QSLs for December 2015

The Mighty KBC (QSL Card) transmitting from Nauen, German

China Radio International (QSL Card) transmitting from Jinhua, Zhejiang, China

Chelmsford Calling World Service  via WRMI (eQSL) transmitting from Okeechobee, Florida (USA)

La Rosa de Tokio (Argentina) via WRMI (eQSL) transmitting from Okeechobee, Florida, USA

Radio Taiwan International (QSL Card) transmitting from Woofferton, UK

Voice of Turkey (QSL Card) for Italian service transmitting from Emirler, Turkey

Voice of Turkey (QSL Card) for English service transmitting from Emirler, Turkey




Promised QSLs:
SDXF The Swedish DX Federation* (QSL) transmitting from Sala, Sweden

*Logged using a remote SDR receiver linked to the University of Twente (The Netherlands) website and monitored in Malaysia 

Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran Calendar

Warm greetings from IRIB English Radio. IRIB English Radio, the 24-hour broadcast, congratulates you and wish you a happy new year.

In this regard, we would like you to share with us the customs and traditions that you typically observe during the new year holiday such as: our wearing, food gifts and parties that you surely throw in these days.

You can even send us your best or funniest moments and memories that happened to you in the form of voice or note. We will air them on IRIB English Radio.

We are eagerly waiting for you to provide us with them and the best of them will be awarded.

We have also sent you a calendar of 2016. Hope you enjoy it.

Keep in touch

Voice of Mongolia Greeting Card

Greeting Card depicting Genghis Khan

New Year's 2016 greeting card from the Voice of Mongolia. Interestingly, this was sent by registered mail, as is every letter and QSL card ever received from them. 

Voice of Vietnam Calendar

2016 Wall Calendar from The Voice of Vietnam

Closure of MW & SW Stations

As we near the end of year 2015, it is interesting to note a number of  medium-wave and short-wave stations that either have closed or will soon cease broadcasting. 

In Germany, the medium-wave stations of Deutschland Funk will cease operation on 31 December 2015. Among the announced closures are: Neumünster 1269 kHz, Braunschweig 756 kHz, Nordkirchen 549 kHz, Thurnau 549 kHz, Heusweiler 1422 kHz and Ravensburg 756 kHz.

With the countdown to the closure of these German medium-wave stations imminent, it might be worth noting, AFN (American Armed Forces Radio) Bavaria  is still active on 1107 kHz from Vilseck. Earlier this year, AFN Europe confirmed the station by email, but stated a QSL card per se was no longer issued.

Meanwhile in Luxembourg, RTL (Radio Television Luxembourg) on 1440 kHz (Marnach) looks like it will cease operation at 0100 CET on 1 January 2016.

France and Czech Republic also announced the closure of MW stations in their respective countries.

Fortunately, short-wave remains alive with stations the likes of Channel 292, Europa 24, Hamburger Lokalradio and Radio 700, and not to forget, a few former free radio broadcasters like Radio Marabu. Unfortunately, their signals radiate well only within Europe; for international listeners like myself remote SDR receivers and the Internet are the only listening outposts for us. Having said this, on the rare occasion, I have received Hamburger Lokalradio using the 19 metre band in a test transmission.

International Serbia Radio shuttered its short-wave operation on  31 July 2015.

National Broadcasting Corporation of Papua New Guinea ceased all short-wave service sometime in April 2015. Despite the closure, I was informed the short-wave service could resume with new AM and DRM transmitters, pending approval by the PNG government. Meanwhile, NBC broadcasts on the FM band pretty much for the most part.
 

As we observe the closure of these stations it might be nice to look back at their QSL cards and similar QSLs from, particularly, German broadcasters still in operation.

On the bright side, with the  closure of these stations, it opens the window for radio stations previously unheard in Europe. In any case, let us hope fewer, better still, no further stations disappear in 2016.
 

Vatican Radio (Talata Volonodry)

Vatican Radio,  African Service via Talata Volonodry (Madagascar), 26 December 2015.  An English language broadcast, featuring News Bulletin and Christmas liturgy with the song "Hark, the Herald Angel", was heard from 17.30 till 17.58 UTC, under fair and favorable conditions on the short-wave frequency of 9.660  kHz.

Reception report was emailed on the following day to Vatican Radio and MGLOB. QSL card from Vatican Radio arrived on 20 January 2015. MGLOB QSL arrrved in the mail on 16 February 2016

Norddeutscher Rundfunk*

Norddeutscher Rundfunk*, presumably using the transmitter relay sites of Media Broadcast GmbH in Nauen and Moosbrunn, was logged on 24 December 2015.  I had the good fortune to hear their annual  "Gruß an Bord" broadcast on the short-wave frquencies of  9.515 and 9.765 kHz, using the remote (Twente) SDR receiver in The Netherlands. Direct reception to Malaysia was hampered by poor propagation and direction of antenna.

Reception on 9.765 kHz was (SINPO) 25332 -- weak signal and slight fading with atmospheric noise being the most troublesome aspect; reception on 9.515 kHz was (SINPO) 35443 -- a slightly stronger and clearer signal despite noisy propagation. Had propagation been better (as it was a few days previously) I suspect this transmission would have been received directly in Malaysia. A vague signal on 9.515 kHz was in fact detected under the noise, but insufficient to identify.

This  Christmas Eve broadcast of greetings from seaman and families was monitored from 22.30 till 23.00 UTC (23.30 till 00.00 CET). During the half hour of messages I also observed three Christmas songs either mixed under the voices of NDR moderators or played as stand alone songs.

Reception reports were emailed to NDR and Media Broadcasting GmbH on Christmas Day. An eQSL from Media Broadcasting gmbH was received on 12 January 2015. Norddeutscher Rundfunk QSL card arrived in the mail on 15 January 2015.

Email:

technik@ndr.de

QSL-Shortwave@media-broadcast.com

*Logged using a remote SDR receiver linked to the University of Twente (The Netherlands) website and monitored in Malaysia 

Rádio Voz Missionária

Rádio Voz Missionária, transmitting from Camboriú, SC, Brazil, was logged on 23 December 2015. An evangelical minister speaking in Portuguese was heard briefly from 22.40 till 23.00 UTC. Reception on 9.665 kHz was 23332 -- weak, clear and audible despite co-frequency interference from KCBS Pyongyang. Around 22.50 UTC, Rádio Voz Missionária gradually faded under the North Korean broadcaster and disappeared completely by 23.00 UTC. A station which is usually elusive in this quarter of the world, caught me by surprise and I was exceptionally lucky just to hear their signal, however briefly.

Reception report was emailed to Rádio Voz Missionária on the following day. A week later, a report was posted too. A large QSL card (approximately 9"x12") along with station brochure arrived in the mail on 1 April 2016.

 
Email:
gerencia@vozmissionaria.com.br

Postal Address:
Rádio Voz Missionária
Gideões Missionários da Última Hora
Rua Joaquim Nunes, 244 Centro
CEP 88340-000
Camboriú, SC
Brazil

Chelmsford Calling World Service (via WRMI)

Chelmsford Calling World Service via WRMI in Okeechobee, Florida (USA) was logged on 23 December 2015. A wonder selection of programmes about all things radio, including Media Magazine, The Wireless Years, The Elettra Report, Sunny Jim's Trance Journey and Listening Post, was heard from 23.00 till 00.00 UTC. Reception 9.955 kHz was (SINPO) 35433 -- signal was best received from 23.10 till 23.30 UTC when clarity and strength of signal was fair to good; at other times transmission was audible, but with more atmospheric noise as grey-line gradually disappeared between Malaysia and Florida.

If you've not caught Chelmsford Calling World Service on radio, they may be heard at their website. I heartily recommend a listen. The programmes are excellent!!!

Reception report was emailed to WRMI and Chelmsford Calling World Service. Approximately six hours later I received an eQSL and very pleasant email from Chelmsford Calling host, Jim Salmon, saying: "Hello Timm. Many thanks for your reception report following recent airing on WRMI. I attach our eQSL. I am currently taking a break from this programme but hope to return with new programmes sometime in the future. This programme was recorded in October 2015. At the moment I am working on a new project to look at the first broadcast station in the UK – details here - www.emmatoc.com. You can also follow this on facebook or twitter – just search for 'radioemmatoc'. Greetings to you & yours & all the best for Christmas!"  A QSL card from WRMI arrived in the mail on 3 August 2016.

Email:
info@chelmsfordcalling.co.uk 
info@chelmsfordcalling.com
chelmcalling@gmail.com

Website: 

www.chelmsfordcalling.com/world-service

Radio Mi Amigo International wishes you a very merry Christmas, and we hope you will enjoy our programmes in 2016 as we have big plans! Just a reminder for you that we will be broadcasting this Christmas with some very special programming made for you by our DJ’s.

Here’s the schedule:
On both 6.005 kHz and 7.310 kHz  (and online in stereo):

Thursday, December 24th
10.00 Peter de Wit - Christmas Aboard The Schoon Schip (Dutch)
11.00 Paul Newman with Christmas In The Radio Shack (English)
13.00 Ron O'Quinn's Festive Time Machine (English)
14.00 Lion Keezer - Season's Greetings To The World (Dutch, this show will be repeated at 19:00 CET on 3985 kHz & online

Friday, December 25th
10.00 Jeffrey's Stenen Tijdperk Christmas Special (Dutch)
11.00 Kord Radio Nordzee International Chart 'Festive Flashback' (German)
13.00 Bruno's Christmas Soulbox (English)
14.00 Paul Graham's Christmas Cracker! (English, this show will be repeated at 19:00 CET on 3985 kHz & online

If you live in the Northern part of Europe you may also get these programs on Medium Wave 1485 AM (from Riga, Latvia) starting each day on 20:00 CET (until 01:00 am)

The shows will also be broadcast in stereo in Spain (Costa Blanca) on FM 92.3 and 106.0 from 10 am till 3 pm CET.

Check our website for all links, schedules, frequencies and additional information:  www.radiomiamigointernational.com

Again, all the best from all of us here at Radio Mi Amigo International and thanks for listening and your support!

Mike Radio*

Mike Radio* in The Netherlands was received on 13 December 2015, using the SDR receiver at Twente in The Netherlands. The last 15 minutes of the broadcast, from  09.30  till 9.45 UTC, were monitored and  consisted of station jingles between Rock/Pop songs, including Deep Purple's "Sweet Child in Time".  Reception on 6.180 kHz was (SINPO) 55555. The signal was nearly as strong as any major European station present on the 49 metre band at this time, so much so that I thought perhaps it was a new station.

In any event a reception report was emailed to Mike Radio on the same day, followed by a subsequent email a week later. Mike Radio replied on 21 December 2015, stating "QSL later. Ok?"An eQSL was received on 3 January 2016. Thank you, Mike.


Email:
mikeradio@live.nl

*Logged using a remote SDR receiver linked to the University of Twente (The Netherlands) website and monitored in Malaysia

Season's Greetings

Christmas and New Year 2016 greetings are now streaming in as expected. While the letterbox has been empty for days, even weeks,  holiday emails  from fellow radio enthusiasts and broadcasters have begun to trickle in. Here's a few eCards...

Atlantic 2000 International sent this email and eCard: "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2016 to all listeners from Atlantic 2000 International. Many thanks for listening on shortwave." Thank you Atlantic 2000 International.

Radio Romania International Chinese Service sent four holiday greetings. Thank you, Radio Romania International.

Radio Mi Amigo International wishes you a very merry Christmas and we hope you will enjoy our programmes in 2016 as we have big plans!Thank you, Mi Amigo.

The Voice of Vietnam sent their annual New Year / Springtime greetings.

Thank you for the Season's Greetings, Artur Fernandez Llorella.

Radio Alcaravan in Colombia

Thank you, Rafael.

Rosario Lafita Fernández, Head of Correspondence Dept., Radio Havana Cuba sent the following holiday message: "A New Year is about to begin and our staff wishes you, and your loved ones, lots of peace, harmony and welfare. We’ll surely strengthen the fraternal ties that unite us. Happy 2016!"

Season's Greetings from all of us at FRS-Holland! We wish you a Merry Christmas 2015 and a Happy 2016 in good health.

In addition to this, they have an upcoming broadcast on 27th December  2015. FRS-Holland will be transmitting  on 7.700 kHz & 9.300 kHz. For details please click HERE. 

Thank you, FRS-Holland.

Magic AM in The Netherlands

Thank you, Magic AM.










To one and all, may your holiday season be filled with love, joy and peace! And, as always, Happy DXing in the coming new year!

Radio Thailand (MW station via Rangsit)

Radio Thailand (Sathaanii Witthayu Krajaisiang Haeng Pratheet Thai), transmitting from Rangsit, Pathum Thani, was logged on 20 December 2015 (21 December 2015 local date). English Pop/Rock music, English station ID for "Radio Thailand on 918 kHz..." and commentary from Thailand Tourism in Thai about the Buddha was monitored from 22.45 till 23.20 UTC (local time 05.45 till 06.20 AM). Reception on 918 kHz was (SINPO) 34333, with occasional fading being the only disturbance.

National Radio of Kampuchea previously operated on 918 kHz, but for more than a year has been unheard on this frequency, here in Malaysia. Instead, Radio Thailand has been received favorably in the evenings and mornings on this frequency.

Reception report was emailed on the same day to Radio Thailand. A computer generated message promtly acknowledged receipt of my email.

Email:

feedback@hsk9.org

Europa 24* (Germany)

Europa 24* (registered to Interessengemeinschaft Hochfrequenztechnik e.V.), transmitting  Datteln, near Dortmund (Germany), was logged on  20 December 2015. A German language broadcast of news and English Pop/Rock music was monitored from 13.00 to 13.30 UTC. Reception on  6.150 kHz was (SINPO) 35433 -- fair signal strength, clear audio but deep and occasional fading; reception deteriorated severely after 13.15 UTC to 24331 - poor signal strength and severe atmospheric noise. It sounded as if TX power had been reduced and/or switched off temporarily. Signal before 13.00 UTC was much better overall.

Reception report was submitted to previously known email address on 21 December 2015. This eQSL was received on 14 January 2016.

Email:
test6150@yahoo.com

*Logged using a remote SDR receiver linked to the University of Twente (The Netherlands) website and monitored in Malaysia

RB2 Radio Clube Paranaense

RB2 Radio Clube Paranaense (presumed to be) in Curitiba, Brazil was logged on 15 December 2015 on the short-wave frequency of 9.725 kHz. A Portuguese language programme of religious music with commentary and advertisements/promotions were observed from 22.15 till 22.45 UTC. Reception was SINPO 24321 -- poor to weak signal, occasionally clear audio, slight fading. Signal was even heard up until 23.15 UTC.

Reception report was emailed and submitted on-line on 16 December 2015. No known QSLs have been issued in recent years since resuming transmission on the shortwave bands

Email:
rb2@radiorb2.com.br

Website: 

www.a12.com/radio-rb2/contato

Address:
RB2 Radio Clube Paranaense
Rua Ivo Leão,
220 - Alto da Glória - Curitiba (PR)
CEP 80030-180 Brazil

Famagusta Gazette Radio (via WRMI)

Famagusta Gazette Radio via WRMI in Okeechobee, Florida (USA) was logged on 15 December 2015, from 22.59 till 23.10 UTC (broadcast time 23.00 till 23.15 UTC). Station ID of WRMI, followed by FG Radio ID and English language broadcast of news about Cyprus and the world.  Signal was too weak to copy after 23.10 UTC. Reception on 11.580 kHz was (SINPO) 25421 -- audible speech but too weak to clearly understand all of the content. By 23.10 only carrier signal with peaks of very faint audio was observed. Overall, reception was poor to weak. Coincidentally, at the same time on 9.955 kHz, The Overcomer Ministry via WRMI was much stronger and clearer with a SINPO rating of 35443.

Reception report was emailed to  Famagusta Gazette Radio on the following day. A report was also submitted on-line to WRMI. QSL card from WRMI covered for Famagusta Gazette Radio, which was received on 20 January 2016.

Email:

news@famagusta-gazette.com

Furusato No Kaze (via Palau Medorn)

Furusato No Kaze, transmitting from  Palau Medorn, was logged on 12 December 2015. A concert of Japanese artistes performed  Japanese pop songs, western classical and jazz compositions from 10.35 till 12.07 UTC. Interviews with the artistes followed and no station IDs were announced during the broadcast until 12.07 UTC. From this time on, station interval was looped until 12.30 UTC. Reception on 9.960 kHz was SINPO 55545 -- excellent reception except for minor fluttering fade on  with 55545.

Samples of this broadcast may be heard HERE (Japanese rendition of "Auld Lang Syne") and HERE (station interval).

Reception report was emailed on 13 December 2015, although Furusato No Kaze does not QSL. Most likely only a cover letter of acknowledgement and literature about the Japanese abductees in North Korea will be forthcoming. As expected, on 12 July 2016, Furusato No Kaze did acknowledge receipt of reception report with literature on missing Japanese citizens. Interestingly, the envelope it came in stated, "TNX FR YR QSL"

Email:
info@rachi.go.jp

Voice of Africa (via Al Aitahab)

Voice of Africa, transmitting from Al Aitahab, Sudan, was logged on 11 December 2015. A Hausa language broadcast of music was monitored from 19.15 till 19.30 UTC (broadcast time 19.30 till 20.30 UTC). Transmission closed with national anthem at 19.30 UTC. Reception on 9.505 kHz was (SINPO) 24321 -- weak to poor signal strength with atmospheric noise and occasional fading.

Reception report was emailed to Sudan National Broadcasting Corporation (SNBC) on 12 December 2015.

Email:
info@snbc.com
now@sudantv.net

China Radio International (Esperanto Service via Urumqi)

China Radio International, transmitting from Urumqi, Xinjiang, was logged on 11 December 2015. An Esperanto language broadcast of news, current event reports and contemporary Esperanto music was monitored from 19.30 till 20.00 UTC (broadcast time 19.30 till 20.30 UTC). Although transmission was directed to Europe, reception in South East Asia on 9.745  kHz was (SINPO) 45434 -- good signal strength initially, despite slight atmospheric noise and fading. At around 11.50 UTC, fading worsened, occasionally to the point that audio was barely audible. A decent signal remained and transmission was clear despite this problem.

Reception report was emailed to CRI Esperanto section. It is so unusual to hear Esperanto on radio nowadays I thought I'd give a listen and try to obtain a QSL from CRI in the Eperanto language. To possibly help matters along, I submitted the report in Esperanto.

On 13 January 2016, the following message from the Esperanto Section of CRI was received promising a QSL card adn requesting a phone interview: "Saluton! Mi estas Wang Shanshan el Esperanto-Redakcio de Cxina Radio Internacia. Nomu min Shanshan se vi volas. Ni jam ricevis vian detalan ricevon raporton de nia elsendo en la 11a de decembro, 2015. Koran dankon pro via laboro,kaj ni esperas, ke en la estonteco ni ricevos plu viajn kontribuajxojn.Iom poste mi sendos la QSL Kartojn al vi per letero. Se vi ricevos, bonvole sciigu min per E-mail. Mi volas demandi, cxu vi havus tempon akcepti mian telefonan intervjuon? Se vi volas, kiam vi estos libera? Cxion bonan al vi kaj mi atendas vian respondon."

Postal address:
Esperanta Redakcio
Ĉina Radio Internacia
Shijingshanlu 16A, Pekino,
Ĉinio 100040

Email:
espradio@cri.com.cn

Website: 

espranto.cri.cn

Facebook:
Ĉri Esperanto-Redakcio

Seasonal Greetings from Voice of Vietnam

'Tis that time of year when international broadcasters and DX friends send out their salutations for Christmas and the New Year's. Voice of Vietnam is no exception. A few days back, after a long lull in the mail, the VoV German Service, posted the above holiday greetings and 2016 pocket calendars. I suspect in coming days more is likely to follow. So, in the spirit of the season, Happy Holidays and Happy DXing!!!

Voice of Turkey

Voice of Turkey in Emirler was logged 8 December 2015 on the short-wave frequency of 9.530 kHz. A Persian language broadcast of Arabic/Turkish music was observed from 16.30 till 16.55 UTC (broadcast time 16.00 till 16.55 UTC). Transmission of the Voice of Turkey was received well with a  (SINPO) of 44444. The only apparent issues were minor and occasional atmospheric noise when signal faded briefly, otherwise reception was good with clear audio

Reception report was emailed on the following day, 9 December 2015.QSL card arrived in the mail on 20 January 2016.

Email:
englishdesk@trt.net.tr

Radio Libertad via WRMI

Radio Libertad via WRMI, transmitting from Okeechobee, FLorida (USA), was logged on 5 December 2015. A Spanish language broadcast dealing with events in Cuba and Latin American was observed from 00.00 till 00.20 UTC (broadcast time 00.00 till 01.00 UTC). Reception on 9.955 kHz at 00.00 UTC was (SINPO) 24432. By 00.15 UTC, reception worsened to 14421. Overall, signal was weak to poor, audible and occasionally clear until 00.20 UTC, which by then disappeared completely.

HERE is how Radio Libertad sounded at 00.00 UTC in Malaysia.
   

Reception report was emailed on the same day, both to Radio Libertad and WRMI. I am skeptical a QSL will be forthcoming from Radio Libertad per se, insomuch as past reports were to no avail. Still, I'll give another try. A verification from WRMI will more than likely cover Radio Libertad. True enough, a QSL card was received from WRMI on 20 January 2016. Follow-up QSL card arrived in the mail on 3 August 2016.

Website:

www.radio-libertad.org/

Email:

ppenaranda@aol.com (bounced)

info@radio-libertad.org (bounced)