QSLs / ARTICLES

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

QSLs for Month of May 2017


Radio Free Asia (QSL Card) transmitting from Saipan/Agingan Point, Northern Mariana Island

All India Radio (QSL Card) transmitting on medium-wave from Ranchi, Jharkand, India

All India Radio (QSL Card) transmitting from Aligarh, India

TWR India (eQSL) transmitting from Tashkent, Uzbekistan

KBS World Radio (QSL Card) transmitting from Kimjae, Republic of Korea

Radio New Zealand Pacific (eQSL) transmitting from Rangitaiki, New Zealand

BBC Wales* (eQSL) transmitting from Washford, Somerset, UK

Radio Ohne Namen* via Channel 292 (eQSL) transmitting from Rohrbach, Germany

Adventist World Radio (QSL Card) transmitting from Tashkent, Uzbekistan

 

JSWC via WRMI (eQSL) transmitting from Okeechobee, Florida (USA)

Voice of Turkey (QSL Card) transmitting from Emirler, Turkey



Deutsche Welle (QSL Card) transmitting from Issoudun, France




Promised: 
China Radio International Russian Service transmitting from Kashgar, Xinjiang, China

IRIB Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran transmitting from Sirjan, Islamic Republic of Iran

Voice of Vietnam - VoV5 transmitting from Hanoi, Vietnam

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

Monday, May 29, 2017

Radio Free Asia (via Saipan/Agingan Point)

Radio Free Asia, transmitting from Saipan/Agingan Point, Norther Mariana Island, was logged on 1 May 2017.  A Burmese broadcast of news and current event reports referring to Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma was observed from from 00.30 till 01.05 UTC (broadcast time 00.30 till 01.30 UTC). Reception on 17.785 kHz rated a SINPO of 55545 -- strong signal, slight fading, clear content.

Reception report was emailed and posted on 1 May 2017 day. QSL card arrived in the mail on 30 May 2017.


All India Radio Ranchi (in Jharkand, India)

All India Radio Ranchi (Akashvani Ranchi) in Jharkand was logged on 5 May 2017, from 17.00 till 17.40 UTC. Classical/Devotional music was observed around 17.20 UTC. Reception on 549 kHz (MW) rated a SINPO of 25422 -- weak but audible signal detected, free of co-frequency interference from Thailand station after 17.00 UTC, and when not fading every few minutes

HERE is an excerpt of the music heard. HERE is an excerpt from the news in English.

Reception report was emailed and posted on the following day. QSL card arrived in the mail on 30 May 2017. 

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

All India Radio (via Aligarh)

All India Radio (National Channel) via  Aligarh was monitored on 12 April  2017, from 17.50 till 18.30 UTC with programming in English and Western pop songs, including Roxette - "Joyride" and Christina Perri - "I Love You for a Thousand Years". Reception on 9.380 kHz rated a SINPO of 45433 -- fair to good signal, clear audio but with occasionally long fades.

Reception report was emailed on the following day. QSL depicting Bundi Fort in Rajasthan arrived on 25 May 2017.


TWR India (via Tashkent)

TWR India, transmitting from Tashkent (Uzbekistan), 21 May 2017. Punjabi programming was monitored from 14.00 till 14.29 UTC. Reception on 12.160 kHz rated a decent SINPO of 35443 -- fair signal strength, clear and strong audio and slight fading.

Reception report was submitted online and emailed on the following day. An eQSL arrived on 24 May 2017.

KBS World Radio

KBS World Radio, transmitting from Kimjae (ROK), was logged on 5 April 2017. K-Pop programme in English was monitored from 14.10 till 14.45 UTC. Reception on 9.640 kHz rated a decent SINPO 54544.

Reception report was submitted online and emailed on the following day. QSL card arrived in the mail on 24 May 2017. 

Monday, May 22, 2017

BBC Radio Wales*

BBC Radio Wales*, transmitting from Washford, Somerset (UK), was logged on 24 April 2016. I had the good fortune to catch the Allan Thompson Show "Legends of Music" from 22.55 till 23.40 UTC, which featured a diverse selection of songs from the 70s, 80s and 90s. And what a marvelous collection of tracks it was -- David Bowie, Paul Weller, The Band, AC/DC!

Reception on the medium-wave frequency of 882 kHz, while using the SDR receiver located in Enschede, Netherlands at University of Twente, rated a SINPO of 54545 -- slight interference when fading, otherwise a strong and clear signal radiated well.

Reception report was initially emailed on 26 April 2016. And, I may have posted a report as well. With no response after over a year I resubmitted the original report on 21 May 2017. The following day, Head of Operations for BBC Wales, David Mackie replied with an email confirming reception of BBC Wales.

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

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Radio Ohne Namen* (via Rohrbach)

Radio Ohne Namen* via Channel 292, transmitting from Rohrbach (Germany) was logged on 21 May 2017. A selection of German covers of 1930s jazz was observed from 17.00 till 18.00 UTC while using the Twente University SDR receiver. Reception on 6.070 kHz rated a superb SINPO of 55555.

On a personal note, it was a revelation to hear these German covers, some of which I recall from my grandfather's collection of 78 rpms. He was a jazz muscian from this era and to hear these songs brought back memories of digging through and playing his old records  Thank you for sharing, Ron!

Reception report was emailed on the same day. An eQSL arrived a few hours later.

Email:
radio.on@gmx.de

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

Radio New Zealand Pacific

Radio New Zealand Pacific,  transmitting from Rangitaiki, was logged on 20 May 2017. News, sports, weather on the hour, followed by "Heart & Soul", "Sunday Hymns" and "Thought for the Day" with quotes, music and letters/emails from listeners was observed from 14.00 till 15.30 UTC. Reception on 6.170 kHz initially suffered from CNR station splatter (on 6.175 kHz) and fading to rate a SINPO of 33433. It was barely listenable around 14.30 UTC, but signal gradually began to strengthen and stabilise at 14.45 UTC. After 15.15 UTC -- when CNR had signed off -- signal improved to SINPO of 44444. HERE's how RNZP fared around 15.20 UTC. 

Apparently RZNP started targeting the  Pacific region on this frequency from 20 May (the day of this log), and transmissions will be ONLY on Saturdays. Nice to catch RZNP. Always is. Always has been long favorite on the short-waves.

Reception report was emailed and submitted online the following day. Adrian Sainsbury replied with an eQSL on 22 May 2017, which is the standard operating procedure these days. Thank you, Adrian and Radio New Zealand Pacific!

Friday, May 19, 2017

Logbook for 19 - 21 May 2017


ARMENIA
TWR India
via Yerevan Gavar with Sidar programming on Christianity and music was observed from 14.30 till 14.45 UTC, TWR interval heard just before sign off. Reception on 12.055 kHz rated a SINPO of 44544 - good signal strength, slight transmitter hum and fading, clear and strong audio.


BANGLADESH
Bangladesh Betar via Shavar was logged with Bengali programming after 16.30 UTC Reception on 4.750 kHz rated a SINPO of 35443.

CHINA
China Radio International via Nanning with programming in English that featured a report on Thomas Keneally from 16.50 UTC. Reception on 9.880 kHz rated a SINPO of 55555.

ETHIOPIA
Radio Oromiyo via Addis Ababa-Gedja with nice Horn of Africa music noted at 15.15 UTC. Reception on 6.030 kHz rated SINPO of 34433. HERE's an excerpt from this transmission:

GERMANY
RFE/Radio Liberty via Lampertheim (Germany) with music and programming in Tajik at 16.35 UTC onward. Reception on 11.910 kHz rated SINPO of 45444.

INDIA
AIR Tiruchirappalli in Manapparai, Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu (India) with Tamil music, moderated by male announcer, was observed from 17.00 UTC onward. News in English at 17.30 UTC presented by female announcer, then sign-off at 17.35 UTC.  Reception on 936 kHz (MW) rated a SINPO of 34433 with fair to good signal, occasionally fading every few minutes.

IRAN
IRIB via Zahedan with music and Arabic programming from 16.40 UTC. Reception on 9.650 kHz rate a SINPO of 45343.

MONGOLIA
Voice of Mongolia
via Ulaan Bator at 14.10 UTC with Mongolian programming and music. Reception on 12.015 kHz with SINPO 34543.

NEW ZEALAND
Radio New Zealand Pacific
with news, sports, weather on the hour, followed by "Heart & Soul", "Sunday Hymns" and "Thought for the Day" with quotes, music and letters/emails from listeners from 14.00 till 15.30 UTC. Reception on 6.170 kHz initially suffered from CNR station splatter (on 6.175 kHz) and fading to rate a SINPO of 33433. It was barely listenable around 14.30 UTC, but signal gradually began to strengthen and stabilise at 14.45 UTC. After 15.15 UTC -- when CNR had signed off -- signal improved to SINPO of 44444.

SINGAPORE
NHK World Radio Japan via Kranji with English programming from 11.00 till 11.30 UTC. Reception on  11.695 kHz rated a SINPO 44344 with atmospheric noise and slight fading effecting an otherwise clear and good signal.

SOUTH KOREA
KBS World Radio via Kimjae with K-Pop in Indonesian from 16.45 UTC onward. Reception on 9.805 kHz rated a SINPO of 54545.

TAIWAN
Sound of Hope with commentary in Chinese (Cantonese?) from 11.30 UTC onward. This station as many of you know operates off the normal short-wave bands, reportedly with as little 100 watts (???). For instance, this recording was made on 14.775 kHz. SINPO 34333 - weak to fair when not fading and despite a whiny transmitter: HERE'S SOH as heard in Malaysia.

UNID
Suspect Korean station with running commentary in Korean at 17.50 UTC. Reception on 3.930 kHz rated SINPO of 35443. HERE'S a sample from this transmission.

UZBEKISTAN
TWR India
via Tashkent was monitored from 14.00 till 14.29 UTC with Hindi and Punjabi programming. Reception on 12.160 kHz rated a decent SINPO of 35443 - fair signal strength, clear and strong audio and slight fading.


SW RX: Degen DE-1102 ANT: 10 meter long wire RX LOC: near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
MW RX: Tecsun S-2000 ANT: Loop antenna RX LOC: near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia


Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Adventist World Radio (via Tashkent)

Adventist World Radio via Tashkent (Uzbekistsn) was logged on 2 May 2017. Mandarin broadcast with religious content was observed from 14.00 till 14.30 UTC. A female speaker with light piano music mixed under and religious songs in Mandarin was noted throughout the half hour, followed by IDs in English and French. Reception on 15.750 kHz rated a SINPO of 45444.

Reception report was emailed the following day to AWR affiliates in Germany and Thailand. The first to arrived came from Thailand (note postage stamp) on 17 May 2017.

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Logbook for 16 May 2017


Reception on the short-wave bands continues to be buried in atmospheric noise. However, on the medium-wave band, a few surprises cropped up. mostly broadcasters from the Philippines, both a few that I have logged in the past and a few new ones.  Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Chinese and Cambodian stations are observed regularly and were spread across the band on this particular night. A few regional All India Radio stations -- notably AIR Cuddapah and AIR Ranchi -- appeared after these stations had signed off, around 17.00 UTC. Without further fanfare, here's a look at some of the stations logged on the medium-wave band in central West Malaysia.

INDONESIA
Radio Republik Indonesia (Programa Tiga RRI Jakarta / Pro-3) with programming in Bahasa Indonesia was logged after 18.00 UTC. This station was first noticed last month when they covered the Vatican's Easter Mass.  Initially I suspected this was a station in the Philippines, but on further listening discovered it was in Indonesia. The Bahasa Indonesia translator was another tell-tale sign. Reception on 999 kHz is exceptionally strong nightly with a SINPO of 44434.

PHILIPPINES
DWUN-AM Radyo La Verdad   / Progressive Broadcasting Corporation 
was heard with religious programming in English and Filipino and IDs with station promotions/jingles from 18.05 till 18.35 UTC. Reception  on 1350 kHz (MW) rated  a SINPO of  44434 -- fair to good signal strength, clear audio, occasional co-frequency interference, moderate fading (approximately every 3 minutes). This is not bad for a station rated 10 kW. HERE's Radyo La Verdad.

DZME-AM / Capitol Broadcasting Center, "Radyo Uno" in Bulacan Province (Manila area) was logged around 16.00 UTC with Filipino programming, mixing with a Thai Army station possibly in Chanthaburi Province. Reception on 1530 kHz rated a SINPO of 43444 for both station, with the Thai station having a slight edge in strength. After 17.00 UTC neither station was heard.

DZRH-AM / Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) in Barangay Malanday, Metro Manila was heard around 17.00 UTC with talk in Filipino. Reception on 666 kHz rated a SINPO of 44433.

Receiver used: Sangean ATS-909

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Logbook 11 - 13 May 2017




CHINA
China Radio International Russian service via Kashgar was heard on 13 May 2017, from 09.25 till 10.00 UTC (broadcast time 09.00 till 10.00 UTC). The programme "Muzyka Big Bang" was observed on the short-wave frequency of  15.335 kHz, which rated a SINPO of 55444 -- excellent signal strength and clarity of audio, despite some fading under atmospheric noise. Near the end of transmission, there was some station splatter from an adjacent station (RFA Tibetan service).

LAOS
Lao National Radio with interval, clock chimes and ID at 12.00 UTC on 6.130 kHz, SINPO 44434. HERE's a recording of LNR.

OMAN
BBC via A'Seela was logged at 17.00 UTC with news in English. Reception on the medium-wave frequency of 1413 kHz rated a strong 44444, which is not surprising given the transmitter output is reportedly 800 kW.

PHILIPPINES
Radio Vatican
via Tinang was heard  from 02.00 till 03.00 UTC. In a broadcast intended for South Asia, Radio Vatican presented 20-minute broadcasts in Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam. Reception on the short-wave frequency of 15.470 kHz rated a SINPO of 35333 -- fair signal strength, fading under atmospheric noise, but audible and clear.

VIETNAM
Voice of Vietnam - VoV5
English Service was heard from 12.30 till 12.58 UTC. Cultural segments on the bamboo and rattan crafts of Phu Vinh and commentary on the film "30 Days in Saigon" was observed during the half-hour broadcast. Reception on the short-wave frequency of  9.840 kHz rated a SINPO of 55545 - excellent signal strength and clarity of audio with  slight fading.

Receiver used: Degen DE-1102. External Antenna: 10 meter long wire. RX Location: Central West Malaysia

Monday, May 8, 2017

JSWC / WRMI (via Okeechobee)


Japan Short Wave Club DX Report via WRMI in Okeechobee, Florida (USA) was logged on 1 January 2017, 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.

Reception report was emailed on the following day. This eQSL card arrived in the mail on 8 May 2917.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Souvenir from Voice of Turkey


This pencil bag from the Voice of Turkey is a souvenir that was given in response to their March 2017 "Question of the Month" contest. The question? When will the Turkish constitutional referendum be held? The answer was Sunday, 16 April 2017. Thank you, Voice of Turkey!

Deutsche Welle (via Issoudun)

Deutsche Welle, transmitting from  Issoudun (France), was logged on 7 March 2017. French programming of news/current events reports was  monitored from 17.05 till 17.15 UTC. Reception on 15.275 kHz was SINPO: 24432 -- weak signal, but audible and clear when not fading under atmospheric noise. By 17.15 UTC, SINPO rated 14411 with signal barely audio and fading in and out.

Reception report was emailed on the following day. QSL card arrived in the mail on 3 May 2017.


Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Voice of Turkey

Voice of Turkey, transmitting from Emirler (Turkey), in  English broadcast was logged from 17.35  till 18.25 UTC, on 7 March 2017. Reception on  11.730 kHz rated a SINPO of 45344.

Reception report was emailed on the following day. QSL card arrived in the mail on 3 May 2017.


 



Logbook 1-4 May 2017


BANGLADESH
Bangladesh Betar station ID and South Asian music was heard from 14.00 UTC onward. Reception on 15.505 kHz rated a SINPO of 35443.

INDIA
All India Radio Ranchi (Akashvani Ranchi) in Jharkand  with devotional prayers was observed around 17.20 UTC. Reception on 549 kHz (MW) rated a SINPO of 25422 -- weak but audible signal detected, free of co-frequency interference after 17.00 UTC.

JAPAN
Radio Nikkei 1
via Chiba-Nagara in an all Japanese  broadcast of uninterrupted  Electronica dance music was monitored from  09.25  till 10.05 UTC. Reception on 9.595  kHz rated 45444 -- fair to good signal. clear and audible speech.

MADAGASCAR
Madagascar World Radio relayed the KNLS "English Hour" programme from 03.00 UTC onward. Station ID and KNLS programming followed. Reception on 15.515 kHz was SINPO 55555.

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLAND
Radio Free Asia
via Saipan/Agingan Point in a Burmese broadcast of news and current event reports referring to Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma was observed from from 00.30 till 01.05 UTC (broadcast time 00.30 till 01.30 UTC). Reception on 17.785 kHz rated a SINPO of 55545 -- strong signal, slight fading, clear content.

PALAU
Nippon No Kaze via Koror was logged on 9.965 kHz in a Korean broadcast from 15.45 till 16.00 UTC. Commentary from a female announcer and music near the end of the transmission was observed. SINPO was a modest 35443.

PHILIPPINES
Radio Veritas Asia
  via Palauig-Zambales aired a half-hour Urdu service that targeted Pakistan from 01.00 till 01.30 UTC. Station ID, address and commentary was observed at sign-on. Reception on 15.280 kHz was SINPO 35443.

Radyo Pilipinas via Tinang was heard signing on at 03.00 UTC. After a plethora of station IDs, an English broadcast of news and cultural content followed. Reception on 15.640 kHz rated a SINPO of 55555.

ROMANIA
Radio Romania International via Saftica was heard from 17.15 till 18.00 UTC. An English language broadcast of cultural reports, DX Mailbag and Romanian music was observed on the short-wave frequency of 13.660 kHz. SINPO was initially 55444. By 17.40 UTC, reception worsened to 35343 and grew weaker as transmission near closure.

TAJIKISTAN
Voice of Tibet transmitting from Dushanbe was logged from 13.45 till 13.59 UTC. A Tibetan programme, moderated by a female announcer, featured an interview of a Tibetan musician and his music. Transmission was on 15.512 kHz to skirt strong interference from CRI on 15.515 kHz. Interestingly CRI broadcasts at the same time, possibly in a deliberate attempt to disrupt programming of VoT.

TAIWAN
Radio Taiwan International  via Paochung presented an English broadcast to Southeast Asia  from 03.00 till 04.00 UTC. The programmes "Ear to the Ground", "Jade Bells and Bamboo Pipes" and "One Last Thing" was heard in this hour long broadcast. Reception on 15.320 kHz rate a SINPO of 55555.

TURKEY
Voice of Turkey
via Emirler in an English broadcast with Turkish news, cultural programmes (Eye on the Agenda, Legends of Anatolia and Question of the Month) and Turkish music was heard on the short-wave frequency of 15.520 kHz, from 16.30 till 17.20 UTC, with SINPO of 55444 -- excellent signal strength, clear audio, slight atmospheric noise occurred with signal occasionally faded.

UZBEKISTAN
Adventist World Radio via Tashkent aired Mandarin content from 14.00 till 14.30 UTC. A female speaker with light piano music mixed under and religious songs in Mandarin was noted throughout the half hour, followed by IDs in English and French. Reception on 15.750 kHz rated a SINPO of 45444.


Receivers used: Degen DE-1102,  Tecsun S-2000 and Sangean ATS-909. Antennas: 10 meter long wire and 1/4 wave. RX location: Central West Malaysia.

Monday, May 1, 2017

RMRC Calendar for May 2017




The Rhein Main Radio Club Calendar for the month of  May 2017