QSLs for November 2012

QSLs received for the month of November  2012 include the following:

Voice of Russia (QSL card) transmitting from Samara, Russia
Radio Marti (QSL card) transmitting from Greenville, North Carolina, USA
RTM - Sarawak FM (eQSL) transmitting from Kuching, Sarawak, East Malaysia

Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (eQSL) transmitting from Colombo-Ekala

Pan American Broadcasting / Media Broadcast GbmH (eQSL) transmitting from Wertactal, Germany

Evangelische Gemeiden / Missionswerk Friedensstimme (QSL card) transmitting from Wertachtal, Germany

Radio Alcaravan (eQSL) transmitting from Puerto Lleras, Colombia

Radio Ukraine International (QSL card) via  Internet broadcast from Kyiv

Chilena FM (QSL card) via  Internet broadcast from San Antonio, Chile

Radio Romania International (QSL card) transmitting from Galbeni

Radio Romania International (QSL card) transmitting from Tiganesti 

Radio Makedonias - ERT3 (QSL card) transmitting from Avila and issued by Voice of Greece

Promised QSLs:

Atlantic 2000 International (eQSL) via Internet broadcast from France
China Radio International (QSL card) transmitting from Habana, Cuba

CHU (QSL card) transmitting from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Radio Verdad (QSL card) transmitting from Chiquimula, Guatemala

The Overcomer Ministry (via Sofia/Kostinbrod, Bulgaria)

The Overcomer Ministry, using the 50 kW transmitter facility in Kostinbrod (Sofia), Bulgaria, was logged on 30 November 2012. Brother Stair was heard delivering a sermon from 19.25 to 20.00 UTC.  By 19.50 UTC reception quality worsened to 24321 -- mostly carrier signal,  except when fading peaked upward. Audio was barely heard and incomprehensible at times. Transmission was observed on  9.700 kHz. Reception (SINPO) was 34333 -- fair signal strength with fading and transmitter noise, otherwise clear and audible.

Reception report was emailed to The Overcomer Ministry. This eQSL arrived on 2 December 2012.

Email:

brotherstair@overcomerministry.org

Radio Nikkei 1 (Japan)

Radio Nikkei 1, transmitting presumably from Nemuro, Japan, was logged on (Friday only) 30 November 2012. A programme of traditional Japanese music with discussion and station promotions  was observed from  10.30 to 11.00 UTC. Transmission was on 3.925 kHz. Reception (SINPO) was 35443 -- fair signal strength with  some atmospheric noise, otherwise good clarity of audio.

Radio Nikkei 1 was previously QSLed on 9.595 kHz. This frequency, transmitter location and transmitter power is supposedly different, and hence the interest. As it turns out, the transmitter output is 50 kW, the same for the other Radio Nikkei frequencies; see the reverse side of the QSL card below.

Radio Nikkei  1  broadcasts on 3.925 kHz from Nagara, Chiba (call sign: JOZ) and from Nemuro, Hokkaido (call sign: JOZ4). They are synchronised regardless of the day of the week (when Nemuro transmits).

The Nemuro transmitting station (which was in Sapporo before 1996) was established for the purpose of anti-skip in the metropolitan (Tokyo) area in winter and at night.

According to Aoki's list, the schedule for the Nemuro site is as follows:

- Evening in Japan  (Monday-Thursday) 08.00-13.30 UTC, (Friday) 08.00-14.15 UTC, and (Saturday and Sunday) 08.00-12.00 UTC;

- Morning in Japan (Daily)  22.25-23.00 UTC.

Reception report was emailed and submitted on-line. This QSL card arrived in the mail on 14 December 2012.

Radio Marti (Greenville, North Carolina)

Radio Marti, transmitting from Greenville, North Carolina, USA, was logged on 5 September 2012. A Spanish language broadcast of news commentary and a few songs was monitored from 10.30 to 11.20 UTC  on 6.030 kHz. Reception (SINPO) was 25332 -- weak signal strength coupled with atmospheric noise, otherwise speech was audible and clear. 

Reception report emailed and submitted online to Radio Marti. This QSL arrived on the mail on 30 November 2012.

Email:

editor@martinoticias.com

RTM - Sarawak FM (via Kuching)

RTM - Sarawak FM, transmitting from Kuching, Sarawak (East Malaysia), was logged on 1 November 2010. A broadcast of Malay pop tunes and Islamic progammes in Bahasa Malaysia was monitored on 5.030 kHz from 10.00 to 16.00 UTC.  Reception of this 10 kW transmitter was (SINPO) 45444 -- good signal strength  with slight atmospheric noise and fading throughout transmission, otherwise audio was good and clear.

Note: Sarawak FM is currently on 9.835 kHz, transmitting from Kajang, Selangor (West Malaysia) with Studio / HQ in Sarawak. Transmitter output is purportedly 100 kW.

Reception report was initially posted and emailed to Sarawak FM in November 2010. Follow-up emails were sent periodically in 2011 and 2012. Finally, after preparing an eQSL for the Station Manager at Sarawak FM to sign and stamp, I received a reply on 26 November 2012. There were at least three additional RTM - Sarawak FM personnel I contacted who eventually referred my eQSL to the "Senior Assistant Director of Engineering (Radio) Malaysian Department of Broadcasting, Sarawak". It is he (Mr. Zulkifli) who signed and stamped this eQSL. He replied from Kajang (the current transmitter site for Sarawak FM, which has a transmitter output power of 100kW). He also promised to post the eQSL and, I presume, their QSL card. 

Address. website and email is stated on the eQSL.

Atlantic 2000 International (Internet)

Atlantic 2000 International in  France was logged on 25 November 2012.  Pop music with announcements in French and English was monitored from 08.53 to 10.05 UTC. Mode of transmission was by way of Shoutcast Internet stream at 24 kps. Short-wave broadcast on 9.480 kHz was impossible in South East Asia due to interference from China National Radio; European listeners should have had no difficulty in receiving this station.

A reception report was emailed to Atlantic 2000 shortly after the broadcast ended. This eQSL was received on 1 December 2012.

Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation

Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, transmitting from Colombo-Ekala, was received from 09.30 to 10.00 UTC on  6.005 kHz, on 23 November 2012. A variety of South Asian songs were heard between maile and female announcers. Reception (SINPO) at 09.30 UTC was 23322 -- faint audio, jamming and fading. At 09.50 UTC reception improved slightly to 33322 -- stronger and clearer audio, but still jamming and fading. By 10.00 UTC, jammer gradually overpowered SLBC. This frequency and time is probably the worst reception for any SLBC transmission. It competes with the jammer, presumably originating from North Korea. On most days, SLBC on 6.005 kHz cannot be hear due to the jammer.

Reception report was submitted the following day. An eQSL was promised a day after submission of this report. This eQSL was received on 26 November 2012.