Voice of America (via Selebi-Phikwe)

Voice of America, transmitting from Mopeng Hill  (Selebi-Phikwe), Botswana, was logged on 28 February 2020. Reception on the medium-wave frequency of 909 kHz rated a  SINPO of 15311 -- signal was terribly weak, occasionally peaking so that announcer and music could be heard (matching programme content on  4.930 kHz). An African music programme was observed  after 20.50 UTC. Although VOA's signal was terribly weak and mirred in QRN, it was nevertheless received.

For years and years I had tried to log this station on MW, but one problem or another made it an elusive catch. Generally in my quarter, stations in Thailand, Taiwan and India had made it nearly  impossible to catch, but then stations in Africa have been best received in SEA after 19 UTC, and whenever propagation permits. That was the case here. Reception of VOA Botswana began to improve after 20.30 UTC, although it was detected earlier at around 20.10 UTC. That said, VOA's signal was quite weak and I suspect this reportedly  600 kW transmitter was not operating at full power. 

Reception report was submitted on the following day. This eQSL was received on 3 March 2020.

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