Sunday, January 1, 2017

Logbook on New Year's Day 2017


Radio Free Asia via presumably Ulanbaator-Kronkor (Mongolia) was observed on 17.750 kHz from 01.25 till 02.10 UTC. A Tibetan broadcast of current event reports and contemporary Tibetan music, along with RFA station ID at the top of the hour was noted. Reception initially was quite good with no interference from China, rating a SINPO of 54555. Although, I hasten to add by 01.45 UTC, RFA signal was faintly audible under a dominant Chinese broadcaster. At this point, RFA only occasionally broke through the co-frequency interference to rate a SINPO of 22532. A 02.00 UTC, reception was still a muddled mess, but RFA managed to pull through at times to rate a SINPO of 33543. 

Voice of Korea via Kujang (DPRK) was monitored on 6.185 kHz with a SINPO of 34433. An English broadcast was observed from 10.45 till 11.15 UTC.  A baritone voiced announcer, in a monotone inflection, read the news, which included reports about Kim Jung Un's New Year message, a Communist Congress Meeting, Children's Festival, Korean Peoples' Army and a selection on North Korean 'pop' music and muzak.

Radio Vaticana African Service, transmitting from Talata-Volondry (Madagascar),  was heard from 17.30 till 18.00 UTC. An English language broadcast featuring mostly current event reports and news about the Catholic Church in the Congo was featured. Reception on the short-wave frequency of 11.625 kHz rated a (SINPO) of 35433 -- fair signal strength, fading under atmospheric noise, but audible and clear. Reception began to worsen around 17.45 UTC, then completely disappeared under  the noise at 17.50 UTC.

Voice of Turkey, transmitting from Emirler, was heard in an English language broadcast featuring a selection of English pop songs (by Queen, Yusof Islam) and news about terrorist attack in Ankara and Syrian conflict from 17.55 till 18.23 UTC. Reception on the short-wave frequency of 11.730 kHz rated a SINPO of 45444 -- good signal strength and audio quality despite occasional fading under noise. By 18.21 UTC, signal was completely inaudible.

WRMI in Okeechobee, Florida (USA) was logged from 23.30 till 00.00 UTC. During this time segment, an episode of Wavescan featured KVOH Operation's Manager (Ray Robinson) discussing the history of the Voice of Nigeria and the operations of Voice of Hope (in Zambia), Jeff White profiled 'Chocolate Music' and the 'Wrong QSL', along with  the JSWC DX Report that was presented by Yukiko Tsuji. Transmission was observed on 9.955 kHz.  SINPO rated 25322 -- weak signal, with occasionally clear content, despite atmospheric noise. Transmission was best received in LSB mode.

Voice of Vietnam (VOV-4) / [Đài Tiếng nói Việt Nam] in Thành phố Cần Thơ, (former South Vietnam) was logged from 23.00 till 00.00 UTC. Reception on the medium-wave frequency of 873 kHz, during this period, rated a SINPO of 55545 -- excellent signal strength and clarity of audio, slight fading every 6 minutes. Content of Vietnamese programming featured news, current events and Vietnamese pop music.

Receiver used: Tecsun S-2000. Antenna: 1/4 wave and MW loop. RX location: Central West Malaysia

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