NHK World Radio Japan Programme

NHK World Radio Japan featured an hour-long programme on music used in Disney films. It included this song "Friend Like Me" from "Aladdin", sung by Robin Williams who voiced the genie in the film. 

Transmission for this broadcast originated from Yamata, Japan which was heard after 17.46 UTC, 09 December 2024, here in Malaysia.

I'm quite smitten with this music programme that Radio Japan offers nightly from 17.05 till 18.00 UTC. One might hear jazz, pop, music segments on various artists. Wonderful programme!!!

Voice of Turkiye

Voice of Turkiye, transmitting from Emirler, was logged on 9 November 2024. An English language broadcast of news, featured programmes and Turkish music with frequent station IDs was noted from 17.30 UTC. Reception on 9.660 kHz rated a SINPO of 55454.

Reception report was emailed on the following day. QSL card arrived on 4 Dececember 2024.

RX: Degen DE-1102 EXT ANT: 3 meter random wire QTH: Malaysia

NHK World Radio Japan

NHK World Radio Japan, transmitting from Yamata, was logged on 7 October 2024. An Urdu language broadcast was monitored from 16.00 till 16.20 UTC. Station ID and contact details were announced, followed by news which began with "assalamu alaikum", then reports on Israel-Gaza-Lebanon war, Ukraine-Russia war, Taiwan and Cambodia. A Japanese language programme with dialogue in Urdu and Japanese rounded out this broadcast to close at 16.20 UTC. Reception on 9.440 kHz rated a SINPO of 55444 - good signal strength and clear content.

Reception report was submitted online on the next day, 8 October. This was the second QSL card received for this transmission; this first was received on 1 November 2024 and the second on 4 December 2024. Both times, the QSL card date was incorrect.

 

RX: Tecsun S-2000 EXT ANT:  3 meter random wire QTH:  Malaysia

NHK World Radio Japan (via Yamata)

NHK World Radio Japan, transmitting from Yamata, was received on 9 November 2024. A Japanese language broadcast featured a drama, moderated by female and male announcers, from 16.20 till 17.00 UTC. Reception on NHK's long-used shortwave frequency of 11.815 kHz rated a SINPO of 55555. Later in the broadcast a few jazz pieces were observed until time pips closed out the transmission.

Reception report was emailed on the same day. QSL card arrived in the mail on 25 November 2024.

RX: Degen DE-1102  EXT ANT: 3 meter random wire QTH: Malaysia 

Radio Taiwan International

Radio Taiwan International was logged on 10 October 2024. This was a live broadcast celebrating the 113th National Day. This all chine language transmission was received from 02.00 till 02.30 UTC on the shortwave frequency of 15.470 kHz. Reception rated a SINPO of 54454 -- initially transmission was audible with clear content despite interference from a PRC station. Later in the transmission (around 02.25 UTC) the interference increased substantially making it difficult to differentiate the content. HERE is a brief excerpt from this broadcast.

Reception report was emailed on the same day. QSL card of "Stinky Tofu" hawker stall arrived in the mail on 25 November 2024.

RX: Alinco DX-R8T  EXT ANT: 1/4 wave QTH: Malaysia 

Radio Taiwan International Calendar 2025

Radio Taiwan International calendar 2025 was received today. The calendar came with an easel to display each month and painting of Taiwan lifestyle. 

 

The Rti calendar for 2025 has been designed to reflect the sounds from everyday life in Taiwan, from folk festivals, travel, to the island's rich cultural and natural heritage over the years. 

The artist for the calendar is Wang Yumei. After graduating from university with a background in education, Wang Yumei was inspired by friends and encouraged by her father, Wang Shan-wu (a retired engineering manager at Rti), to pick up her paintbrushes again after 20 years and created watercolour paintings of Rti. 

Voice of Turkiye

Voice of Turkiye, transmitting from Emirler, was logged on 9 September 2024. An English language broadcast and Turkish pop songs was monitored from 17.00 till 17.24 UTC. Reception on 11.660 kHz rated a SINPO of 55454 -- good signal strength, clear audio despite slight fading

Reception report was emailed on the following day. QSL card arrived on 11 November 2024.


RX: Degen DE-1102 EXT ANT: 3 meter random wire QTH: Malaysia

NHK World Radio Japan Jazz

NHK World Radio Japan on 9 November 2024 aired a Japanese language bluesy jazz piece that caught my ear.  I'm always amazed at how one genre of music originally came from another part of the world ended up elsewhere and in another language. Such was the case with this song. But then, Radio Japan has a number of Japanese musicians/singers who perform rock standards, Country & Western songs and Jazz. Give Radio Japan a listen!

QSL Cards issued in the mid1950s

NINETEEN-HUNDRED-AND-FIFTY-FOUR. It is probably an insignificant year in the 20th century for most people. For me, however, it is the year of my birth and quite naturally has special importance. The social, political, sporting and entertainment milestones in that year not only had specific ramifications at the time, each later affected my life in one way or another. Shortwave radio listening and collecting QSL card were a hobby for many more than today. And, surprisingly they happened more or less in the nine months before I slid down the Milky Way and into the blue. Happy birthday to those celebrating their 70th year and still enjoying the radio.

NHK Radio Japan (Japanese Broadcast via Yamata)

 

NHK World Radio Japan, transmitting from Yamata, was logged on 2 October 2024. A Japanese language broadcast from 17.00 till 18.00 UTC began with news, then music programme featured songs by Radiohead, including "Creep", "I Wanna Be Yours", songs from their "Ok Computer" album, "Tragic", and "How to Disappear Completely".  Reception on 7.375 kHz rated a SINPO of 45444. 

Reception report was submitted online on the following day. QSL card arrived in the mail on 1 November 2024.

RX: Tecsun S-2000 EXT ANT:  3 meter random wire QTH:  Malaysia

NHK World Radio Japan (Urdu Broadcast via Yamata)

 

NHK World Radio Japan, transmitting from Yamata, was logged on 7 October 2024. An Urdu language broadcast was monitored from 16.00 till 16.20 UTC. Station ID and contact details were announced, followed by news which began with "assalamu alaikum", then reports on Israel-Gaza-Lebanon war, Ukraine-Russia war, Taiwan and Cambodia. A Japanese language programme with dialogue in Urdu and Japanese rounded out this broadcast to close at 16.20 UTC. Reception on 9.440 kHz rated a SINPO of 55444 - good signal strength and clear content.

Reception report was submitted online on the next day, 8 October. QSL card arrived in the mail on 1 November 2024.

RX: Tecsun S-2000 EXT ANT: 3 meter random wire QTH: Malaysia 

Voice of Turkiye Souvenir Coasters

 

Voice of Turkiye (TRT) souvenir coasters. TRT gifted these to me in the last decade. Each one was received with a QSL card after submitting a reception report verifying I had logged their various radio transmissions.

Voice of Turkiye

 

Voice of Turkiye, transmitting from Emirler, was logged on 2 August 2024. An English language broadcast was monitored from 16.38 till 17.24 UTC. Reception on 11.660 kHz rated a SINPO of 55454 -- good signal strength, clear audio despite slight fading

Reception report was emailed on the following day. QSL card arrived on 11 October 2024.


RX: Degen DE-1102 EXT ANT: 3 meter random wire QTH: Malaysia

The Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran (via Sirjan),

The Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRIB), transmitting from Sirjan, was logged on 29 July 2023. An English language broadcast was monitored from 16.10 till 16.30 UTC. Commentary/report on Zionist Israel's genocide in Gaza and the plight of Palestinians, followed by discussion on the writings of Shia scholars. This segment featured Iman Hussein's assassination in Karbala. After the English broadcast, a  Bengali broadcast began with a recitation of Surah Baqarah. Reception on  11.640 kHz rated a SINPO of 55544 - good reception despite occasional fading. Here is a excerpt from the English programme.

Reception report was emailed on the following day. An eQSL was received on 9 October 2024.

RX: Sangean ATS-909 ANT: off the radio's whip  antenna QTH: Malaysia

NHK World Radio Japa (via Yamata)

 

NHK World Radio Japan, transmitting from Yamata, was logged on 3 September 2024. A Japanese language broadcast of music was monitored from 17.00 till 18.00 UTC.  Reception on 7.375 kHz rated a SINPO of 45454. 

Reception report was submitted online on the following day. QSL card arrived in the mail on 24 September 2024.

RX: Degen DE-1103 EXT ANT:  3 meter random wire QTH: Central West Malaysia

Radio Taiwan International (via Tamshui)

 

Radio Taiwan International, transmitting from Tamshui, was heard on 12 July 2024. This was a special transmission for German broadcasts, direct from Taiwan. RTI has offered these broadcasts annually for primarily German speaking listeners in Europe.

Reception on 11.995 kHz (17.30-18.00 UTC) -- strong signal, clear audio, despite some atmospheric noise 

Reception on 9.545 kHz (18.00-18.30 UTC -- strong signal, clear audio, despite some atmospheric noise. 

Reception reports were submitted to RTI German section on 13 July 2024. QSL cards arrived in the mail on 18 September 2024..

Email: deutsch@rti.org.tw

RX: Alinco DX-R8T EXT ANT: Passive loop and 1/4 wave QTH: Central West Malaysia

Radio Taiwan International German Test Transmissions (via Tamshui)

Radio Taiwan International, transmitting from Tamshui, was heard on 6 July 2024. This was a special test transmission for upcoming German broadcasts later this month, direct from Taiwan. RTI has offered these broadcasts annually for primarily German speaking listeners in Europe. Three test transmissions between 17.00 till 17.55 UTC were logged on the shortwave frequencies of 11.995 kHz, 9.545 kHz and 7.250 kHz, here in the vicinity of Kuala Lumpur. 

Reception on 11.995 kHz (17.00-17.10 UTC) rate a SINPO of 55444 -- strong signal, clear audio, despite some atmospheric noise HERE is an excerpt from that transmission. 

Reception on 9.545 kHz (17.30-17.40 UTC rated a SINPO of 55444 -- strong signal, clear audio, despite some atmospheric noise. HERE is an excerpt from that transmission. 

Reception on 7.250 kHz (17.45-17.55 UTC) rated a SINPO of 55555, which of the three frequencies sounded the best due to decreased atmospheric noise.  HERE is an excerpt from this transmission. 

So, while the target area was not intended for Southeast Asia, RTI via Tamshui was amazingly good. I would imagine reception was better in Europe and possibly even eastern North America.

Reception reports were submitted to RTI German section on 7 July 2024. QSL cards arrived in the mail on 18 September 2024..

Email: deutsch@rti.org.tw

RX: Alinco DX-R8T EXT ANT: Passive loop and 1/4 wave QTH: Central West Malaysia 

Cairo Communication Tower - 1961

UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC (EGYPT) on 11 April 1961 issued a commemorative First Day Cover  stamp of The Cairo Tower that was designed by architect Naoum Chebib and inaugurated on this date. 

It remains one of the modern icons of the Egyptian capital, with its stylised appearance and lattice covering intended to mimic the image of a lotus flower.  It was built with granite from Aswan, a material noted for its nobility and very symbolic in Egypt because it is the same material used in the construction of the pyramids.

It measures 187 meters and was for 10 years the tallest tower in all of Africa, until 1971 when it was surpassed by the Hillbrow Tower in South Africa.

Radio and Che Guevara Stamp from Cuba

CUBA CORREOS in 1988 issued a commemorative First Day Cover stamp of Ernesto Che Guevara on the 30th anniversary of revolutionary communications in Cuba. This stamp later appeared on a 15 June 2008 maxim card to mark his 80th birth anniversary. It was designed to illustrate Cuba's history in radio and telecommunications. It should be noted that Che was instrumental in organising the operation of Radio Rebelde. 

This radio station, as well as Radio Habana Cuba, occasionally has been received in Malaysia throughout the 2020s. The radio receiver in the background of the stamp is a 1954 Zenith Trans-Oceanic H-500. This American-made radio was one of the best in its day. I owned a similar Zenith H-500 in the early 1970s and I can vouch for its quality as a sensitive receiver.

NHK World Radio Japan (via Yamata)

NHK World Radio Japan, transmitting from Yamata, was logged on 4 August 2024. A Japanese language broadcast of music was monitored from 17.09 till 18.05 UTC.  Reception on 7.375 kHz rated a SINPO of 45454. 

Reception report was submitted on the following day. QSL card arrived in the mail on 3 September 2024.

RX: Tecsun S-2000 EXT ANT:  3 meter random wire QTH: Central West Malaysia

Berlin Radio Tower and Exhibition Hall 1954

NHK World Radio Japan (via Issoudun)

NHK World Radio Japan, transmitting from Issoudun, France, was logged on 2 July 2014. A Japanese language broadcast was monitored from 17.25 till 18.05 UTC. Jazz music of Louis Armstrong, hosted by male announcer,  included "Sunny Side of Life", "Hello Dolly", "Chim Chim Cher-ee", "What a Wonderful World" and possibly a duet with Ella Fitzgerald. Reception on 17.680 kHz rated a SINPO of 34433 -- fair signal, clear content.

Reception report was submitted online on the following day. QSL card arrived on 20 August 2024.

RX: Tecsun S-2000 EXT ANT:  3 meter random wire QTH: Central West Malaysia

Saigon VHF Radio Station "Dai Vi-Ba Saigon" First Day Cover 1966

VIETNAM CONG HOA  (Republic of South Vietnam) issued on 24 April 1966 two First Day Cover stamps commemorating the installation of the Saigon VHF Radio Station "Dai Vi-Ba Saigon". 

With gradual American escalation of troops from around 200,000 in the beginning of 1966 to over 500,000 by the end of 1967, South Vietnam required improvements to their communication system including the Saigon microwave station. Hence, the 1966 stamps were released for the anniversary of the inauguration of microwave radio, which facilitated better analog television and radio transmissions nationwide.

Radio Hanoi - Me-Tri site and stamps 1959

NORTH VIETNAM issued on 10 August 1959 a set of stamps commemorating Me-Tri Radio Station, transmission site for Radio Hanoi during the Vietnam War. That said, these block sets were postmarked Hanoi, Viet Nam, 2 September 1959. Bùi Trang Chước designed the stamps. Tien Bo Printing House used an offset bicoloured printing method to print these ungummed stamps.

For twelve days in December 1972 the U.S. bombarded Hanoi, Haipong and elsewhere. The Me Tri radio signal transmitter station of  Radio Hanoi (now The Radio Voice of Vietnam) was hit on the night of 18 December. Despite heavy property damage, Radio Hanoi broadcasts resumed after nine minutes in silence.

Declassified CIA files revealed equipment was initially received from Communist as well as Western nations, and the influx of equipment continued during the Vietnam War. The CIA viewed the increased communication system as a viable propaganda threat.

In recent years the transmitter site has undergone much upgrading. New equipment and an office tower for The Radio Voice of Vietnam occupies the site.

Source: The Voice of Vietnam and CIA documents from 1969

Radio Nacional da Amazonia (via Brasilia)

Radio Nacional da Amazonia, transmitting from Brasilia, Brazil, was logged on 16 December 2022. Music and discussion in Portuguese was monitored from 09.40 to 10.05 UTC. Reception on 11.780 kHz rated a SINPO of 23322 -- audible and occasionally clear content, despite atmospheric noise and fading.

Reception report was initially sent on the same day. After no reply for a very long time -- due largely to Covid-19 disruption of mail service -- the report was resubmitted in late June 2024. An eQSL was received on 9 July 2024. A paper QSL arrived in the mail on 7 August 2024.

RX: Alinco DX-R8T EXT ANT: 1/4 wave QTH: Subang Jaya, Malaysia

Voice of Turkiye

 

Voice of Turkiye, transmitting from Emirler, was logged on 2 July 2024. An English language broadcast was monitored from 16.38 till 17.24 UTC. Reception on 11.660 kHz rated a SINPO of 55454 -- good signal strength, clear audio despite slight fading

Reception report was emailed on the following day. QSL card arrived on 2 August 2024.

The QSL card depicts the Suncaklar Mosque located in Büyükçekmece, a suburban neighbourhood on the outskirts of Istanbul. The Suncaklar Mosque has a simple cave-like interior space that becomes quite dramatic and awe-inspiring for those who want to pray and be alone with God. The slits and fractures along the Qiblah wall enhance the directionality of the prayer hall and allows daylight to filter into the interior space. The mosque won the Project of the Future Award at the 2011 edition of the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona, and the First Prize in the Religion category at the 2013 edition of the World Architecture Festival organised in Singapore.

RX: Degen DE-1102 EXT ANT: 3 meter random wire QTH: Malaysia 

Voice of Turkiye

 

Voice of Turkiye, transmitting from Emirler, was logged on 15 June 2024. An English language broadcast was monitored from 16.35 till 17.25 UTC. Reception on 11.660 kHz rated a SINPO of 55454 -- good signal strength, clear audio despite slight fading

Reception report was emailed on the following day. QSL card arrived on 2 August 2024.

The QSL card depicts the world's most dangerous road, located along the Bayburt-Trabzon border and on Mount Soğanlı which has an elevation of 3500 meters. The Derebaşı Turns were named the world's most dangerous road in 2016. To this day, it remains at the top of the list.

RX: Degen DE-1102 EXT ANT: 3 meter random wire QTH: Malaysia  

IRIB Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran

 

LAST NIGHT (29 July 2024) I LISTENED TO THE VOICE OF ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN, transmitting from Sirjan. It's not always so easy to receive this station in Malaysia; often their transmitters emit a powerful carrier signal, but the actual audio is so faint one can barely detect the content. 

That wasn't the case last night. I managed to catch one of their English broadcasts at around 16.10 till 16.23 UTC. A commentary -- note the audio-video above  -- on Zionist Israel and the genocide being committed in Gaza was the topic. A segment on Shia Scholars discussing the assassination of Imam Hussein (grandson of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.) in Karbala followed. Afterwards I monitored a Bengali language broadcast.

What made the reception so remarkable was that it was received off the whip antenna (no external aerial) of my Sangean ATS-909.

NHK World Radio Japan (via Issoudun)

NHK World Radio Japan, transmitting fro Issoudun, France, was logged on 21 June 2014. A Japanese language broadcast of music was monitored from 17.35 till 18.05 UTC. Reception on 17.680 kHz rated a SINPO of 35333.

Reception report was submitted online on the following day. QSL card arrived on 15 July 2024.

RX: Alinco DX-R8T EXT ANT:  1/4 wave QTH: Central West Malaysia

Radio Taiwan International (via Tamshui)

Radio Taiwan International, transmitting from Tamshui, was logged on 24 Jun 2024.  An English language broadcast was monitored from 16.35 till 17.00 UTC. "Come Along", presented by host Sharon Lin, featured an interview with Dr. Stephen Clingman who discussed the artwork of South African artist William Kentridge. He talked about Kentridge's use of charcoal, "boundary of space (apartheid)", notably in his words entitled "Ubu, Tell Us the Truth" and "Sibyl". Afterwards, the programme  "Tai-gi Made Easy", presented by host by Ching-en Chiau, talked about a favourite Tainan food -- "rice cake" and the ways it is eaten. He also introduced us to the Chinese lexicon used to describe these different "rice cake" dishes. Reception on 9.405 kHz rated a SINPO of 54544 - good reception and clear content. 

Reception report was submitted the following day, QSL card arrived on 15 June 2024.

RX: Tecsun S-2000 EXT ANT: Random 3 meter wire QTH: Malaysia

Voice of America Anniversary Contest, Magazine Show Postcard from Burma - 1978

UNION OF BURMA  postcard, dated  26 February 1977, depicts an owl and puppet which alludes to a Burmese folk tale. On the reverse side of the card, it can be seen that a then 24 year old student from Pyapon, Burma sent it to the Voice of America for an Anniversary Contest, Magazine Show.

Closure of Facebook Site

Those who have followed South East Asia DXing on Facebook, please take note that I have terminated the account. 

In future all DXing content, QSL cards, radio philately, etc will be posted only on this webpage.

I may reached as before through this webpage. Thank you and 73.

Radio Nacional da Amazonia

Radio Nacional da Amazonia, transmitting from Brasilia, Brazil, was logged on 16 December 2022. Music and discussion in Portuguese was monitored from 09.40 to 10.05 UTC. Reception on 11.780 kHz rated a SINPO of 23322 -- audible and occasionally clear content, despite atmospheric noise and fading. 

Reception report was initially sent on the same day. After no reply for a very long time -- due largely to Covid-19 disruption of mail service -- the report was resubmitted in late June 2024. An eQSL was received on 9 July 2024

RX: Alinco DX-R8T EXT ANT: 1/4 wave QTH: Subang Jaya, Malaysia 

Reach Beyond Australia

Reach Beyond Australia, transmitting from Kununurra, Western Australia, was logged on 7 July 2024. A Gujarati language broadcast was monitored from 14.17 till 14.30 UTC. Reception on 11.870 kHz rated a SINPO of 55555.

Reception report was submitted on the same day. An eQSL was received on 9 July 2024.

RX: Degen DE-1102 EXT ANT: 3 meter random wire QTH: Subang Jaya, Malaysia 

Deutsche Post Braun T-1000 Shortwave Receiver by Dieter Rams

DEUTSCHE POST on 7 December 2018 issued a First Day Cover honouring industrial designer Dieter Rams and one his iconic designs, the Braun T-1000 Shortwave Receiver. It was printed using an offset lithography method.

BRAUN T1000 CD RADIO

Dieter Rams, architect and designer who led the German functionalist design movement (“Gute Form”) in the 60s and 70s and head designer for the Braun company professed the motto “less, but better execution”.

One of his first works, in 1963, was the T1000 world receiver. It was distinguished from others by its simple and elegant design and its range: it had two separate receivers, one for FM and one for short, medium and long waves. It was an expensive product, but due to its different design and technology it soon became a desired piece for many people. From 1968 he designed the T1000CD model, like this one, and it began to be used in German embassies. Until the end of production in 1970, about 14,000 units were manufactured.

BBC World Service Antarctica Broadcast (via Woofferton)

BBC World Service Antarctica broadcast via Woofferton, UK was logged on 21 June 2024, from 21.30 till 22.00 UTC. Two frequencies were decent enough to catch snippets of the broadcast: 9.585 kHz and 11.685 kHz, the latter being slightly better.

HERE's an audio/video clip of that transmission heard around 21.40 utc in Malaysia.

HERE's the BBC podcast link to this and past broadcasts

RX: Alinco DX-R8T EXT ANT: Passive Loop QTH,: Malaysia

Voice of Turkiye

 

Voice of Turkiye, transmitting from Emirler, Turkiye, was logged on 12 May 2024. An English language broadcast was monitored from 17.00  till 17.24 UTC. Reception on shortwave frequency of 11.660 kHz rated a SINPO of 55555.

Reception report was emailed on the following day. QSL card arrived in the mail on 11 June 2024.

RX: Tecsun S-2000 EXT ANT: 3 meter random wire QTH: Malaysia

Voice of Turkiye

Voice of Turkiye, transmitting from Emirler, Turkiye, was logged on 15 April 2024. An English language broadcast was monitored from 17.00  till 17.30 UTC. Reception on shortwave frequency of 11.660 kHz rated a SINPO of 55555.

Reception report was emailed on the following day. QSL card arrived in the mail on 11 June 2024.

RX: Tecsun S-2000 EXT ANT: 3 meter random wire QTH: Malaysia

Radio Taiwan International (via Tamshui)

Radio Taiwan International, transmitting from Tamshui, was logged on 13 May 2024.

NHK World Radio Japan (Via Issudoun)

 

NHK World Radio Japan, transmitting from relay in Issudoun, France, was logged on 13 May 2024.

Radio Slovakia International (via Dhabbiya)

Radio Slovakia International  via Dhabbiya was logged on 21 May 2024. A Russian language broadcast was observed from 16.30 till 17.00 UTC. Reception on the shortwave frequency of 13.650 kHz, rate a SINPO of 44444 - clear and audible content, despite occasional fading and atmospheric noise.  Here is RSI via Dhabbiya.

Reception report was emailed on the following day. An eQSL was received on 28 May 2024.

Receiver: Alinco DX-R8T External Antenna: 1/4 wave QTH: Malaysia