Logbook from 1 till 20 April 2020

ASCENSION
BBC Encompass via Atlantic Relay Station was heard on 4 April 2020. News, BBC promos and current event reports in English was heard from 17.15 till 17.35 UTC. Reception on the the shortwave frequencies of 17.780 kHz and 17.830 kHz rated a SINPO (on both frequencies) of 25222 -- weak signal strength, audible content, although not entirely discernible, and barely breaking above atmospheric noise. Reception was slightly better on 17.780 kHz.

AUSTRALIA
ABC Pilbara - 6KP in Karratha, Pilbara Region, NW Western Australia was logged on 20 April 2020 (21 April 2020, WA date). Early Mornings with Barry Nicholls featured discussions and music from 20.15 till 21.15 UTC (04.15 till 05.15 am, WA time). Reception on 702 kHz rated a SINPO of 34322 -- moderate signal strength and clear audio content when not fading under every two to three minutes. HERE is ABC Pilbara.

BENIN

TWR Africa, transmitting from Parakou/Sérarou, was logged on 10 April 2020. Religious programmes with male and female announcers, occasionally music, was observed from 20.05 till 20.55 UTC. Reception on medium-wave frewquency of 1566 kHz rated a SINPO of 15111 -- weak signal with dominant carrier, occasionally faint audio just barely breaking above the noise threshold. Signal was initially present before 20.00 UTC and increased in strength after 20.40 UTC. No radio station in Asia-Pacific, Europe or Middle East operates on this frequency at the times stated, and if transmissions are present in the Asia region (particularly Philippines and South Korea) their signals should be stronger.

ENGLAND

KBS World Radio via Woofferton, UK was received on 11 April 2020. A Russian broadcast of K-Pop songs was noted from 18.15 until 18.45 UTC. Reception on the shortwave frequency of 9.820 kHz was SINPO 55555 -- excellent reception.

FRANCE

NHK World Radio Japan via Issoudun was received on 11 April 2020. Japanese language broadcast with Western classical music was monitored from 18.15 till 18.30 UTC (broadcast time 17.00 till 19.00 UTC). Reception on 11.945  kHz was SINPO 35433 -- moderate signal strength, clear audio content despite slight atmospheric noise and occasional fading.

Alameda Bible Fellowship via Issoudun, France was heard on 6 April 2020. Religious programming on the God's punishment and mercy, quoting numerous passages from the Bible, was observed on 17.00 till 17.30 UTC. Reception on 15.485 kHz was SINPO 44454 -- good signal strength, clear audio content despite slight atmospheric noise.

GERMANY

Voice of America via Biblis was heard on 11 April 2020. Kurdish programming, including selection of jazz and pop music was observed from 17.30 until 17.45 UTC (broadcast time 17-18 UTC). Reception on 11.760 kHz rated a SINPO of 45444 -- strong signal, clear audio, moderate atmospheric noise and slight fade.

GREECE
Voice of Greece via Avlis was logged on 18 April 2020. A selection of Hellenic music, moderated by female announcer and news at the top of the hour was recorded from 18.10 till 19.10 UTC. SINPO pn 9.420 kHz was 45334 -- good signal strength, clear audio, some atmospheric noise whenever signal faded slightly under the threshold. HERE is ERT.

HAWAII

Radio Station WWVH via Kauai was logged on 3 April 2020, from 13.35 till 13.46 UTC. Reception on 15 MHz rated a SINPO of 45433 -- good signal strength, clear audio content, moderate fading.

MONGOLIA
Voice of Mongolia via Ulaanbaator was logged on 20 April 2020. English language broadcast of news, Mongolian pop music and Mailbag programme was monitored from 09.00 till 09.30 UTC. Reception on 12.085 kHz rated a SINPO of 44333 -- good signal strength, slight transmitter hum, moderate fading under atmospheric noise. Otherwise transmission was strong, audible and clear when not fading into the noise threshold.

PHILIPPINES
DWBR Radyo Bahai (Dawnbreaker’s Foundation) in Talavera, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, was logged on 11 April 2020. This 1 kW station has been consistently received between 19.00 till 19.45 UTC. Reception on the medium-wave frequency of  1584 kHz varies. On some days, signal is moderately clear for a few minutes, but for the most barely breaks slightly above noise threshold.

ROMANIA

Radio Romania International via Galbeni-Bacaum was heard on 7 April 2020, from 03.15 till 03.45 UTC. Programmes within this time period included reports on Romanian political parties, the effects of COVID-19 on Romanian businesses, suspension of Romanian football competition and Tokyo Olympics till 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic and contemporary Romanian music. Reception on the short-wave frequency of 11.825 kHz initially rated a SINPO of 35333 -- moderate signal strength, atmospheric disturbance, fading under noise threshold. By 03.30 UTC, reception worsened to a SINPO of 25222 due to increased QRN. Around 03.40 UTC, signal was barely audible and content indecipherable. A 03.45 UTC SINPO was 15111 -- signal floated in and out of QRN, but inaudible for the most part.

SPAIN

Radio Exterior de Espana via Noblejas was heard on 11 April 2020. Spanish language broadcast on coronavirus from the family, news, current event report on Vatican Easter Mass was observed from 17:45 until 18:15 UTC. Reception was monitored on two frequencies: SINPO for 11.940 kHz was 45444 and for 12.030 kHz it was 55555 - excellent reception. HERE is Radio Exterior de Espana.

TAIWAN

Radio Taiwan International via Paochung, Taiwan was logged on 1 April 2020. English broadcast was heard from 03.15 till 04.00 UTC. Reception on 15.320 kHz was SINPO 54544 -- excellent signal strength, clear audio throughout transmission, slight fade, faint co-frequency interference underneath RTI signal.

Radio Taiwan International via Paochung, Taiwan was logged on 6 April 2020. English broadcast was heard from 16.00 till 17.00 UTC. Reception on 9.405 kHz was SINPO 54544 -- excellent signal strength throughout transmission, minor QRM under signal, occasionally light fading, otherwise clear audio content.

Radio Taiwan International via Paochung, Taiwan was logged on 7 April 2020. Shirley Lin  of RTI in conjunction with "Taiwan Fishery Agency under the Council of Agriculture" presented news/current events pertaining to the Asia-Pacific region and Taiwan from 11.20 till 11.40 UTC. Reception on 12.100 kHz was SINPO  54544 -- excellent signal strength, clear audio content despite QRM from co-frequency station in China, along with occasional and slight fading.

TURKEY

Voice of Turkey via Emirler was received on: 6 April 2020. An Azeri boadcast of cultural progammes and a lot of Turkish pop music was noted from 15.40 till 16.25 UTC. Reception on 9.505 kHz was SINPO 55555 -- excellent on all accounts up until 16.00 UTC when some QRM was detected, which degraded SINPO to 54544 -- still a very decent signal to receive content of programmes.

VIETNAM
Voice of Vietnam via Hanoi was logged on 18 April 2020. A German language broadcast of Vietnamese songs moderated by female announcer was monitored from 18.30 till 18.58 UTC. Reception on the short-wave frequency of 9.730 kHz was SINPO. 24222 -- weak signal strength, audible content when not fading under atmospheric noise.

 RX: Tecsun S-2000 ANT: Passive loop (SW) and rooftop 1/4 wave linked to internal ferrite rod (MW) QTH: Central West Malaysia