Thai Medium-Wave Stations

Here in Malaysia, many Asian stations fill the medium wave band. It is not uncommon to hear broadcasts originating from China, India, Indonesia, Kampuchea, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Vietnam. On rare occasions, transmissions from Europe, Middle East and Central Asia may be received too. Above all, Thailand stands out as the dominant broadcaster on the airwaves.

From the low to high end of the radio dial, Thai stations are spread pretty much across the band. Radio Thailand - Government Public Relations Department, Radio Thailand - National Education Radio, Thai Royal Police, various branches of Royal Thai Armed Forces, Agriculture, Meteorological and similar specialty stations operate on these frequencies. None or few are privately owned.

The Nakhon Sawan and Udon Thani transmitter sites are probably the more recognisable among short-wave enthusiasts, insomuch as   Babcock International, International Broadcasting Bureau and Radio Thailand utilise these facilities.

With this in mind, I set out to log as many Thai MW stations as possible, focusing primarily on Radio Thailand - Government Public Relations Department and Radio Thailand - National Education Radio stations. While the list below is far from complete it should give an ideal as to the breadth  and content of Thailand's MW stations.

Interestingly, on the night of 22 May 2014, when the Royal Thai Armed Forces launched a coup d'état, regular programming ceased. Patriotic music and talk was synchronised on every station, making it obvious these were not only Thai stations but that something was amiss in the country. By the next evening,  their familiar format resumed as normal. 

Reception reports have been emailed to these stations listed below. To date, not one verification has been received. Thammasat University Radio acknowledged receipt of email, but failed to QSL. I suspect most Thai broadcasters have neither the interest to QSL, nor have any ideal what a Letter of Verification is. The only verifications received from Thailand have been from IBB in Udon Thani and Radio Thailand.

 

THAI STATIONS (Reception reports emailed)

SONGKHLA - 1404 kHz
Sathaanii Witthayu Krajaisiang Haeng Pratheet Thai (or possibly Army station) Kong Thap Phaak Thii Neung in Muang District was heard on 7 April 2016.  Continuous commentary, listener phone-in and Thai songs were heard from 15.50 till 17.30 UTC (10.50pm till 12.30am Thailand time). Oddly, perhaps -- not knowing the context in Thai -- was a crowing rooster I heard occasionally throughout the broadcast. Reception on the medium wave frequency of 1404 kHz was (SINPO) 44433 -- good to fair signal, clear audio with occasional fading and transmitter droning/distortion. HERE and HERE are excerpts from this station.

SONGKHLA - 1269 kHz
Sathaanii Witthayu Krajaisiang Mahaawitthayalai Kasetsaat (Kasetsart University Radio Network). On 12 April 2016, several Thai pop songs were heard from 16.45 till 17.00 UTC (11.45 till midnight, Thai time), followed by station ID and Thai nathional anthem. Royal Thai Army Transportation Department station operating on the same frequency was noted underneath at sign-off. Reception was SINPO 34433. The station also operates on 1107 kHz. HERE's an audio excerpt of this transmission

SURAT THANI - 1215 kHz
Sathaanii Witthayu Krajaisiang Haeng Pratheet Thai in Surat Thani was heard on 8 April 2016.  A commentary, radio drama, news and old Thai songs were heard from 14.45 till 15.35 UTC (9.45pm till 10.35pm, local Thai time). Reception on the medium wave frequency of 1215 kHz was (SINPO) 34433 -- fair to good signal strength, depending on the length of fading. HERE's an audio excerpt of this transmission.

YALA - 1026 kHz
Sathaanii Witthayu Krajaisiang Haeng Pratheet Thai (Radio Thailand, Government Public Relations Department). Talk format at 12.15 UTC on 11 April UTC. SINPO was 33323 -- fair signal mixing with Chinese broadcaster and long fades.


PHUKET - 1062 kHz
Sathaanii Witthayu Krajaisiang Haeng Pratheet Thai (Radio Thailand, Government Public Relations Department). News reports/interviews from 12.15 till 12.35 UTC (7.15 till 07.35, Thai time) on 11 April 2016. SINPO was 34323 - fair signal with long fades and atmospheric noise.

RANGSIT (Near Bangkok) - 981 kHz (QSL)

Thammasat University Radio,  one of several stations in Thailand's education network, was logged on 2 February 2016. Thammasat University in Rangsit, Pathumthani (outside Bangkok) relays NHK World - Radio Japan broadcasts as well as education related programming in the Thai language. Their on-campus station operates on the MW frequency of 981 kHz, using a 10 kilowatt HARRIS generation DX10 transmitter. Transmission was monitored from 12.15 till 14.00 UTC (7.15pm till 9.00pm local time). Reception at 12.15 UTC was (SINPO) 25322 -- poor to fair signal due to long and deep fading, approximately 3 minutes apart. Signal improved after 13.30 UTC to 35433 -- less fading allowed for longer period of clear and audible transmission. Radio Japan sent a non-detailed QSL; Thammasat Radio University promised to reply, but nothing more to date.

KRABI - 963 kHz
Sathaanii Witthayu Krajaisiang Haeng Pratheet Thai Pheua Kaan Seuksaa in Krabi (Thailand) was heard on 7 April 2016.  A commentary, interview and Thai songs were heard from 14.00 till 15.00 UTC (9pm till 10pm, local Thai time). Reception on 963 kHz was (SINPO) 43433 - good signal strength, interference from co-frequency station (Thai Army station in Bangkok) and occasional fading approximately every 10 minutes. Reception by 14.30 UTC /9.30 pm was mixing at about equal strength with other Thai station.

CHIANG MAI - 549 KHz
Sathaanii Witthayu Krajaisiang Haeng Prathet Thai Pheua Kaan Seuksaa in Chiang Mai (Thailand) was heard on 6 April 2016.  A Japanese language programme and a selection of Thai songs was heard from 16.20 till 17.00 UTC (11.20 pm till midnight local time). Reception on 549 kHz was (SINPO) 34443 -- fair signal strength, clear audio, short and occasional fading. HERE's an audio excerpt of this transmission.

ADDITONAL THAI STATIONS (Reception reported, but NOT submitted for verification)

Maha Sarakham - 531 kHz
Sathaanii Witthayu Krajaisiang Haeng Pratheet Thai (Radio Thailand, Government Public Relations Department, PRD). Talk format logged at 12.15 UTC on 12 April 2016. SINPO was 24322 -- poor to weak signal, audible but noisy QRN.

Bangkok [Krung Thep] - 540 kHz
4th Cavalry Batallion (Royal Guard). Talk format logged at 12.30 UTC on 11 April 2016. SINPO was 24432. Station purportedly operates round-the-clock.

Kanchanaburi - 558 kHz
Sathaanii Witthayu Krajaisiang Haeng Pratheet Thai (Radio Thailand, Government Public Relations Department, PRD). News magazine/current events (?) at 12.15 UTC on 11 April 2016. SINPO was 23432 -- weak signal, mixing with Chinese broadcaster and fading.

Chaiyaphum - 567 kHz
Army Signals Department. No signal detected on 11 April at 12.20 UTC.

Khon Kaen - 648 kHz
Sathaanii Witthayu Krajaisiang Haeng Pratheet Thai (Radio Thailand, Government Public Relations Department). Talk format in Thai at 12.20 UTC on 11 April 2016. SINPO was 34433 -- fair with good audio and slight fading.

Chonburi - 720 kHz
Siang Jaak Thahaan Reua (Voice of the Navy)?. Talk format in Thai at 12.25 UTC on 11 April 2016. SINPO was 44434.

Bangkok (Krung Thep) - 945 kHz
Sathaanii Witthayu Krajaisiang Thahaan Aakaat (Air Force Radio Station)?. Talk format at 19.00 UTC on 11 April 2016. SINPO was 55545 -- an exceptionally strong signal.

Udon Thani (Muang District)  - 1233 kHz
Witthayu Prajam Thin (Local Radio, Communications Division, Army Signals Department). Thai music was observed at 16.50 UTC on 12 April 2016. SINPO was 34433 -- fair to good signal, fairly stable with moderate fading. Sathaani Witthayu Krajaisiang Thahaan Aakaat (Air Force Radio Station) also reportedly operates on this frequency.

Nan or Buri Ram (Muang District) - 1368 kHz
Sathaanii Witthayu Krajaisiang Haeng Pratheet Thai (Radio Thailand, Government Public Relations Department). Thai music was observed at 16.50 UTC on 12 April 2016. SINPO was 34433. Thahaan Aakaat (Air Force) also reportedly operates on this frequency.

Samut Sakhon or Nakhon Phanom - 1440 kHz
Witthayu Prajaam Thin (Local Radio, Communications Division, Army Signals Department. Thai music was observed at 16.50 UTC on 12 April 2016. SINPO was 33423. Kohng Thap Phaak Thii Sohng (2nd Army Area) also reportedly operates on this frequency.

Bangkok - 1494 kHz (QSL)
Like Station 1494, an affiliate of Mass Communications Organisation of Thailand -- MCOT, in Bangkok, Thailand was heard on 11 May 2016.  A Thai language broadcast featuring a selection of old Western Pop songs was heard from 16.35 till 17.05 UTC (11.35pm till 12.05am, Thailand time).  Reception on the medium-wave frequency of 1494 kHz was (SINPO) 34433 -- fair to good signal strength audio and clear audio when signal did not fade (every four to five minutes. 

 Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - 1575 kHz (QSL)

Voice of America (VOA, Broadcasting Board of Governors, US Government) / Sathaanii Witthayu Saranrom (Radio Saranrom, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Royal Thai Government). VOA Bangla broadcast with talk and music at 16.45 UTC on 12 April 2016. SINPO was 55545 -- signal is one of the strongest and clearest Thai stations on MW from my quarter, and with good reason -- the transmitter is rated at 1000/500 kW. QSL received in 2012 -- the ONLY Thai MW station to verify.


REFERENCES:
AsiaWaves is an excellent source for Thai stations, frequencies and  postal addresses:

Thai Government Organisation Directory lists names, positions and organisations related to Thai radio broadcasting. I found it quite useful in respect to postal addresses and email addresses.