QSLs for April 2018

IRIB-Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran. Fesenduz, West Azerbaijan, Iran.
Amhara Radio. Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Radio Tawau - Limbang FM. Kajang, West Malaysia.
Radio Malaysia - Wai FM. Kajang, West Malaysia.
Radio Taiwan International. Paochung, Taiwan.
Voice of Turkey. Emirler, Turkey.
KBS World Radio. Gimje City, South Korea.
Radio Pakistan (Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation). Islamabad, Pakistan.
Radio Pakistan (Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation). Peshawar, Pakistan.
Radio New Zealand Pacific. Rangitaiki, New Zealand.
Voice of Mongolia. Ulaanbaator, Mongolia.
Spaceline - Adventist World Radio. Kostinbrod, Bulgaria.

Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran (via West Azerbaijan)

IRIB - Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran, transmitting from Fesenduz. Marhemetabad District, West Azerbaijan Province, was logged on 9 March 2018. Programming featured Quran recitation, music and comment from announcers from 18.20 till 18.40 UTC.  Reception on the medium-wave frequency of 936 kHz rated a SINPO of 23322 - weak signal, occasionally clear, despite fading and atmospheric static bursts from a local thunderstorm. HERE is a noisy IRIB - Fesenduz. 

Reception was emailed to IRIB on the following day. QSL card arrived in the mail on 27 April 2018.

Amhara Radio (via Bahir Dar, Ethiopia)

Amhara Radio, transmitting from Bahir Dar (Ethiopia), was logged on 23 September 2016. Horn of Africa music and commentary in Amharic was noted from 14.20 till 14.45 UTC (sign-on at 14,00 UTC). Reception on 6.090 kHz was (SINPO) 24331 -- poor signal strength, audible speech and music, but largely indecipherable after 14.35 UTC. Slight fade and transmitter hum as well as atmospheric noise plagued much of the broadcast. By 14.40 UTC, audio gradually dropped off and a dominant carrier signal was present.

Reception report with an audio file was submitted online and Facebook messaged. An email verifying reception was received on 26 January 2017. Unfortunately this confirmation I later learned from Ralph Perry, a DXer in the US, was incorrectly QSLed by Voice of Amhara Radio, a US-funded clandestine broadcaster whose programming is relayed over rental transmitters, not in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.

On 22 April 2018, István Hegedüs, a DXer in Hungary,  advised I resubmit my report to a Mr. Bekele Asegie at Amhara Radio, who indeed confirmed with an email on 24 April 2018. The above PPC is based on this email. Thank you, István and Mr. Bekele Asegie.
 

Radio Tawau - Limbang FM (Kajang)

Radio Tawau - Limbang FM  was observed from 04.10 till 04.35 UTC (12.10 till 12.35 PM, Malaysia Time), on 29 March 2018.  During this period of reception on 11.665 kHz the SINPO was 55555 -- exception audio, clarity, and strength. This mostly Bahasa Malaysia broadcast featured Sarawak and Malaysia singers, frequent IDs between songs with jingles, advertisements/promos, run down of upcoming programmes for the day, message from a government minister in Sarawak and news. HERE is an excerpt from Radio Tawau.

Note: Programming is simulcast from the FM studio in Tawau (Limbang FM), Sabah in East Malaysia and short-wave from Kajang, Selangor in West Malaysia.

Reception report was emailed  on the same day, then a follow-up email was sent a few weeks later. A scanned copy of the QSL card to be posted was emailed to me on 23 April 2018.

Voice of 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!

Reception report was emailed to Voice of Turkey, along with a very lengthy cover letter. A week later the letter was read over VoT. At the same time, this report was verbally confirmed. On 21 April 2018, their promised QSL card arrived in the mail.

KBS World Radio (via Gimje City)

KBS World Radio,  transmitting from Gimje City, North Jeolla Province, was received on 1170 kHz (MW) with Japanese language programming  of pop music, moderated by a male announcer,  was observed on 11 February 2018, from 18.45 until 19.10 UTC. Reception rated a SINP0 of 24322 -- fair to good signal when not fading and affected by atmospheric noise, some co-frequency interference as well was noted. HERE is KBS Japanese programming on MW frequency of 1170 kHz.

Reception report was emailed and submitted online to KBSvWorld Radio on the following day. QSL card, along with KBS sticker and reception report forms, was received on 21 April 2018. 

Radio Taiwan International (Paochung)

Radio Taiwan International via Paochung was received on the short-wave frequency of 9.405 kHz. An English language programme consisting of news, This Day in History and Here in Taiwan was observed on 29 March 2018, from 16.00 until 16.35 UTC. Reception initially rated a SINP0 of 44334 -- good strength, audible and clear content despite some fading and atmospheric noise. Conditions worsened after 16.15 UTC with signal fading occasionally under atmospheric noise and making it difficult to  hear programme content clearly.

Reception report was submitted online and emailed. QSL card was received on 21 April 2018.

Radio Pakistan (Islamabad and Peshawar)

Radio Pakistan (Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation) via  their medium-wave transmitter sites in Islamabad (585 kHz) and Peshawar (540 kHz) radiated well beyond Pakistan into central West Malaysia, on 22 January 2018. Reception on both frequencies was observed after 18.35 UTC until 19.05 UTC. Signal strength gradually improved and programming was best heard from 18.50 UTC onward. Reception on 540 kHz (Peshawar) was (SINP0) 34322-- fair signal strength, clear audio content, with occasional audio despite atmospheric noise. Reception on 585 kHz (Islamabad) was (SINPO) 34332 -- fair signal strength, initially some co-frequency from a regional station in Southeast Asia when signal faded. Signal gained strength after 18.50 UTC. HERE and HERE is PBC Islamabad and HERE is PBC Peshawar.

Reception report was emailed to various personnel at PBC on the following day and subsequent months, Reception report was also posted in January 2018 as well. This particular verification was "Confirmed" by the Director of News and Current Affairs for Radio Pakistan, Mr. Javed Khan Jadoon. Inasmuch as one of the above audio files contains a clip of the news and station ID, it was verified by email on 21 April 2018. This PPC design, if one may permit, is based on a previous eQSL received from PBC. Thank you very much for this verification!

Radio New Zealand Pacific

Radio New Zealand Pacific was logged on 12 April 2018, from 13.30 till 14.00 UTC. An English language broadcast of current event reports, contemporary pop music and news was observed for the duration. Unfortunately reception on 5.980 kHz was terribly disappointing, but then for the Pacific region it is probably for appropriate. In any case, SINP0 in my quarter of South East Asia rated 23432 -- weak but audible signal, occasionally discernible content despite a noisy transmitter, a bit of fading and some station splatter. Signal continued to be received up until sign-off (16.00 UTC). albeit with not much improvement. HERE is Radio New Zealand Pacific with Harry Nilsson tune "Everybody's Talking", time pips, station ID and news. 

Reception report was submitted online at Radio New Zealand's website and emailed on the same day. This eQSL -- sorry, no paper QSLs anymore from them -- was received on 15 April 2018.

Souvenir from IRIB

IRIB sent this leather/metal key chain, depicting the Milad Communication Tower, in conjunction with the Persian New Year - Nowruz. It marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere which is celebrated on the first day of Farvardin (Iranian calendar). Thank you very much, IRIB!

Voice of 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.

Reception report was emailed on the same day. QSL card arrived nearly a month later on 12 April 2018. Very good turn around time for Voice of Mongolia!

Radio Malaysia - WAI FM

Radio Malaysia - WAI FM (actually Sarawak FM) was observed from 18.20 till 18.50 UTC (02.20 till 02.50 AM, Malaysia Time)), on 26 March 2018 (27 March 2018, Malaysia Date). During this period of reception on 11.665 kHz rated a SINPO of 34443 -- good signal strength despite slight fading, atmospheric noise and initially some station splatter from an adjacent station. Malay pop songs, promos and frequent IDs were observed.

While the QSL card states "WAI FM", the ID was actually "Radio Malaysia - Sarawak FM". I know WAI FM operates on this frequency, but this is not how the station was identified. HERE is Sarawak FM as heard on 11.665 kHz.

Reception report was emailed the following day with subsequent emails to varies RTM personnel. QSL card arrived in the mail on 12 April 2018.

Adventist World Radio / Spaceline (Kostinbrod)

Adventist World Radio via Spaceline (Kostinbrod, Bulgaria) was received on 10 April 2018, from 15.59 till 16.30 UTC. An English language broadcast, intended primarily for South Asia, contained a number of contemporary Christian themed songs, religious sermons and nature study about the religious symbolism of the poinsettia. Reception on the short-wave frequency of 11.950 kHz was heard under good conditions, rating a SINPO of 55444 -- strong signal, clear audio despite an occasional fluttering fade. HERE is an excerpt of this AWR broadcast from Malaysia.

Reception report was email to Spaceline, AWR India abd AWR Asia on the following day. An eQSL from Spaceline arrived on 11 April 2018, as well as sn email from AWR India promising a QSL card.

Email:

reception@spaceline.bg

QSL@awr.org

Logbook 8- 10 April 2018

BULGARIA

Adventist World Radio via Spaceline (Kostinbrod) was received on 10 April 2018, from 15.59 till 16.30 UTC. An English language broadcast, intended primarily for South Asia, contained a number of contemporary Christian themed songs, religious sermons and nature study about the religious symbolism of the poinsettia. Reception on the short-wave frequency of 11.950 kHz was heard under good conditions, rating a SINPO of 54544 -- strong signal, clear audio despite an occasional fluttering fade. HERE is an excerpt of this AWR broadcast from Malaysia; apparently the transmission didn't fare quite as well in South Asia.

End Times Coming Radio (ETC) via Spaceline (Kostinbrod) was received on 9 April 2018, from 18.00 till 18.30 UTC. An ETC religious programme for ex-Catholics, featuring a sermon on the family conflict of the Biblical Issac and Ismael,  was observed on the short-wave frequency of 9.400 kHz. Reception rated a SINP0 of 45444 -- good signal strength, no noticeable interference, clear audio content throughout the broadcast. I might add that other programming from Spaceline on 9.400 kHz radiates quite well into Malaysia from 16.00 till 19.00 UTC, depending on propagation. For instance, Isle of Music was logged a few days ago but only a faint carrier was detected.  Be that as it may, HERE is how ETC via Spaceline in this transmission.

CHINA

China International Radio, transmitting from Jinhua, was heard  on 10 April 2018, from 10.55  till 11.30 UTC (broadcast time 10.00 till 12.00 UTC). A Japanese language broadcast of News, Learn to Speak Chinese and other cultural programmes were aired in this two-hour segment. Reception on  short-wave frequency of 7.325 kHz rated a SINPO of 45444 -- good signal strength, no noticeable interference, clear audio content throughout the broadcast despite atmospheric noise. HERE is how CRI's Japanese broadcast fared.

China Radio International via Beijing was noted on 9 April 2018, from 17.45 till 18.00 UTC (broadcast time 17.00 till 18.00 UTC). An Esperanto language programme of music and Learn to Speak Chinese was observed during this broadcast. Reception on the short-wave frequency of 9.750 kHz  initially rated a SINP0 of 45444, but around 17.53 UTC signal weakened and faded occasionally under atmospheric noise. HERE's an idea of the reception of CRI's Esperato broadcast.

JAPAN

NHK World Radio Japan via Yamata was logged on  April 3, 2018, from 11.00 to 11.30 UTC.  Programmes in the Russian language were noted at this time. Reception on the shortwave frequency of 7.355 kHz rated a sSINPO of 44544. HERE is NHK World Russian.

ROMANIA

Radio Romania International Arabic language broadcast was noted on 10 April 2018, from 15.29 till 15.57 UTC. News, music and topics about Romania was observed during this period with website details and postal address announced more than a few times. Transmission was observed on the short-wave frequency of 11.900 kHz under excellent conditions with SINP0 of 55555. HERE is RRI with their sign-on in Arabic.

SRI LANKA

Wavescan via Adventist World Radio in Trincomalee was received on 8 April 2018, from 16.15 till 16,30 UTC. Content monitored during this segment included the Philippine DX Report, a feature  on establishment of radio stations in conflicted areas, and HCJB Music of Ecuador which was presented by Wavescan host Jeff White. Reception rated a SINP0 of 33533 -- fair signal strength and clear audio despite annoying station splatter and some occasional fading under static. HERE is a sample of this Wavescan broadcast from my quarter.

RX: Tecsun S-2000 ANT: 27 metres of random wire QTH: West Malaysia

Logbook for 7 April 2018

China broadcasters dominated the 60 meter band, overshadowing the ever  present All India Radio stations and Bangladesh Betar. Notable stations included Voice of Beibu Bay - Nanning (5.055 kHz), Voice of Strait - Fuzhou (4.900 and 4.940 kHz), China National Radio - Geermu (4.800 kHz) and China Tibet Broadcasting - Lhasa (4.905 and 4.920 kHz). Also observed was Echo of Hope - Seoul on (4.885 kHz). Exceptionally strong signals under good conditions were observed between 15.30 till 16.20 UTC for much of the time, certainly stronger than All India Radio and Bangladesh Betar. 

Check out the audio clips of these broadcasters, as logged in central West Malaysia, using a Tecsun S-2000 coupled to an external 1/4 wave aerial.

Voice of Beibu Bay - Nanning

Voice of Strait - Fuzhou

China National Radio - Geermu

China Tibet Broadcasting - Lhasa

Echo of Hope - Seoul

Logbook for 26 March till 3 April 2018

CHINA

Liaoning PBS in Shenyang Sub-Provincial City was heard on 3 April 2018, from 16.35 till 17.05 UTC, on the medium-wave frequency of  1089 kHz. Reception rated a SINPO of 33543 -- fair to good signal strength, clear audio when not fading and mixing with an unknown co-frequency station. News and music in Chinese was observed within this time period.

GERMANY

Voice of America via Lampertheim was received on the short-wave frequency of 9.820 kHz. A Kurdish language programme was observed on 2 April 2018, from 19.30 until 20.00 UTC. Reception rated a SINP0 of 34433 - fair signal strength and clear audio despite fading under atmospheric noise. Talk and music in Kurdish was observed during this time. HERE is an excerpt from VOA Kurdish.

JAPAN
Radio Japan via Yamata was observed on 3 April 2018, from 11.00 until 11.30 UTC. A Russian language programme of news, current event feature and programme about traditional Japanese theatre was heard on the the short-wave frequency of 7.355 kHz. Reception raded a SINP0 of 44544 - good signal strength and audio clarity despite slight fading. HERE's the Russian Service of NHK World Radio Japan.

KUWAIT

Radio Kuwait was received on the short-wave frequency of 15.515 kHz with SINP0 of 44444 -- good signal strength, slight station splatter and fading. An Arabic language programme consisting of Arabic music, interviews, radio drama, azan and Quran recitation  was observed on 26 March 2018, from 08.10 until 09.00 UTC.  HERE is an excerpt from this Radio Kuwait broadcast.

MALAYSIA

Limbang FM - Radio Tawau via Kajang transmitter site was observed from 04.10 till 04.35 UTC (12.10 till 12.35 PM, Malaysia Time), on 29 March 2018. During this period of reception on 11.665 kHz the SINPO was 55555 -- exception audio, clarity, and strength. This mostly Bahasa Malaysia broadcast featured Sarawak and Malaysia singers, frequent IDs between songs with jingles, advertisements/promos and run down of upcoming programmes for the day. HERE is an excerpt from Radio Tawau.

Radio Malaysia - Sarawak FM was observed from 18.20 till 18.50 UTC (02.20 till 02.50 AM, Malaysia Time)), on 26 March 2018 (27 March 2018, Malaysia Date). During this period of reception on 11.665 kHz rated a SINPO of 34443 -- good signal strength despite slight fading, atmospheric noise and initially some station splatter from an adjacent station. Malay pop songs, promos and frequent IDs were observed. HERE is Sarawak FM.

TAIWAN

Radio Taiwan International via Paochung was received on the short-wave frequency of 9.405 kHz. An English language programme consisting of news, This Day in History and Here in Taiwan was observed on 29 March 2018, from 16.00 until 16.35 UTC. Reception initially rated a SINP0 of 44334 -- good strength, audible and clear content despite some fading and atmospheric noise. Conditions worsened after 16.15 UTC with signal fading occasionally under the noise and making it difficult to  hear programme content clearly.

VATICAN

Vatican Radio via Santa Maria di Galeria was observed on 31 March 2018, from 18.35 until 19.05  UTC. Their special Easter broadcast was received on the short-wave frequency of 9.710 kHz while staying in Putrajaya, near Kuala Lumpur. A French/Latin/Italian language programme of prayers, sermons, readings from the Bible and commentary/translation was heard during the above stated time. SINP0 was 45433 -- good signal strength and clarity despite some atmospheric noise and fading.

VIETNAM
Voice of Vietnam in Hanoi was received on 25 March 2018, from 23.30 until 23.58 UTC. An English language programme of news and their regular feature  "Sunday Show" was observed. Reception on the short-wave frequency of 9.840 kHz was SINP0 54544 -- good signal strength, clear audio, despite occasional fading.

RX: Sangean ATS-909 (MW) / Degen DE-1102 and Tecsun S-2000 (SW) ANT: 1/4 wave and whip (SW) / Loop and ferrite rod (MW) QTH: Subang Jaya and Putrajaya, Malaysia

Radio Taiwan International Retrospective

Radio Free China, now Radio Taiwan International (RTI), was one of those rare North Asia stations to be received in the western United States in the early 1970s. Actually, most Asian stations were prized catches for me. And Radio Free China in the Republic of China (Taiwan) was one of them.

When I picked up the hobby again in 2010, Radio Taiwan International was more readily received owing to my location in South East Asia. Reception from Fangliano, Kouhu, Lukang, Minhsiung,  Paochung, Tamsui and Tainan is not uncommon on both medium-wave and short-wave. Even relayed transmissions from Issoudun (France), Dhabbaya (UAE) and Skelton and Woofferton (UK) have been received as well. The lone exception is from the WRMI facility in  Okeechobee (USA). Additionally, clandestine and religious broadcasters have been heard RTI transmitter sites.

RTI broadcasts their programmes in various languages, and I have been fortunate to receive particularly verifications from their Chinese, English, French, German and Indonesian language departments. Over the past decade many QSL cards, calendars and other souvenirs have made their way to my letterbox. Some of these were the result of special German language -and National Day broadcasts.

Radio Taiwan International is one the few remaining broadcasters whose programming I tune into to just to catch. I truly enjoy their content, be it in English, German or Indonesian -- three language I either speak or have a passable understanding.

Hopefully in this age of government budget cuts to radio, RTI will remain on the medium-wave and short-wave bands.

Radio Televisyen Malaysia / Radio Free Sarawak Retrospective

Radio Malaysia/Voice of Malaysia was one of the many difficult Asia-Pacific stations to catch in the United States. Yet, on 22 November 1975, I logged Radio Malaysia for the first time, and many times thereafter. Unbeknownst to me then I had picked up Radio Malaysia from Penang, according to the frequency legend (4.985 kHz) stated on the card. I had assumed it was Kuala Lumpur and, more importantly, I was excited to have logged a new country to my growing list of international broadcasters.

At the time I lived in Northglenn, Colorado -- a suburb north of Denver. As I recall Radio Malaysia was usually received in the early morning hours between 5 and 8 am. Reception was always weak, yet music and speech was audible despite atmospheric noise.

The receiver I used was a Zenith Trans-Oceanic H-500, a 5 valve/tube radio originally manufactured in the early 1950s. The antenna was an inverted L, elevated at over 30 feet, spanning approximately 75 feet in length.

The card appears to have first been printed in 1973, judging by the smaller date printed at the bottom of the card. It was one of the few folded cards I received in my DXing years from 1967 to 1980. It featured three sections, folded twice and printed on both sides. The Angkasapuri studio in Kuala Lumpur, map and flag of Malaysia, caption about the country, transmitter sites and frequencies and verification data are depicted on it.

When I resumed listening to the short-wave bands around 2010, Radio Malaysia (Voice of Malaysia), RTM Sarawak (Kuching), Asyik FM, TRAXX FM, Wai FM and Radio Salam/Voice of Islam (Kajang) aired their respective programmes. I was not particularly interested to QSL since I lived in Malaysia by this time, but then one by one these stations began to disappear. Indeed, many medium-wave stations once heard also ceased.

At this point, I resubmitted old reception reports, usually to no avail. No one answered. When Voice of Malaysia resurfaced for a brief time, I contacted the station DJs, among them being Albert Ng. He came personally to my house and hand-delivered two Voice of Malaysia QSL cards and VOM souvenirs.

I made contact with several personnel from RTM after finding their email addresses on the RTM website. RTM Sarawak FM was initially logged from Kuching transmitter site. In 2010 after unsuccessful attempts to QSL Sarawak FM (while still transmitting from Kuching), I followed up with a PPC QSL which RTM confirmed in late 2011. Since then, RTM has QSLed reception reports for listeners worldwide. I would like to think I helped start the ball rolling for the QSL cards issued for Sarawak FM, TRAXX FM and Wai FM. I even scripted and voiced a promotional spot for Voice of Malaysia, which later ran occasionally on TRAXX FM.

In early 2012 all RTM stations were initially QSLed  with a card depicting RTM headquarters in Antarabangsa, Kuala Lumpur. There were two versions issued. The first edition featured only the RTM building whereas the second edition included RTM station logos. In the 1970's  RTM issued a QSL card showing the same building, which incidentally sits on a hillside, outside Pantai Dalam, near Kuala Lumpur town centre.

Interestingly, RTM - Voice of Malaysia offered a  variety of designs throughout the 1980's, 1990's and 2000's. These served to not only confirm reception reports, but  also aided in promoting Malaysia as a tourist destination.

Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) and BBC Tebrau QSLs were issued from the late 1970s through the early 1990s when they transmitted from sites in not just peninsular Malaysia, but Sabah and Sarawak. Currently RTM has short-wave / FM studios in East and West Malaysia, however all radio transmissions emanate from Kajang, Selangor (West Malaysia).

For those interested in the history of radio in Malaysia, the first radio broadcasts commenced in peninsular Malaysia (Malaya) on 1 April 1946. The first two radio stations were Radio Malaya (in Malay) and The Blue Network (in English). The transmitters were located first in Singapore, then later in Kuala Lumpur (which began operation in 1950).

With the independence of Malaya on 31 August 1957, Radio Malaya was divided into two separate stations. The original studio in Singapore became Radio Singapura. Radio Malaya moved to Kuala Lumpur and aired their first transmission from the new location on 1 January 1959.

Radio Malaya would later be renamed Radio Malaysia on 16 September 1963, beginning their transmissions with the trademark phrase, Inilah Radio Malaysia (This is Radio Malaysia).

Radio and TV operations merged in 1968 when the Angkasapuri headquarters was officially opened. At this point, Radio Malaysia and Televisyen Malaysia merged and became Radio Televisyen Malaysia (Radio Television Malaysia, RTM) in 1969.

A few non-RTM stations have appeared on the short-wave and medium wave bands in the recent decade, most notably Radio Free Sarawak. For those not familiar with Radio Free Sarawak, it is a clandestine station that broadcasts Sarawakian music and political commentary from a Malaysian opposition party to the ingenious people of Sarawak, East Malaysia. The programming is produced in a London-based studio by award-winning British journalist, Clare Rewcastle Brown, who was born and raised in Sarawak. A former Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) announcer from Sarawak,Peter John Jaban, the grandson of a Dayak headhunter and aka Papa John, is the station's DJ. Short-wave transmissions in the past originated from Palau and Tiganesti (Romania).

Another political opposition station, Radio Free Malaysia, had an ad hoc broadcast relayed from Taiwan on medium-wave just before the General Election in 2013. A few additional stations have surfaced as well, again with one off broadcasts for the political opposition.

In recent years, only RTM Sarawak FM and RTM Wai FM remain on short-wave. Occasionally RTM Limbang FM can be heard. How much longer RTM will maintain these short-wave broadcasts is uncertain. Everything appears to be centred around FM and the Internet. I, for one, hope RTM retains at least one station to promote Malaysia abroad.

Interestingly, on 1 April 2018, RTM will celebrate their 72nd ANNIVERSARY. Happy birthday, RTM!!!


 Special thanks to Hegedus Istvan and Uwe Volk for use of their RTM QSLs and pennant

Voice of Russia Retrospective

One of my first QSL cards was from Radio Moscow. It was such an easy catch. At the time my only trepidation  was should I contact this communist country -- the Cold War enemy of the US. This was the political climate and rationale of a 13...14 year old American in the late 1960s.

Radio Moscow was widely heard up and down the short-wave dial. Throughout the 60s and 70s when I logged Radio Moscow their interval tuning signal,“Wide Is My Motherland”, was unmistakable. Later in a break with the Soviet era -- around 1993 -- the station was renamed The Voice of Russia. The interval changed as well to "Majestic" chorus from Pictures at an Exhibition -- "Great Gate of Kiev", composed Modest Mussorgsky.

Truth be told, I was never a big fan of Radio Moscow's programming, but I did occasionally listen to Joe Adamov, who was known for his command of American English and good humour. He hosted "Moscow Mailbag", which answered (usually American) listeners' questions about life in the Soviet Union. Another popular proramme, some years later, was "Listeners’ Request Club" hosted by prominent radio presenter (also with an American inflected accent) and wild man Vasily Strelnikov. 

About this same period I had a college course in Semantics. For my thesis I analysed the pragmatics behind the programming of Radio Moscow and the Voice of America. This project involved recording the news, commentaries and feature programmes, all on the same day, from these Cold War rivals. The juxtaposition allowed me to comment on their respective differences, audiences and perspectives. The end project was a 10 or 15 minute recording which I scripted, mixed and voiced. It was packaged in such a way that one could easily have interpreted the project as propaganda or a medium whereby one could influence and/or support the thinking of a particular audience. The cassette tape of this over 40 year project may be sitting in storage ready to be digitised.

Around 2010, I tuned the radio to the Voice of Russia -- the first time in almost 30 years.  Some of the news and commentaries on world events had an alternate spin to what the mainstream media often reported. Their cultural programmes, however, on Russian literature, music, history and tourist attractions was superb, and I did enjoy these from time to time.

Reception was never a problem, as the Voice of Russia transmitted their programming from sites around the country and neighbouring countries, many of which I received and was fortunate to QSL. Most of the QSLs I received until the demise of Voice of Russia in 2014 featured a series of cards depicting the 50th Anniversary of the Soviet Manned Space Missions. Elena Osipova, in the Letters Department of the World Service of the Voice of Russia, was always good to promptly follow up with email promising their QSL. Verifications included transmissions from the following transmitter sites: 

ARMENIA
(Yerevan-Gavar)

(CHINA)
(Baoji Xinjie)

MOLDOVA
(Kishinev-Grigoriopol)

RUSSIA
(St. Petersburg)
(Moscow-Serpukhov)
(Novosibirsk - Oyash)
(Krasnodar)
(Samara)
(Chita)
(Irkutsk)
(Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky)
(Vladivostok)

Radio Romania International Retrospective

Romania. My first memories are of an East European country behind the Iron Curtain, ruled by communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. That and old Bela Lugosi films of Count Dracula in Transylvania. Then later it was Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci who scored a perfect 10 in her routine during the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

Somewhere between all of this was Radio Bucharest, a short-wave radio broadcaster that regularly was received in the western United States, where I lived at the time. This would have been in the late 1960s and 1970s. Back then, they like most East European stations seemed to be best heard on the 41 metre band. When the station wasn't ranting about the communist state, there leaders and world events, there was Romanian music including their interval tuning signal, "Pui de lei" by Ionel G. Brǎtianu.

Fast-forward 40 years, there is still music and topics about Romanian culture and Romanians. All of this and more is now heard on Radio Romanian International which broadcasts their programming from transmitter sites in Tiganesti and Galbeni. Their transmitter facility also provides short-wave service to a varity of broadcasters including NEXUS-IBA /IRRS Shortwave (Milano Ventures). 

Over the past decade I have had the privilege to catch many Radio Romania International broadcasts, here in Malaysia. Reception is almost always good, and for my reception reports the station has sent several verification cards depicting the historical landmarks and scenery of this lovely country. As a bonus, the cards have come with Romanian postage stamps. 

Radio Romanian International remains the only East European station operating on the short-wave bands from their country. There are other East European broadcasters, but they have since relegated their programmes to transmitters elsewhere in the world. Hopefully Radio Romania International will continue their operation on short-wave and from Romania.