QSLs for June 2013

The following  QSLs were received or promised for the month of June 2013:

Voice of Arabs (ERTU - Radio Cairo) (QSL card) transmitting from Abu Zaabal, Egypt
ERTU - Radio Cairo (QSL card) transmitting from Abis, Egypt
Deutschlandfunk (QSL card) broadcast via web-radio/Internet from Berlin
Voice of Russia (QSL card) transmitting from Kishinev, Republic of Moldova
Voice of Turkey (QSL card) transmitting from Emirler
Voice of Turkey (QSL card) transmitting from Emirler
PCJ Radio International (eQSL) 5th test transmission  from Trincomalee, Sri Lanka
PCJ Radio International (eQSL) 4th test transmission  from Nauen, Germany  and Trincomalee, Sri Lanka
PCJ Radio International (eQSL) 3rd test transmission  from Trincomalee, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (eQSL) transmitting from Trincomalee
Radio Oriental (QSL card and letter) transmitting from Napo, Ecuador
Radio Asena (eQSL email) transmitting from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria

Promised:
Vatican Radio (QSL) transmitting from Santa Maria di Galeria
Voice of Mongolia (QSL) transmitting from Ulaanbaator
WWV (QSL) transmitting from Fort Collins, Colorado (USA) on 20 MHz

PCJ Radio International (via Trincomalee)

PCJ Radio International, transmitting from Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, was logged on 30 June 2013. This seventh test transmission began a half hour later owing to co-station interference. The broadcast began at 13.30 UTC with Andy Sennitt's "Focus Asia Pacific", then a Tecsun advertisement and "PCJ Happy Station Show". Reception on 11.835 kHz was at sign-on was (SINPO) 55545 -- excellent signal strength and  audio clarity despite slight fading. At 13.40 UTC, increased QRN, transmitter hum and fading reduced reception to 45433. At 13.50 UTC, for some inexplicable reason, reception improved to 55444. By 14.00 UTC, fading and severe transmitter hum  buried audio. At 14.13 UTC, hum and fading disappeared, improving reception to 55555. Transmission closed with Latin American tune, "Suarez" and PCJ interval tune at 14.30 UTC.

A sample of the transmission early in the broadcast may be heard HERE, and later the horrible transmitter noise HERE.

A reception report was emailed after the broadcast and posted a few days later to PCJ Radio. This eQSL arrived on 4 July 2013.

Postal address:
PCJ Radio International
8th Floor, Number 47, Lane 31,
Sanmin Road, Section 1,
Banciao, New Taipei City
Taiwan, 22070
Republic Of China

Email:
pcjqsl@pcjmedia.com

Website:
www.pcjmedia.com/about

Souvenir from PCJ Radio International (RNW 55 Anniversary Card)

KBS World Radio / Indian DX Report

KBS World Radio, transmitting from Kimjae, Republic of Korea, was logged on 29 June 2013. A Bahasa Indonesia broadcast was monitored from 12.45 to 13.00 UTC, followed by English programming from 13.00 to 14.00 UTC. During the English broadcast, KBS Korean News, "Touch Seoul", "Listeners Lounge" and "Indian DX Report" was observed. Reception on 9.570 kHz was (SINPO) 54534 -  fading and adjacent station splatter made reception difficult to copy at times, although signal was strong and audible.

A reception report was submitted on-line to KBS and Indian DX Report. This eQSL was received from IDXR on 9 July 2013. Two QSLs from KBS World Radio arrived in the mail on 19 August 2013.

Query about Radio Republik Indonesia Stations

After sending an on-line query late last month  to the Voice of Indonesia (VoI) and asking assistance to obtain Letters of Verification from several Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) stations, I received this encouraging message on 28 June 2013: Thank you for your email. We really appreciate it. We will forward your email to RRI Program & Production Directorate. Perhaps they will be able to help you connect to RRI stations.

While VoI wins kudos for replying to my query, I am wary of any response soon from the RRI stations in question, chiefly RRI Kendari, RRI Makassar, RRI Fak Fak, RRI Maidun, RRI Ternate and RRI Wamena. Each station was previously contacted in Bahasa Indonesia, with SAE and PPC (Self-prepared Verification Letter), by mail and/or email. And yet, months have passed without yielding any response.

I am aware budgetary constraints, poor management and inadequate mail service affect some of these RRI stations. IRCs may be impossible to exchange in some outposts, in which case money or Indonesian postage stamps would suffice. Money and IRCs  were previously sent to a few RRI stations and, again, there was no response. An Indonesian SWL made this known to me nearly a month ago. The situation is not unlike the NBC provincial stations in Papua New Guinea.

Still, it is gratifying to learn at least someone at the Voice of Indonesia is thoughtful enough to acknowledge a listener, even one in neighbouring Malaysia. Thank you, Voice of Indonesia!

Voice of Turkey

Voice of Turkey, transmitting from Emirler with 500 kW of power, was logged on 26 June 2013. An English language programme of news, Turkish music and letters from listeners was observed from 16.55 to 17.22 UTC (broadcast time 16.30 to 17.22 UTC). Reception on 15.520 kHz was (SINPO): 55545 -- excellent reception on all accounts, except for slight flutter. With reception quality like this, who needs the internet?

A reception report was emailed to the English Desk of TRT on the following day. QSL card, coaster with landmark of Turkey and pocket calendar arrived in the mail on 31 August 2013.

Email:

englishdesk@trt.net.tr

Coaster

A13 Schedules from Middle East Stations

Radio Kuwait A13 Schedule

ERTU Radio Cairo A13 Schedule

TRT Voice of Turkey A13 Schedule

Galei Zahal on 6.885 kHz (Israel)

Galei Zahal, transmitting from Tel Aviv-Yavne, Israel, was logged on 25 June 2013. A broadcast of Israeli songs and news on the hour in Hebrew, hosted by a male announcer, was monitored from 18.30 to 19.05 UTC. Reception on 6.885 kHz was (SINPO) 23321 -- weak signal strength but audible, despite QRM (jamming) and fading. It should be noted Galei Zahal is rarely heard on this frequency in South East Asia. I  first observed their signal on 8 June 2013 at 17.30 UTC onward. At the time, there was no QRM (jamming or other interference), unlike reception conditions for the past few weeks. Generally Galei Zahal is received best on 15.850 kHz. Note previous entry with sound files HERE

A reception report was emailed on 26 June 2013. I will be pleasantly surprised if and when a QSL card arrives. It took several months to receive their QSL, owing to delays in the mail. Galei Zahal was previously QSLed on 15.850 kHz, hence my interest in submitting a new reception report on 6.885 kHz.

Owing that Malaysia has no diplomatic ties with Israel, this QSL was routed to Ho Chi Minh City, then to Malaysia. In addition to this, the postman folded the card in half and delivered it on 2 August 2013, in less time than my previously received Galai Zahal QSL. All told, I'm surprised it arrived at all.

Address:

Galei Zahal

Israel Defence Forces

Military Post Office 1005

Zahal, Israel

Email:

glz@galatz.co.il