www.wrmi.net/


Saturday, December 14, 2013

2013 QSL Highlights

Year 2013 saw the inclusion of many new countries and stations in my QSL collection. Who said short-wave was dead? Listed below is the treasure netted from the radio waves.

China Tibet Broadcasting,  Radio France International, Radio Makedonias, Afia Darfur, Voice of Pujiang, Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne, Sudan Radio, Radio Republic Indonesia, Radio Madang, Radio Sandaun, Radio East New Britain and Radio Sandaun  and Radio Algerienne Holy Quran took either years  to reply or multiple follow-up attempts to secure their respective QSLs.

Some were obtained through PPC-eQSL. Others arrived unexpectedly out of the blue, after months and years of waiting.

Radio Oriental, Radio Stations WWV (20 mHz) and WWVH (2.5 mHz), Hamburger Lokalradio, Galei Zahal (6.885 kHz), Radio Madang and Radio Sandaun were received either only for a few minutes and/or certain times of the year. In each case, all involved patiently waiting and calculating when best to receive their signals.

AND, when their QSLs were finally acquired, ah that was the piece de resistance!

JANUARY

Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne 











OCTOBER








Receiver used: Tecsun S-2000 (Grundig Satellit 750) // External Antenna: 13-metre elevated 1/4 wave aerial. Monitoring location: Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.