Rhein-Main-Radio-Club Calendar for April 2018

Rhein-Main-Radio-Club Calendar for the month of April 2018

KBS World Radio Calendar - April 2018

KBS World Radio Calendar for month of April 2018

QSLs for Month of March 2018

Radio Taiwan International. Issoudun, France. 
Voice of Turkey. Emirler, Turkey.
Voice of Turkey. Emirler, Turkey.
BBG/VOA-Radio Sawa. Cape Greco, Cyprus.

Helliniki Radiophonia. Avlis, Greece
Radio Thailand. Songkhla Province, Thailand.
Radyo Dengê Welat  / Pridnestrovskiy Radioteletsentr. Grigoriopol, Transnistria, Moldova.
Radio Romania International. Galbeni, Romania.
Album Time/Channel 292*. Rohrbach, Germany.

*Receiver: Remote SDR receiver at Twente University (The Netherlands). 

Album Time / Channel 292* (via Rohrbach)

Album Time / Channel 292* in Rohrbach, Germany was heard on the short-wave frequency of 6.070 kHz on 17 March 2018, from 15.20 till 16.00 UTC. Reception  rated a SINPO of 55544 until 15.58 UTC when co-frequency from Voice of Turkey degraded reception to 43533. During this time period The Moody Blues album "Days of Future Past" was featured, including the songs.  "Peak Hour", "Tuesday Afternoon", "Twilight Time", "Nights in White Satin". At 15.50 UTC, a ststion ID was noted, followed by  a best of George Harrison album, featuring the songs "My Sweet Lord", "All Those Years Ago", "Blow Away".

Reception report was emailed shortly afterwards on the same day. An eQSL was received from Rainer Ebeling on 21 March 2018.

Email:

info@channel292.de

*Receiver: Remote SDR receiver at Twente University (The Netherlands). 

Radio Thailand (via Songkhla Province)

Radio Thailand (Sathani Witthayu Krachaisiang Haeng Prathet Thai, Government Public Relations Department) via Songkhla Province was heard on the medium-wave frequency of 1404 kHz, under poor to fair conditions in the Kuala Lumpur area. Thai music with station IDs/advertisement in Thai was observed from 14.30 till 15.05 UTC, on 23 February 2018. HERE and HERE is Radio Thailand.

Reception report was emailed the following day. QSL card with programme schedule arrived on 21 March 2018. Unfortunately the card is not signed and documented with date, time and frequency.

I assume this is a confirmation of a Thai station, but perhaps not necessarily Radio Thailand. Rather it might be Kong Thap Phak Thi Nueng (1st Army Area) in Suphanburi Province which also operates on this frequency. In either case the acknowledgement is a Thai MW confirmation.

Radio Sawa / BBG (via Cap Greco)

Radio Sawa / BBG via Cap Greco, Cyprus was received  on the medium-wave frequency of 990 kHz, rating a SINPO of 24432 -- weak to fair signal strength, occasionally clear and discernible content whenever signal peaked (every two to three minutes). An Arabic language broadcast featuring news reports / discussion was heard on 13 October 2017, from 17.25 till 17.45 UTC.

This was a pretty impressive radio catch considering the distance between Cape Greco to Kuala Lumpur is approximately 7,773 km. But then, the transmitter is reportedly rated at 600 to 800 kW. The actual intended target area was the Middle East.

Reception report with audio files was emailed to several contacts at Radio Sawa and BBG shortly afterwards. A follow up report was emailed on 10 January 2018; an email reply from Gerhard Straub promised to forward report for QSL card on the same day. This is the promised QSL card from BBG/VOA-Radio Sawa which was received on 21 March 2018. A follow-up QSL with handwritten verification was received on 24 May 2018.

Logbook from 23 February till 18 March 2018

REPUBLIC OF GUINEE
Radio Guinee  (Radio Télévision Guinéenne -RTG) in Conakry (West Africa) was observed on 17 March 2018.  A selection of Guinean songs, moderated by a male DJ with IDs was heard from  20.20 until 20.35 UTC. Reception on the shortwave frequency of 9.650 kHz rated a SINPO of 34322 -- fair signal, sometimes clear, despite fading under atmospheric noise. By 21:00 UTC, the signal was gone.
HERE is Radio Guinee. 

GREECE

Helliniki Radiophonia (Voice of Greece) was heard on 14 March 2018, from 20.50 till 21.25 UTC. Greek music and a dialogue/interview was noted during this time. Reception on the short-wave frequency of 9.420 kHz rated a SINPO of 35323 -- fair signal, no interference, only occasional fading. HERE is Helliniki Radiophonia

MOLDOVA

Radyo Dengê Welat (formerly Radyo Denge Kurdistan) via Pridnestrovskiy Radioteletsentr, located in Grigoriopol, Transnistria, Moldova, was logged on  12 March 2018, from 13.40 until 14.05 UTC. Reception on the short-wave frequency of 11.530 kHz rated a SINP0 of 54544 -- good signal strength, clear audio, initially some co-frequency interference and slight fading. Kurdish programming with patriotic rhetoric, news and Kurdish music was observed during this time period.  Radyo Dengê Welat  has been heard as well from the Telediffusion de France facility in Issoudun on 9.525 kHz, from 17.30 till 18.05 UTC.  SINP0 rated 45544 -- good signal strength, clear audio, no interference. HERE is an audio excerpt from this broadcast.

MONGOLIA

Voice of Mongolia in Ulaanbaator was received on 13 March 2018, from 09.15 till 09.30 UTC. An English language broadcast was monitored during this period and consisted of mostly talk about cancer treatment in Mongolia and Mongolian pop songs. Reception on 12.085 kHz  was fair, except for slight fading, earning a SINPO rating of 45444. HERE is VOM.

MYANMAR

Myanma Radio was received on the medium-wave frequency of 590 kHz, rather than the usual 594 kHz. This occurred only once during the week -- 8 March 2018. A selection of Myanmar pop songs, moderated by a female announcer, was observed from 14.55 till 16.00 UTC, then English language programming with Western pop songs till 17.00 UTC. Reception on 590 kHz (MW) rated a SINP0 of 45433 -- good signal strength when not fading, clear frequency with no co-frequency interference unlike when they operate on 594 kHz. HERE is Myanma Radio.

SOUTH AFRICA

Radio Sonder Grense from the SENTEC in Meyerton, South Africa was heard on 17 March 2018, from 16.25 till 17.00 UTC. Reception on the short-wave frequency of 9.650 kHz rated a SINPO of 33423 - signal was good to poor depending on duration of fading. Reception began to deteriorate after 16.50 UTC. Several contemporary English pop songs, R&B and hip-hop songs were heard and moderated by a female DJ speaking both English and Afrikaans.

THAILAND
Radio Thailand via Songkhla Province was heard on the medium-wave frequency of 1404 kHz rated a SINPO of 23422 -- poor to fair signal strength depending on duration of fading, some transmitter noise, co-frequency interference from presumably Kong Thap Phak Thi Nueng. Thai music with station IDs/advertisement in Thai was observed from 14.30 till 15.05 UTC, on 23 February 2018.

TURKEY

Voice of Turkey in Emirler was logged on 16 March 2018. English language broadcast featuring news about Turkey an dthe region, as well as the programmes "Review of the Turkish Press", "Eye on Turkey", "Turkey in a Nutshell", "Letterbox Programme", "Question of the Month" and Turkish pop music was heard 17.30 till 18.20 UTC. Reception on 11.730 kHz initially rated a SINP0 of 55444 -- excellent signal strength, clear audio despite some atmospheric noise and slight fluttering fade. Around 18.00 UTC, reception stabalised and rated a SINPO of 55555 - Excellent!

RX: Tecsun S-2000 (SW); Sangean ATS-009 (MW) ANT: 1/4 wave aerial (SW); ferrite rod and loop (MW) QTH: central Malaysia

Helliniki Radiophonia (via Avlis)

Helliniki Radiophonia in Avlis, Greece was logged on 14 March 2018, from 20.50 till 21.25 UTC. Greek music and dialogue/interview was observed during this time. Reception on the short-wave frequency of 9.420 kHz rated a (SINPO) of 35323 -- fair signal, no interference, only occasional fading. HERE is Helliniki Radiophonia as heard in Malaysia.

Reception report along with audio files was emailed to Helliniki Radiophonia on the following day. An eQSL was received later on the same day, 15 March 2018.

Radyo Dengê Welat (Grigoriopol and Issoudun)

Radyo Dengê Welat (formerly Radyo Denge Kurdistan) via Pridnestrovskiy Radioteletsentr, located in Grigoriopol, Transnistria, Moldova, was logged on  12 March 2018, from 13.40 until 14.05 UTC. Reception on the short-wave frequency of 11.530 kHz rated a SINP0 of 54544 -- good signal strength, clear audio, initially some co-frequency interference and slight fading. Kurdish programming with patriotic rhetoric, news and Kurdish music was observed during this time period. HERE and HERE is Dengê Welat.

Radyo Dengê Welat  has been heard as well from the Telediffusion de France facility in Issoudun on 9.525 kHz, from 17.30 till 18.05 UTC.  SINP0 rated 45544 -- good signal strength, clear audio, no interference. HERE is an audio excerpt from this broadcast. 

Reception report was submitted to Radyo Dengê Welat  and Pridnestrovskiy Radioteletsentr. Similarly, the Telediffusion de France facility was contacted for the Issoudun transmission. Pridnestrovskiy Radioteletsentr replied with an eQSL on 13 March 2018. Sergey Omelchenko, Technical Director of Pridnestrovsky Radiotelecentr, also stated in his email that "This program we began to broadcast from March 2."

Radio Taiwan International (via Issoudun)

Radio Taiwan International, transmitting from Issoudun (France), in a Russian language broadcast was received on 25 February from 17.25 till 18.00 UTC.  Reception on 5.935 kHz rated a SINPO of 34443 -- fair signal strength, some co-frequency interference and slight fading.  HERE's RTI from France as heard in Malaysia. 

Reception report was emailed to RTI on the following day. QSL card arrived in the letterbox on 13 March 2018.

Voice of Turkey

Voice of Turkey was observed on 8 February 2018, from 21.30 until 22.15 UTC. An English language broadcast of news about Turkey and various programmes about Turkey's foreign relations, and Turkish pop music was received on the short-wave frequency of 9.610 kHz. Reception initially radiated well in the Kuala Lumpur area, but deteriorated further into the broadcast. HERE's Voice of Turkey at sign-on.

Reception report was emailed on the following day. QSL card and pocket calendar arrived in the mail on 9 March 2018.

Voice of Turkey

Voice of Turkey was logged on 14 January 2018, from 17.30 UTC till 18.15, on the short-wave frequency of 11.730 kHz. Reception of this English language broadcast was good with clear audio, moderate atmospheric noise and slight fading.

Reception report was emailed on the following day. QSL card and pocket calendar arrived in the mail on 7 March 2018.

China Radio International Retrospective

Two decades after Mao Zedong came to power in China, the short-wave bands resounded with the melody "The East is Red". Back in 1968-1969, this was the interval for Radio Peking, the state broadcaster for the Peoples Republic of China. It was a tune easily heard throughout much of the world, even in the small suburban town where I lived in central Colorado (USA). 

In the early years Radio Peking's programming was not much different than the format the Voice of Korea utilizes today. Glorified leadership. Grandiose views on Leninism-Marxism. Exaggerated claims of China's accomplishments under Mao Zedong. That was then -- a far cry from today's western-style programming and American/European announcers. 

Radio Peking, much like its successor, China Radio International operated on multiple frequencies; albeit, nowadays China Radio International, China National Radio and regional Public Broadcasting Stations make China's presence seem more ubiquitous. Perhaps much of this is due to my current residence in South East Asia. Nevertheless China dominates both the medium-wave and short-wave frequencies, often with hefty kilowatts radiating not just across China but from relay stations elsewhere in the world.

On several occasions China Radio International verified non-CRI transmissions, including many PBS, CNR and China Tibet Broadcasting. Insomuch as it was often difficult to obtain verifications from these stations and, more importantly, CRI like the others were/are state owned and operated stations under the same broadcasting body, I requested their verification and CRI duly indicated the non-CRI station on the card. The QSLs in this audio-video presentation represent many such stations verified.

MEDIUM-WAVE STATIONS:

CHINA

(Kunming, Gancheng and Xuanwei) - CRI and CNR 

(Chongqing) - PBS Chongqing

SHORT-WAVE STATIONS:

CHINA 

(Baoji Xinjie) - Voice of Russia 

(Beijing) - China Radio International and Radio Exterior de Espana

(Chengdu) - PBS Sichuan 

(Jinhua) - China Radio International 

(Kashi-Saibagh) - China Radio International

(Lingshi) - China National Radio 

(Nanning) - China Radio International and Guangxi Beibu Bay Radio

(Quinghai) - PBS Quinghai

(Shijiazhuang) - China Radio International 

(Urumqi) - Radio Canada International, PBS Xinjiang 

(Xian) - China Radio International and Radio Canada International 

(Xiangtan, Changsha) - PBS Hunan

CHINA (Inner Mongolia) 

(Hohhot) - China Radio International 

(Hailar) - China National Radio , PBS Hulun Buir

CHINA (Tibet) 

(Lhasa-Baiding) - PBS Xizang 

(Hezuo, Gānnán) - PBS Gannan

ALBANIA 

Cerrik - Radio China International 

CUBA 

(Havana) - China Radio International

MALI

Bamako - China Radio International 

Radio Netherlands Worldwide Retrospective

Radio Netherlands Worldwide (Radio Nederland Wereldomroep) was one of the first, if not the first QSL card(s) I received in 1968 or 1969. The Flevoland (Holland) transmitter site was a powerhouse that radiated well into North America, even when RNW did not use its relay station in Bonaire (Netherlands Antillies). Of all the shortwave broadcasters, I probably listened to RNW more than any other station.

Back then, there were at least three programmes I listened to regularly. The Happy Station hosted by Eddie Startz, then Tom Meijer, was a regularly heard each week, as was DX Juke Box with hosts Harry van Gelder and Jim Vastenhoud. On a few occasions I requested a couple of songs, among these "Temma Harbour" performed by then pop singer Mary Hopkins, which RNW duly broadcast. This aired over a programme hosted by Jerry and Dody Cowan.

As the 1970s rolled along, I managed to QSL short-wave broadcasts from their relay facilities in Bonaire (opened in 1969) and Madagascar (opened in 1972). Sadly, the short-wave relay station in Bonaire was closed and installations dismantled in 2012. RNW also used a short-wave station in Flevoland (Holland) from 1985 to 2007, which was also QSLed.  And, a number of short-wave transmissions were relayed through an extensive network of partner stations.

Aside from the Bonaire and Madagascar relay sites, RNW also used shortwave facilities in Agingan Point, Saipan, (North Mariana Islands), Tinang (Philippines),  Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), Santa Maria de Galeria (Vatican), Dhabbaya (UAE), and Medorn (Palau), all of which were received and QSLed in Malaysia.

While the short-wave service of RNW  ceased in 2014, a 70th Anniversary -- "Radio Nederland Wereldomroep 70 jaar" -- broadcast was transmitted  by former staff members of Radio Nederland Wereldomroep in April 2017. This broadcast aired from an original RNW broadcast van outside the Schagen Car Museum, using the facilities of Shortwave Service (shortwaveservice.com) in Euskirchen, near Bonn, Germany. This transmission was received in Malaysia using an SDR receiver based at the University of Twente (Holland). HERE is an excerpt from that broadcast. It gives an idea of RNW in its heyday.

Of course, unmistakable was the interval signal of Radio Netherlands Worldwide. It was a version of the Eighty Years' War song "Merck toch hoe sterck" played on a carillion. The original recording was made at the cathedral in Den Bosch. It was replaced in August 1987 by a recording of the carillion in Breda.

Radio Netherlands Worldwide (Radio Nederland Wereldomroep) was one of the greats in the short-wave era of international broadcasters, and is much missed on the airwaves today.

Radio Bulgaria International Retrospective

Radio Sofia, as it was called in my youth, was another prized East European station that radiated well into the western United States back in the late 1960s and early 1970s.  I was never so much interested in their programming, rather it was their QSL card, and this I obtained at least once or twice before I stopped listening to short-wave broadcasts altogether.

When I picked up the radio again -- a Panasonic RF-B45 -- I tuned into a re-branded station -- Radio Bulgaria International.  Often I would listen to their English and German language broadcasts, and catch some very nice music!!! I would usually follow up with  a reception report to collect their QSL series of houses and landmarks around Bulgaria, which they promptly provided until their short-wave closure in 2012. Along the way RBI stickers, a book on Bulgarian history and spring festival greeting was received.

After the demise of their short-wave service, Radio Bulgaria International was relayed by Shortwave Service, primarily for a European audience.  Additionally, RBI offered Internet broadcasts, which personally never appealed to me.

Presently, Spaceline Ltd Bulgaria  is the only broadcaster from Bulgaria. It relays various transmissions from its Kostinbrod/Sofia. These may include broadcasts by   Voice of the Week, The Mighty KBC, The Isle of Music, Voice of the Report of the Week,  Bible Voice Broadcasting, The Overcomer Ministry and ESAT and many others.

Radio Tirana Retrospective

Radio Tirana was one of many East European stations that occasionally reached the western United States (Denver) back in the late 1960s and early 1970s. If memory serves me correctly, they operated at the far end (mid-band now) of the 41 metre band. Like most Communist block countries the programming extolled the ideals of Marxism-Leninism, occasionally with a mixture of Albanian music. The programming to say the least was quite boring and meaningless to me at the time;  I was merely interested in their QSL card, which I managed to received.

Interestingly, in those days -- not really knowing the address -- I posted a letter with a reception report and addressed it to "Radio Tirana, Tirana, Albania". Many a report was sent that way, not just to Radio Tirana, but many other stations, and a QSL turned up in the mail months later. 

HERE is a link to an 1970s era broadcast from Radio Tirana.

When I resumed short-wave listening in 2010, Radio Tirana International was heard in Malaysia, oft times quite poorly. Part of the reason for this, aside from propagation, was the transmission target -- Western Europe. This meant only the signal radiated from the back of their antenna. The transmitters also reportedly were old and performed poorly, Nevertheless, I managed to QSL the station many times before their final broadcast. This usually meant listening to either their German or Italian language broadcasts. But what really drew me back to their station was the music, and the fact that it was one of those "exotic' East European stations I remembered from my youth. 

Radio Tirana's interval was entitled "Këputa një gjethe dafine"; an older version featured a trumpet version of "With Pickaxe and Rifle."

Voice of Turkey Retrospective

The Voice of Turkey like so many broadcasters in the Middle East and Central Asia were always difficult to catch when I lived in the western United States. When I did finally hear Turkey, back in the mid-1970s, I managed to obtain their QSL and a beatiful cloth calendar depicting an Ottoman Sultan and his court. 

When I settled in Malaysia, the Voice of Turkey became a station I listened to on a regular basis, particularly because of the Turkish music and some of the cultural programmes. Of course, it helped too that Turkey had powerful transmitters like the 500kW monsters in Emirler. 

Consequently, many QSL cards were received on a neatly monthly basis, along with many souvenirs including coasters, bookmarks and bags featuring Turkish motifs. The QSL cards almost always featured Turkey's iconic landmarks, national and religious holidays and historical personalities. 

NHK World Radio Japan Retrospective

NHK World Radio Japan is one of those short-wave stations I listened to in the early years of this hobby called DXing. Radio Japan, as it was referred to back in the late 1960s, was one the first QSL cards I received. This station was incredibly strong and well received in the western United States from Yamata, Japan.

Even in those years when I was not actively DXing and QSLing, Radio Japan programming also had my ear. When I did resume, I discovered NHK World Radio Japan relayed their programmes from many medium-wave and short-wave transmitter sites around the world. Besides Yamata (Japan) transmitter site, was logged and QSLed from Ascension Island, Bonaire (Netherland Antilles), Santiago (Chile), Issoudun (France), Wertachtal and Nauen (Germany),Sitkūnai (Lithuania), Yangoon via Radio Myanmar, Meyerton (South Africa), Talata Volondry (Madagascar), Palau Medorn, Santa Maria di Galeria (Vatican), Kranji (Singapore), Thammasat University Radio in Bangkok (Thailand), Dhabbaya (UAE), Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and USA.

Whether transmitting from Japan or the aforementioned relay sites, their interval signal, "Kazoe-uta" (Japanese counting song), remains a recognizable and unmistakable tune on the short-wave bands, sequed by their introductory tune "Sakura Sakura"  (Cherry Blossoms).

Radio Romania International

Radio Romania International was heard  on 28 July 2017, from 16.00 till 16.55 UTC, on the short-wave frequency of 9.500 kHz. SINPO was initially 33443 -- fair signal strength and clear audio, but with "white noise" from transmitter up until about 16.20 UTC. Around 16.40 UTC, reception was 44444 -- fair to good signal strength, clear audio with slight interference from TWR Africa (Swaziland), but "white noise" had disappeared.

Reception report was emailed on th efolowing day. QSL card arrived on 28 February 2018.

Rhein-Main-Radio-Club Calendar for March 2018

 

Rhein-Main-Radio-Club Calendar for the month of March 2018