QSLs for the month of April 2013

The following QSLs arrived or were promised for the month of April 2013:

Radio Romania International (QSL card) transmitting from Galbeni, Romania
Indian DX Report on KBS World Radio (eQSL) transmitting from Kimjae, Republic of Korea

Radio Verdad (QSL card) transmitting from Chiquimula, Guatemala

KBS World Radio - German service (QSL card) transmitting from Woofferton, UK

Deutsche Welle (QSL card) transmitting from Kigali, Rwanda

Guangzhou Coast Station  (eQSL) transmitting from Guangzhou, PRC

VOA- Deewa Radio (QSL card) transmitting from Iranawila, Sri Lanka

Radio Free Asia (QSL card) transmitting from Saipan

China Huayi Broadcasting Company (eQSL) transmitting from FuZhou, Fujian, PRC

Promised:

CNR 1 issued by CRI (QSL) transmitting from Hailar, Inner Mongolia (former Manchuria), PRC

CNR 1 issued by CRI (QSL) transmitting from Kunming (MW station), PRC

PBS Sichuan 2 issued by CRI (QSL) transmitting from Chengdu, PRC

Radio Dialogue -  Zimbabwe (QSL) transmitting from Madagascar 

Radio Cairo - ERTU (QSL) transmitting from Abis, Egypt

The Voice of Martyrs (QSL) transmitting from Tashkent, Uzbekistan 

Amateur Radio Operators EA5/GM0OPK (Spain) and VK3MO (Australia)

Amateur radio operators EA5 / GM0OPK in Valencia, Spain (Paul) and VK3MO  (Ian) in Victoria, Australia were logged on 29 April 2013. Both were heard swapping stories about their travels abroad in Zambia, South Africa and Thailand. Transmission was monitored from 18.57 to 19.14 UTC on 14.170 (14.180) kHz SSB/USB. Reception for EA5 / GM00PK was (SINPO) 25332 -- weak strength, but audible and clear despite atmospheric noise; whereas VK3MOas much stronger at (SINPO)  45444.

A sample of their transmission may be heard HERE. Radio operator EA5 / GM0OPK was later heard chatting with a K4SSJ (Kilo Four Sugar Sugar Jamaica),  although his voice was a mere whisper.

Reception reports were sent to both amateur operators after a kind amateur radio operator in Scotland (GM3ZDH) helped identify EA5 / GM0OPK. A confirmation was received from EA5 / GM0OPK a few days later. VK3MO was contacted by mail, and he never replied.

EA5 / GM0OPK emailed: "Thanks for your email. It was myself and VK3MO that you recorded on 29/04/2013 . I was at my 2nd home in valencia , spain at the time . i run a yaesu ft1000 with a heil pr40 microphone , amplifier is a om2500hf (2.5 kw) but i run 1000 watts (1kw) and antenna is a klmkt34xa . 6 element triband yagi (10, 15 and 20 meters ) on a 30 foot boom at 25 feet. I will confirm this contact on e qsl for you. Regards, Paul"

Numerous follow-up emails and assurances from Paul eventually garnered a QSL postcard from him. In all fairness to him, he attempted to send an eQSL but this failed to deliver through no fault of his own. He was also busy constructing a new home in Spain, and this contributed to the long delay. The above QSL is self-made and incorporates a photo of his home in Valencia (posted on QRZ) and the original email I received from him. On 10 June 2014 I received his confirmation on a postcard of Costa Blanca, Spain, posted from Glasgow, Scotland. A BIG thank you, Paul!!!

NHK World - Radio Japan (via Meyerton, South Africa)

NHK World - Radio Japan, transmitting from the SENTEC facility in Meyerton, South Africa, was logged on 29 April 2013. News, music and a language course in English was heard from 18.00 to 18.30 UTC. Reception on 11.885 kHz was (SINPO) 24322. While speech was audible, signal was weak and clarity hindered due atmospheric noise.

Reception report was emailed to NHK World - Radio Japan the following day. QSL card arrived in the mail on 14 May 2013.

NHK World - Radio Japan (via Ascension Island)

NHK World - Radio Japan, transmitting from the Ascension Island relay station, was logged on 28 April 2013. A broadcast of news on the hour, lively discussion and jazzy music was heard between 08.00 to 09.05 UTC (broadcast time 08.00 to 10.00 UTC). Reception on 12.015 kHz  at 08.00 UTC was (SINPO) 34343 -- fair signal strength with audible and discernible speech, despite some transmitter hum and atmospheric noise. At 09.00 UTC, reception improved slightly to 45344 -- stronger signal with continued clarity of speech and atmospheric noise.

Reception was subsequently emailed and submitted on-line at NHK World. This QSL card arrived in the mail on 8 July 2013.

Less is More

Less is More
A Place for Low-powered Shortwave Stations

Transmitter site of  Radio Dunamis Shortwavefrom Uganda,
a 1 kW station  heard beyond  in  Africa

When I was about 13 years old my parents gifted me with my first short-wave radio. It was a generic 4-band receiver they had mail-ordered from Spiegel's of Chicago, back around 1967. Almost immediately after opening the box and powering it up, I discovered to my great satisfaction stations from nearly every continent in the world. Within a month or so I had scraped together enough pocket money to purchase postage stamps for my first reception reports to a handful of international broadcasters. My goal from then on was to QSL as many stations and countries as possible. Suffice it to say, this new-found hobby brought many hours of entertainment, and with it an education about language, culture and geography hitherto unbeknownst to me. 

The joy of listening to these distant and exotic locations was captivating. The thrill was usually intensified whenever I learned how amazing it was to receive some of these faraway stations with so little transmitted power. I'm talking about stations operating with less than 20 kilowatts, substantially lower than  the major international broadcasters of the day. I cannot begin to express the wonder I experienced when I heard the Windward Islands Broadcasting Service in St. George, Grenada at 10 kW, Radio New Zealand at 7.5 kW,  National Broadcasting Commission in Port Moresby, New Guinea at 10 kW or Radio Tahiti at 20 kW  These were proud moments indeed, made more jubilant when I ultimately received their QSLs. 

Even today, I find it more interesting and challenging to scan the radio dial for low-powered stations. These mighty mites generally are not major international players, but are rather more often  pirates, utility stations and small independent broadcasters. With the recent disappearance of so many big broadcasters, these "little stations that could"  fill the DXing void.

Fortunately  I live in a region of the world where geography, propagation, timing and equipment have conspired to help me catch at least a dozen or more of these lightweight broadcasters. Among the small wonders I have had the pleasure to hear over the past few years, most  originate over surprising distances from Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Their transmitted power ranges from as little as 200 watts up to 15 kilowatts. 

Recent QSL cards
from low-powered stations 

I count among my proudest catches SSB Weather Broadcasting in Taiwan at 200 watts; Radio Spaceshuttle in Finland at 500 watts;  Radio Verdad in Guatemala at 800 watts; Radio Alcaravan in Columbia at 1 kW; Radio Oriental in Ecuador at 1 kW; Radio Dunamis Shortwave in Uganda at 1 kW; Wantok  Radio Light and Radio Fly  in Papua New Guinea, each at 1 kW; The Cross - Pacific Missionary Aviation  in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia at 1 kW; and American Forces Network  in Diego Garcia and Guam, each at 3 kW.

In some ways it is stations like these that bring us full circle to the early days of radio when broadcasters operated with much less power and a great deal of passion for their programming. They could perhaps be the saving grace for shortwave enthusiasts in the future. Never mind the calculative nature of bean counters to account for greater market share. Never mind the Internet and newer mediums may supersede radio. People will always have a need for the dissemination of music and information, and so long the interest exists. even for the few, radio has a future.

Indeed, if I had the financial resources and tech savvy, I would certainly love to operate, produce and manage a legally licensed shortwave station of less or around 1 kW. Of course, amateur radio operators have been doing this sort of thing since the dawn of radio. Regrettably I am all thumbs when it comes to the technical side of it. What I lack in technical know-how however I more than make up for in enthusiasm. Nothing would give me more satisfaction in the remaining years of my life than to be at the helm of my very own station. It would fulfil at least one of my remaining dreams.

HCJB (via Kununurra, Australia)

HCJB Global, transmitting from Kununurra, Australia, was logged on 27 April 2013. A broadcast in the Rawang language, consisting of pop tunes and a scripted dialogue between two female announcers -- presumably of a religious nature -- were heard from 00.30 to 00.58 UTC. At 00.58 UTC, English IDs and programme called "Spotlight" follwed. Reception on 15.400 kHz was (SINPO) 54555 -- excellent reception on most accounts, except for minor transmitter hum.

Reception report was emailed to HCJB Gloabal Australia. This paper QSL, together with a programme schedule of their transmissions in the region, arrived in the mail on 9 May 2013.

Email:

english@hcjb.org.au

HCJB Quito (via Nauen, Germany)

HCJB Quito, transmitting from  Nauen, Germany, was logged on 26 April 2013. A broadcast of religious music and Bible programmes  in Portuguese was monitored from 23.20 to 00.20 UTC. Reception on 11.920 kHz at 23.20 was (SINPO) 44434 -- good signal strength with audible and discernible speech, despite slight fading  At 00.00 UTC reception gradually worsened to 34433. By 00.20 UTC, signal was significantly degraded and barely audible at 24212.

Reception report was submitted to various email addresses shortly after transmission ended. On 31 May 2013, this QSL card, along with a desktop calendar in Portuguese, arrived in the mail from HCJB Quito in Brazil and signed by Iris Raucher. 

Email:

info@hcjb.org

Techinfo@hcjb.org

info@aksaavedra.com

hcjb@hcjb.org.br

Website:

www.hcjb.org

Front of 2013 HCJB Calendar from Brazil

Special QSL posted from Quito, Ecuador

2nd QSL - 60th Anniversary German Service