QSLs for December 2019

American Forces Network. Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan.
Voice of Indonesia. Palangka Raya, Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia.
Radio Japan NHK World. Talata-Volonondry, Madagascar
Radio Nyawa Sarawak. Presumed  Palau or Taiwan.
Atlantic 2000 International*. Rohrbach, Germany.
Voice of Turkey. Emirler, Turkey.
KWTR Trans World Radio. Agana, Guam.

RX: Tecsun S-2000 ANT: external !/4 wave linked to receiver's ferrite rod (MW) and Passive Loop (SW) QTH; Central West Malaysia
*RX: SDR receiver ANT: Mini Whip REMOTE QTH: The Netherlands (Twente) 

My Top 10 QSLs for 2019

While propagation continued to be dismal for year 2019, a number of rare medium-wave stations and one-off short-wave broadcasts were logged, and more importantly, QSLed here in Malaysia.  Below are my top ten picks for 2019.

1. Radio Republik Indonesia Ranai PRO-1, transmitting from Natuna Regency archipelago in the Riau Islands, Indonesia. Acting on a tip from a fellow DXer, this 10 kW RRI station was logged a few days after it was reactivated. More surprisingly, RRI Ranai replied a month later with a letter of verification and QSL certificate.

2. American Forces Network - Surf 648, transmitting from Camp Kinser, Urasoe City, Naha City area, Okinawa, Japan. I caught this rarely received 10 kW medium-wave station in the wee morning hours, after making modifications to the receiver's ferrite rod. AFN was prompt to reply first with an eQSL, then upon request a genuine paper QSL card and certificate.

3. ABC Radio National - Station 3RN, transmitting from Melbourne (Delahey / Brimbank / Sydenham), Victoria, Australia. While many Australian stations -- short-wave, utility and medium-wave -- have been received in Malaysia, this 50 kW medium-wave Aussie station is the further-est one heard from down under. Not only did they send an eQSL, a nice paper QSL card was later posted.

4. WBCQ - The Planet, transmitting from Monticello, Maine, USA. With the boost in transmitter power to 500 kW -- not sure if they were up to full power when verified -- WBCQ was logged one afternoon, here in Malaysia. Alan Weiner confirmed first by email, then later after sending him an SASE.

5. NHK World-Radio Japan "India Special," transmitting from Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This  lovely QSL card was a reprint of a Radio Japan QSL issued in the 1950s -- when the broadcaster first launched their Hindi / Urdu Services. 

6. BBC - Far Eastern Relay Station (Encompass), transmitting from Kranji, Singapore. For many years I have heard BBC Kranji, but was never able to get their QSL. I have QSLs from NHK, DW and other international broadcasters who have used the Kranji facility, but BBC always eluded me until this year when I posted reception report to the relay site.

7. BBC Medium-wave Test Transmission  from the SLBC facility in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. This was an ad-hoc test for BBC-Encompass, and fortunately Victor Goonetilleke spearheaded the QSL effort for fellow DXers who happened to catch this medium-wave test from Sri Lanka.

8. All India Radio  Hyderabad, transmitting from Hayatnagar (Vanasthalipuram), Ranga Reddy, Telangana, India. A debt of gratitude goes out to Spectrum Management & Synergy for issuing this QSL. Since they started handling AIR verifications, I  have received over 30 medium-wave confirmations for India. This was just one of three MW AIR stations confirmed for year 2019.

9. China National Radio 1 / PBS transmitting from Yushu, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Quinghai Province, China. This QSL was particularly nice to receive insomuch as CNR actually posted a QSL card, and it was for a transmission from Yushu. As most radio enthusiasts are aware, CRI is good to QSL most any transmission, even those not directly related to their broadcast. So, to get this QSL and any verification from a China station other than CRI is special.

10. Japan Short Wave Club via Adventist World Radio,  transmitting from  Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. It's always nice to get a "special" QSL card, and this JSWC verification card was no exception. For a few USD to cover postage etc, this unique Year of the Pig QSL from JSWC was posted.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND HAPPY DXING IN 2020!!!

Atlantic 2000 International*

Atlantic 2000 International*, transmitting from Rohrbach (Germany), was logged on 14 December 2019 via remote SDR in the Netherlands (Twente). The last 10 minutes of their Christmas programme was heard from 09.50 till 10.00 UTC (broadcast time 09.00 till 10.00 UTC). Reception on the short-wave frequency of 6.070 kHz was SINPO 55544 - excellent reception despite slight fading. HERE is Atlantic 2000 International.

Reception report was emailed on the same day. An eQSL was received on 24 December 2019.

 

*RX: Remote SDR  ANT: Mini whip QTH: Malaysia via Twente University (Netherlands)

Voice of Turkey

Voice of Turkey via Emirler was received on 3 November 2019, from 17.30 till 18.25 UTC with English language programming and Turkish pop music. Reception on 9.660 kHz  rated a SINPO of SINPO: 55544 -- strong signal, clear audio, slight fading. HERE is Voice of Turkey.
 

Reception report was submitted on the following day. QSL card arrived on 24 December 2019.

RX: Tecsun S-2000 ANT: Passive Loop QTH: Central West Malaysia

Radio Taiwan International Calendar 2020

 

Radio Taiwan International Calendar 2020 features culinary fare of Taiwan.

Addendum to AFN Okinawa

American Forces Network (AFN Okinawa  Surf 648), transmitting from Camp Kinser, Urasoe City, Naha City area, Okinawa (Japan), was logged on 1 December 2019. CBS News and advertisements were monitored from 19.05 till 19.35 UTC. Reception on  the medium-wave frequency of 648 kHz for this reportedly 10 kW station rated a SINPO of 24432 -- weak to fair signal strength, clear audio when not fading under or mixing with co-frequency station.  

Initially an eQSL (SEE HERE) was received shortly after receiving the station. Upon request for a traditional paper QSL card, AFN Okinawa prepared a QSL certificate and picture postcard of the station. These items arrived in the mail on 17 December 2019.

 RX: Tecsun S-2000 ANT: 1/4 wave linked to  ferrite rod QTH: Central West Malaysia

KWTR Trans World Radio (via Agana)

KWTR Trans World Radio via Agana, Guam was monitored on 29 November 2019. Korean programming was observed from 16.05 till 16.17 UTC. on 7.510 kHz with SINPO of 35443 -- fair signal, clear content with slight fade. HERE is KWTR (Agana).

Reception report was emailed on the following day. An eQSL was received on 13 December 2019.

 RX: Tecsun S-2000 ANT: Passive Loop QTH: Central West Malaysia

Souvenir from Radio Taiwan International

Radio Taiwan International  presented this souvenir tote bag to listeners who caught  their 108th National Day broadcast that aired in October 2019. Thank you, RTI. 

Logbook 29 November till 28 December 2019

One of the advantages of the Tecsun S-2000 rotating ferrite antenna is the antenna port. Recently I linked a vertically elevated (height of 13 meters) 1/4 wave to it, and the results on  LW and MW have been outstanding. I suspect the height and shielded 50 ohm cable has more to do with the success in logging stations never before received. Absolutely amazing! Now I'm thinking (just thinking) a beverage antenna would be even better. Below are some of the results.

ALGERIA
Radio Algeria Channel 3 via Tipaza was logged on December 16, 2019. French language broadcast of Sports. mostly about football, was monitored from 18:25 to 19:05 UTC. Reception of the long-wave frequency of 252 kHz rated a SINPO of 15411 - weak signal, without interference and with occasionally audible content was observed every 4 to 5 minutes when not fading under. HERE is Radio Algeria - Channel 3.

AUSTRALIA
ABC News Radio - 6PNN in Busselton, Western Australia, was logged on 4 December 2019. BBC news and ABC news was observed after 14.55 UTC. The station can be heard even earlier around 13.00 mixing with another station (Quran recitation). Reception on 1152 kHz is 23432. HERE is 6PNN.

ABC Radio National - 5RN via Reynella (Pimpala), Adelaide, South Australia was logged on 25 December 2019. National news was presented when I received this 50 kW station at 19.35 UTC. Reception on 729 kHz was SINPO 34433 -- remarkably good signal and clarity of content when not fading under atmospheric noise. HERE is 5RN (Adelaide).

AUSTRIA
Norddeutscher Rundfunk, transmitting presumably from Moosbrunn, was logged on 24 December 2019. Their annual Christmas programme, "Gruss an Bord," greetings/messages was heard from  19.25 till 20.05 UTC. Reception on  9.570 kHz rated a SINPO of 25322 -- weak signal but audible content when not fading under noise. HERE is NDR (Moosbrunn).

CHINA
China Radio International via Urumqi, Xinjiang  was logged on 22 December 2019. Russian language programming of talk and Russian music and cover of "Time in a Bottle" was noted at 19.30 till sign-off at 20.00 UTC/ Reception on the medium0wave frequency of 1521 kHz was SINPO 33433 -- fair signal strength, discernible audio content despite co-frequency mixing with Thai station in Bangkok, fading under Thai station but still audible. HERE is CRI Russian service (Urumqi)

CUBA
Radio Habana Cuba was heard on the shortwave-wave frequency of 11.850 kHz, on 11 December 2019, from 23.35 till 23.50 UTC. SINPO rated a 15411 -- fair carrier but undermodulated with only occasionally discernible audio when not fading. Despite this there was no co-frequency interference. By 23.50 UTC, atmospheric noise enveloped RHC signal. Although reception was poor, this is the first time RHC has been received during the B19 schedule, so apparently propagation is beginning to improve.

DJIBOUTI
Voice of America via Doraleh was heard on 5 December 2019. Araboc programming of currentevent reports and music was observed from 17.25 till 18.15 UTC. Reception on the medium-wave frequency of 1431 kHz  at 17.30 UTC rated a SINPO of 25422 -- weak but clear content when not fading under atmospheric noise every few minutes. After18.00 UTC, signal was present but barely audible with next to no discernible content except for faint speech and music. HERE is VOA Djibouti.

GUAM 

KWTR Trans World Radio via Agana was monitored on 29 November 2019. Korean programming was observed from 16.05 till 16.17 UTC. on 7.515 khz with SINPO of 35443 -- fair signal, clear content with slight fade. HERE is KWTR (Agana).

HONG KONG
Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK-5) via Golden Hill was logged on 28 December 2019. A radio drama/dialogue between a man and woman and time pips followed by station ID at the top hour was observed from 18.45 till 19.05 UTC (02.45 till 03,05 AM, Hongkong Time). Reception on 783 kHz rated a SINPO of 24422 -- weak to fair signal strength, discernible audio content, occasional fading under atmospheric noise. Reception prior to 18.30 UTC was too weak; and before 17.00 UTC is unheard due to strong intereference from Voice of Vietnam. Station grew in strength after 19.00 UTC. HERE is RTHK-5.

INDIA
All India Radio Thiruvananthapuram in Kalavoor, Allapuzha, Kerala was heard on 1 December 2019. Indian classical music moderated by female announcer between vocal and instrumental compositions, followed by national news in English and Hindi was noted from 17.05 till 17.40 UTC.  Reception on the medium-wave frequency of 576 kHz rated a SINPO of 23422 -- weak to fair signal mixing with Thai station in Bangkok throughout transmission, occasionally clear signal rising above Thai station, but barely discernible after 17.30 UTC. HERE is AIR Thiruvananthapuram.

 INDONESIA
Radio Ikadi (Ikatan Da'i Indonesia) in East Jakarta with Quran recitation is best received before 13.00 UTC, but is received mixing later in the evening with ABC News Radio - 6PNN in Busselton, Western Australia. This NGO station broadcasts Islamic programmes on 1152 kHz. Station was logged first on 4 December 2019 and then on subsequent days.

IRAN
IRIB World Service, transmitting from Bandar-e-Torkeman, Torkaman County, Golestan Province, was logged 23 December 2019. Turkmen programming of talk and regional music was heard from 15.45 till 16.00 UTC. Reception on 1449 kHz rated a SINPO of 23432 -- weak to fair signal strength, occasionally clear content when not mixing with Thailand station or fading under atmospheric noise. Although signal was detected before 15.45 UTC, reception peaked from that time onward. HERE is IRIB (Bandar-e-Torkman).

IRIB - Radio Isfahan in Habibabad, Borkhar County, Isfahan Province, was logged on 28 December 2019. Farsi programming was heard from 19.45 till 20.00 UTC. Reception on 837 kHz rated a SINPO of 25322 - poor to weak signal, faint audio when not fading under atmospheric noise. HERE is IRIB (Isfahan)

JAPAN

Nippon Hoso Kyokai  2 (JOGB)  via Kumamoto was logged on 29 November 2019. A selection of language programmes in Japanese/Chinese, Japanese/Portuguese and Japanese/English was monitored from 13.25 till 14.30 UTC. Reception on the medium-wave frequency of 873 kHz was fair SINPO 33432 - fair to good signal with clear audio content, fading every few minutes, occasionally mixing with stations in India and China. HERE is NHK2-JOGB.

Nippon Hoso Kyokai  2 / Osaka Broadcasting Station (JOBB) in Habikino City, Osaka was logged on 30 November.2019 with mostly talk format in Japanese from 21.05 UTC, on 828 kHz with SINPO of 25432 -- weak to fair signal, clear content, fading, no interference until 22.00 UTC. HERE is JOBB.

Tokai Radio Hoso (JOSF) in Nagoya was received on 2 December 2019 (3 December 2019, JST), from 18.15 till 19.00 UTC (03.15 till 04,00, JST) with a selection of Japanese pop songs. Recption on the medium-wave frequency of 1332 kHz rated a SINPO of 23422 -- weak to fair signal mixing with another station (presumed to be in China) throughout the transmission, occasionally clear signal rising above atmospheric noise, static bursts (from a local thunderstorm) and the aforementioned interfering station. HERE is Tokai Radio Hoso-JOSF.

American Forces Network (AFN Okinawa Surf 648), transmitting from Camp Kinser, Urasoe City, Naha City area, Okinawa, was logged on 1 December 2019. CBS News and advertisements were monitored from 19.05 till 19.35 UTC. Reception on the medium-wave frequency of 648 kHz for this reportedly10 kW station rated a SINPO of 24432 -- weak to fair signal strength, clear audio when not fading under or mixing with co-frequency station. HERE is AFN Okinawa.

MADAGASCAR
MWV African Pathways Radio via  Mahajanga was logged on 25 December 2019. Russian programming with English Christmas song was noted 10 minutes before sign-off from 19.50 till 19.58 UTC. Reception on short-wave frequency of 9.845 kHz rated SINPO  45534 -- good signal strength, discernible content, no interference, deep fading yet audible. HERE is MWV African Pathways Radio 

PAKISTAN
Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (Radio Pakistan Peshawar), transmitting from Chugalpura, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, was logged on 3 December 2019. A mostly talk format in Urdu, including time pips, station ID and news, was monitored from 17.45 till 18.05 UTC. Reception on the MW frequency of 1260 kHz rated a SINPO of 23422 -- weak to fair signal mixing with presumed Tohoku Hoso (JOIR) in Sendai (Japan), occasionally clear signal rising above atmospheric noise and interfering station. Signal began to peak around 18.00 UTC. HERE is Radio Pakistan Peshawar.

POLAND
Polskie Radio - Radiowa Jedynka. transmitting from Solec Kujawski, Bydgoszcz, was logged on 17 and 18 December 2019. On the first day, a largely talk format with occasional advertisements and music filler was observed from 20.00 till 20.30 UTC (21.00 till 21.30 CET). On the following day, after 18.00 Poloish pop music and conversation between two women was noted. Reception on  225 kHz (LW) rated a SINPO of 15411 -- weak signal, no interfering stations, occasionally clear audio when not fading and mixing with static bursts from a thunderstorm in my area. Signal was best received between 20.00 till 20.07 UTC. Afterwards, signal was barely audible and then only after long periods (9 to 10 minutes). Shortly after 20.30 UTC, signal disappeared  under static. On the following day reception was SINPO  25422. HERE and HERE is  Radiowa Jedynka.

ROMANIA
Radio Romania International via Galbeni was logged on 22 December 2018. Romania pop music and talk format was heard from 18.45 till 19.10 UTC. Reception on 5.990 kHz was SINPO 34433 -- fair signal, clear and discernible content, no (QRM) interference until 19.00 UTC, fading under threshold occasionally. At 19.00 UTC, mixing from China station  created a muddled mess of near indecipherable audio. HERE is RRI.

SSR Antena Satelor via Bod. Brașov, Județul Brașov was logged on 23 December 2019. Commentary and Romanian music (traditional folk genre) was observed from  18.30 till 18.50 UTC. Reception of longwave frequency of 153 kHz rated a SINPO of 15411 -- very weak, on par with noise threshold but audio was present, albeit faint. (Note: some Malaysian DXers have had better reception of this 200kW station than I have.)

TAJIKISTAN
Radio Aap Ki Dunyaa (Broadcasting Board Of Governors), transmitting from Orzu, Khatlon Region, was heard on 4 December 2019. Current events, news and station jingle/ID in Urdu were observed from 17.45 till 18.10 UTC UTC. Reception on the medium-wave frequency of 972 kHz rated a SINPO of 23422 -- weak to fair signal mixing with presumed KBS-1 (HLCA) in Dangjin City (South Korea), occasionally clear signal rising above atmospheric noise and interfering station. HERE is Radio Aap Ki Dunyaa.

TAIWAN
Radio Taiwan International via Paochung was received on 11 December 2019. Their English language broadcast to Asia was monitored from 03.20 till 04.00 UTC. During this period the programmes "Hear in Taiwan," "Chinese to Go," "Hashtag Taiwan" and "Status Update" were observed. Reception on the shortwave frequency of 15.320 kHz was SINPO 55544 -- excellent reception despite minor fading.

USA
WRMI - Frequencia al Dia and Bible Commentary were received on 11 and 12 December 2019, from 23.20 till 00.15 UTC. Reception on 9.955 kHz was SINPO 25442 -- weak but clear and audible content, especially from 23.20 till 23.59 UTC. No interference, overall good propagation from stations in the Americas which has been negligible for months. Signal gradually began to drop off after 00.10 UTC. HERE is WRMI.
 
VIETNAM
Voice of Vietnam (VOV2) in Xã Thới Hưngm Huyện Cờ Đỏ, Thành phố Cần Thơ was heard on 28 December 2019. A programme featuring traditional atonal Vietnamese music was observed from 16.30 till 17.00 UTC. Reception on the medium-wave frequency of  783 kHz rated a SINPO of 55555 - excellent signal strength and clarity of audio despite slight fade. HERE is VOV-2.

RX: Tecsun S-2000 ANT: external !/4 wave linked to receiver's ferrite rod (MW) and Passive Loop (SW) QTH; Central West Malaysia

NHK World Radio Japan (via Talata-Volonondry)

Radio Japan NHK World via  Talata-Volonondry, Madagascar was received on 2 November 2019. Hindi programming of music and current event in Japan was observed  from 14.35 till 15.00 UTC. Reception on the shortwave frequency of 15.720 kHz rated a SINPO of 45544 -- strong signal, clear content, slight fading. HERE is NHK World (Talata-Volonondry).

Reception report was submitted online and emailed on the following day. QSL card, postcards and NHK World folder arrived in the mail on 6 December 2019.

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

Voice of Indonesia (via Palangka Raya)

Voice of Indonesia, transmitting from Palangka Raya, Kalimantan (Borneo), was logged on 1 November 2019. German language programming was monitored from 18.00 till 18.30 UTC. Reception on 3.325 kHz was SINPO 35453. HERE is VOI.

Reception report was emailed on the following day to the German Service of VOI. QSL card, along with a RRI/VOI sticker and postage stamps, arrived in the mail on 6 December 2019. This appears to be a news QSL design from VOI. Danke und Terima Kasih, Sri Undun.

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

Radio Nyawa Sarawak

Radio Nyawa Sarawak (presumed to be Taiwan) was heard on 25 November 2019. Conversation/interview between announcer and Sidi Munan, President of the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA) discussed land rights. This was followed by Romuald Siew of Niah discussing palm oil plantation in his community. Andrew Paul talked about rural children. Broadcast was in Iban and Bahasaa Malaysia, and observed from from 11.15 till 11.45 UTC (07.15 till 07.45pm, KL time). Reception on the short-wave frequency of 11.890 kHz rated a SINPO of 55544 -- strong and clear signal despite some fading. HERE is  Radio Nyawa Sarawak.

Reception report was emailed and submitted online on the same day. Follow-up submission occurred on 3 December 2019. An acknowledgement, short of the traditional QSL, was received on 4 December 2019.

RX: Sangean ATS-909 ANT: Off the radio's whip antenna QTH: Central West Malaysia

American Forces Network (AFN Okinawa Surf 648)

American Forces Network (AFN Okinawa  Surf 648), transmitting from Camp Kinser, Urasoe City, Naha City area, Okinawa (Japan), was logged on 1 December 2019. CBS News and advertisements were monitored from 19.05 till 19.35 UTC. Reception on  the medium-wave frequency of 648 kHz for this reportedly 10 kW station rated a SINPO of 24432 -- weak to fair signal strength, clear audio when not fading under or mixing with co-frequency station. HERE is AFN Okinawa.

Reception report was submitted online at AFN Okinawa on 1 December 2019. An eQSL was sent the following day on 2 December 2019 by veri-signer George Smith. A paper QSL (SEE HERE) arrived in the mail on 17 December 2019.


RX: Tecsun S-2000 ANT: 1/4 wave linked to radio's internal ferrite rod QTH: Central West Malaysia

Voice of America Calendar 2019 for December

Voice of America Calendar 2019 for December.

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Vintage QSL Calendar for December 2019

Vintage QSL Calendar for December 2019

Radio Taiwan International for December 2019

Radio Taiwan International Calendar for December 2019