QSLs / ARTICLES

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

QSLs for Month of November 2018


Radio Sawa (Voice of America). Umm al-Rimam, Kuwait.
MissionswerkWerner Heukelbach*. Weenermoor, Germany.
Radio Taiwan International. Paochung, Taiwan.
Radio Taiwan International. Taipei, Taiwan.
Radio Taiwan International. Kostinbrod, Bulgaria.
Radio Emmeloord. Nauen, Germany.
Radio Habana Cuba. Habana, Cuba.
Radio Habana Cuba. Habana, Cuba.


 *Transmission logged from remote SDR receiver at the University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands.

Radio Taiwan International (via Paochung)

Radio Taiwan International via  Paochung was received on 10 November 2018, from 03.00 till 04.00 UTC. English programming included "Here in Taiwan",  "Taiwan Today", "Taipei Storyteller", "News Makers" and "One More Thing". Reception on 15.320 kHz was 55555 --  good signal strength, clear audio, no interference, no fading -- perfect reception!

Reception report was emailed the same day.  QSL card was received on 28 November 2018.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Logbook from 21 October till November 27

ARMENIA
Trans World Radio*
via Yerevan-Gavar was heard on the medium-wave frequency of 1377 kHz, here in the Kuala Lumpur area, on 27 November 2018, from 15.45 till 16.20 UTC while using a remote SDR receiver at Twente University (The Netherlands). This test transmission in the Russian language, directed to Central Asia, rated a (SINPO) of 43433 -- fair reception, occasionally audible and clear content despite QRM from China National Radio. Reception seemed to be worse after 16.10 UTC. In Malaysia, signal could not be detected due to strong interference from Radio Thailand and China National Radio. HERE is TWR (Yerevan).

ASCENSION
Radio Ndarason Internationale
(quite possibly the former Radio Dandal Kura International)was observed with African music and talk from after 18.30 till 18.50 UTC, on 20 Novenver 2018. Reception on 12.050 kHz rate an SINPO of 25432 -- weak signal, but no interference, only fading occasionally made listening difficult. HERE is RNI (Ascension).


BULGARIA
IBC - Italian Broadcasting Corporation via Spaceline (Kostinbrod-Sofia) was heard, here in the Kuala Lumpur area, on 31 October 2018,  while using the remote SDR receiver at Twente University (The Netherlands). Italian language programming with station ID presented by male announcer, followed by detailed reports on the broadcasting industry with teletype/morse code music was observed from 21.00 till 21.35 UTC. Reception on the short-wave frequency of 5.900 kHz rated a (SINPO) of 55555 -- strong signal and clear audio. Transmission was not audible in Malaysia. 

GERMANY
Missionswerk Werner Heukelbach* via (HCJB facility in Weenermoor) was heard on the short-wave frequency of 5.920 kHz, here in the Kuala Lumpur area, on 4 November 2018, from 15.00 till 16.00 UTC while using the remote SDR receiver at Twente University (The Netherlands). Reception initially rated a (SINPO) of 54544 -- strong signal, clear audio with slight fading and utility station QRM. After 15.40 UTC, reception worsened to SINPO 23522 with faint audio  fading under increased utility station (CW) QRM and later station splatter from China Radio International, making for some very noisy listening. By 15.50 UTC, strong QRM station splatter from the Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran made reception difficult to hear, although your signal could be faintly heard under VOIRI.

Schweizer Radio und Fernsehn (SRF)* via (Shortwave Service facility in Kall-Krekel) was heard, here in the Kuala Lumpur area, on 21 October 2018, while using the remote SDR receiver at Twente University (The Netherlands). News in German was observed from 16.00 till 16.35 UTC. Reception on the short-wave frequency of 6.005 kHz rated a (SINPO) of 54544 -- strong signal, clear audio with slight fading and occasional utility station QRM for the first 30 minutes of the transmission. After 16.30 UTC, signal was muted by utility station QRM, making reception next to impossible with only faint audio from SRF.

JAPAN
NHK World Radio Japan
via Yamata was heard on 12 November 2018, from 02.30 till 03.05 UTC. During this Japanese language broadcast, a programme on the music of Led Zeppelin, Jeffereson Airplane and Western classical compositions was featured. Reception on 17.810 kHz rated a (SINPO) of 55555 -- excellent reception

MALAYSIA
Sarawak FM
(9.835 kHz) and Wai FM (11.665 kHz) wer monitored between 15 till 17 November 2018. Transmission is either too weak (I live not far from the RTM facility in Kajang) or not heard at all. The reason? According to the Ismail Sulain, one of the engineers at the Kajang site, the "transmitter is currently on major maintenance and effected the transmission. The Sarawak FM and Wai FM broadcast will continue in operation when the said maintenance finish. The SW transmitter still in Kajang and our broadcast time from 0600 to 2200 daily."

ROMANIA
Radio Romania International
via Galbeni was logged on 10 November 2018, from 04.00 till 04.57 UTC. English language programming featured RRI Music Festival Quiz, "Focus on Romania", "Welcome to Romania" Romanian pop and traditional music. Reception on the short-wave frequency of 11.790 kHz rated a (SINPO) of 35333 -- fair signal, but very noisy with lots of atmospheric noise and fading, especially 20 minutes after broadcast began.

SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
  with  Hindi programming was observed on 11 November 2018. Transmission was monitored from 02.15 till 02.30 UTC, which included a selection of songs, hosted by a female announcer. Reception on 11.905 kHz rated a (SINPO) of 54544 -- good signal strength and clear audio, despite slight station splatter and fading. The most glaring disturbance was the intermittent loss of audio/transmission feed. HERE is SLBC at sign-off. 

TAIWAN
Radio Taiwan International
via  Paochung was received on 10 November 2018, from 03.00 till 04.00 UTC. English programming included "Here in Taiwan",  "Taiwan Today", "Taipei Storyteller", "News Makers" and "One More Thing". Reception on 15.320 kHz was 55555 --  good signal strength, clear audio, no interference, no fading -- perfect reception!

THAILAND
Radio Thailand World Service - HSK9 via IBB facility in Udonthani, was logged on  27 November 2018, from 02.10 till 02.35 UTC with Business Report in English, advertisements for Radio Thailand and Thai Music, followed by programming in Thai at 02.30 UTC. Reception on 13.745 kHz rated a SINPO 55544 -- excellent signal strength, no interference, clear audio, only a bit of occasional fading.

USA
Wavescan via WRMI (Okeechobee) was heard on 18 November 2018, from 22.55 till 23.30 UTC.  Ray Robinson presented a report on the history of the Canberra shortwave scene, particularly VHK, then Jeff White interviewed Radio Slovakia International's Gavin Shoebridge for a discussion about electronic gadgets and shortwave/internet/FM broadcasts in Slovakia during the B18 HFCC conference in Bratislava, followed by Harold Seller's DX Report from Canada (including descriptions of KNLS, RNZI, VOK from his QTH in British Columbia). Reception on  short-wave frequency of  9.955 kHz rated a (SINPO) of 25331 -- weak but audible signal, occasionally discernible audio content despite atmospheric noise.

RX: Tecsun S-2000 and Degen DE-1102 ANT 1/4 wave and 3 meter wire QTH central Malaysia

 *Transmission logged from remote SDR receiver at the University of Twente, the Netherlands.

Friday, November 23, 2018

Voice of America - Radio Sawa (Kuwait)

VOA / Radio Sawa, transmitting from Umm al-Rimam (Kuwait), was logged on 24 January 2017. Arabic language news/current events was observed from 18.05 till 18.25 UTC. Reception on the medium-wave frequency of 1548 kHz rated a SINPO of 25431 -- weak audio, occasionally clear and discernible content whenever signal peaked (every two to three minutes).

Reception report was emailed on the following day with follow-up emails in subsequent months. An email verification from the Director of Broadcast Technologies Division for BBG/IBB, was received on 24 May 2018, promised QSL card. The QSL card did indeed arrive on 23 November 2018.

Email:
QSL@usagm.gov

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Missionswerk Werner Heukelbach* (via Weenermoor)

Missionswerk Werner Heukelbach*, transmitting from HCJB facility in Weenermoor (Germany), was heard on 4 November 2018, from 15.30 till 15.50 UTC, on the short-wave frequency of 5.920 kHz. Reception rated a SINPO of 54544 -- strong signal, clear audio with slight fading and utility station QRM. After 15.40 UTC, reception worsened to SINPO 23522 with faint audio  fading under increased utility station (CW) QRM and later station splatter from China Radio International, making for some very noisy listening. By 15.50 UTC, strong QRM station splatter from the Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran made reception difficult to hear, although signal could be faintly heard under VOIRI. HERE is Missionswerk Werner Heukelbach prior to QRM, late in the broadcast.

Reception report was submitted online and emailed on the following day. QSL card arrived in the mail on 19 November 2018.

Email:
info@missionswerk-heukelbach.de

 *Transmission logged from remote SDR receiver at the University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands.

Radio Taiwan International (via Taipei)

Radio Taiwan International via Taipei was logged on 10 October 2018. This Special 107th National Day broadcast featured speeches and music, hosted by Natalie Soh and Shirley Lin, from 02.00 till 03.00 UTC. Reception on the short-wave frequency of 15.305 kHz was excellent throughout the duration of the broadcast with a SINPO of 55555. 

Reception report was submitted on the same day. QSL card arrived in the mail on 19 November 2018.

Reception report made while outstation

RX Degen DE-1102 ANT Whip QTH Klang, Malaysia

Radio Taiwan International (via Kostinbrod)

Radio Taiwan International, transmitting from Kostinbrod (Bulgaria), was logged on 8 September 2018. This test transmission for German language speakers in Europe, from 19.00 till 19.30 UTC, was received on 5.900 kHz with a SINPO of 24322 -- weak signal, occasionally audible when not fading under atmospheric noise. Signal worsened after 19.20 UTC. HERE is RTI (Kostinbrod).

Reception report was emailed on the following day, then sent follow-up reports in subsequent weeks. Two QSL cards for this broadcast arrived in the mail on 19 November 2018.


RX: Tecsun S-2000 ANT: 1/4 Wave QTH: West Central Malaysia

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Radio Emmeloord (via Nauen)

Radio Emmeloord via Media Broadcasting Gmbh (Nauen, Germany) was heard during their special broadcast on 6 October 2018. A broadcast of oldies, including The Hollies "On A Carousel", The Doors "Light My Fire", Itchycoo Park "It's All Too Beautiful", Bob Dylan, Engelbert Humperdinck and more, along with various Dutch announcers was received between 15.30 till 16.00 UTC (broadcast time 10.00 till 16.00 UTC). Reception on the short-wave frequency of 6.095 kHz, here in the Kuala Lumpur area, rated a SINPO of 23422 with lots of station splatter, slight fading, yet audio and occasionally clear content was observed. HERE is a very noisy Radio Emmeloord with The Doors "Light My Fire" and DJ chatting.

Reception report was emailed and posted online at Radio Emmeloord on the following day. DJs Dick Offringa and Hans Spoelstra, who were heard during this broadcast, replied to my abbreviated reception report on Facebook with emoticons (😮 and 👍). I'm not sure what it all means. Will they QSL? Or is this just a cursory acknowledgement? I did however notice a blank QSL card linked to DJ Dave Royal's Twitter account. The thing is no one wants to go out on a limb and state whether QSLs will be issued. Media Broadcasting Gmbh was also emailed a few days later. To date, no word has come from them either. It seems such a waste to spend so much money on logistics and SW air time, then not send at least an email to confirm. Oh well, we'll have to wait and see, I guess. Who knows?

Since posting this I have learned Dick Offringa has at least 100 QSL cards to fill out. So, hopefully a verification from Radio Emmeloord will appear in the mail soon. Well, the above eCards were received on 7 November 2018. None were properly completed, so I took the liberty to include the data for future reference. It's not quite the paper verification I had hoped for, but this eQSL is close enough.


RX: Sangean ATS-909 ANT: 20 meter dipole QTH: West Central Malaysia

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Radio Habana Cuba

Radio Habana Cuba logged 19 and 20 November 2017, from 23.45 till 00.30 UTC with comments about Cuba and later Cuban music. Reception on 13.740 kHz at 23.45 UTC was SINPO 35333 -- poor to fair signal strength, clear and discernible content, atmospheric noise and slight fading. At 23.59 UTC, station splatter from Radio Thailand on 13.745 kHz mixed with RHC signal, which by 00.00 UTC had signed off. Reception on 15.230 kHz at 00.00 UTC was SINPO 25332 -- poor signal strength but clear content despite atmospheric noise. Signal continued to be heard at the same level after 00.30 UTC. I might add, RHC signal on this frequency was first detected around 23.20 UTC, which started as a faint carrier, then grew in strength. Ìn the Americas and Europe, RHC may be a dominant station; however, in South East Asia it is quite the catch, which one has to usually wait for in the winter months. And although I have QSLed the station many times, it always nice to receive their verification.  HERE is RHC.

Reception report was emailed on 20 November 2017. QSL cards for both reports arrived in the mail on 7 November 2018. 

RX: Tecsun S-2000 ANT: 1/4 Wave QTH: West Central Malaysia

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Rhein-Main-Radio-Club Calendar for November 2018


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

KBS World Radio Calendar - November 2018

KBS World Radio Calendar for month of November 2018