Voice of Mongolia

Voice of Mongolia in Ulaan Baator was logged on 1 May 2014. After a long absence, the Voice of Mongolia was observed on 12.085 from 09.45 till 11.00 UTC. Their English language broadcast remains too weak to receive at 09.00 UTC in South East Asia.  Only their Mongolian (09.30 to 10.00 UTC), Chinese (10.00 to 10.30 UTC) and Japanese (10.30 to 11.00 UTC) broadcasts are audible. From 09.45 till 09.58 UTC male and female announcers speaking Mongolian were noted between music clips. Interval and ID were heard at 09.59 UTC, followed by broadcast in Chinese at 10.00 UTC. Pop music was noted at 10.23 UTC, then closure and ID. Japanese broadcast followed at 10.30 UTC with news, followed by talking from male announcer. Transmission in Japanese closed at 11.00 UTC. Reception at 09.45 UTC was (SINPO) 22342 -- weak signal and noisy transmitter; signal improved at 10.20 UTC to 34443; 10.45 UTC signal remained relatively weak with a noisy transmitter at 33443.

Reception report was emailed to Voice of Mongolia on 2 May 2014. A hand-painted/artist autographed QSL card with personal message arrived in the mail on 22 May 2014. Even though confirmation is for the wrong transmission times, it is much appreciated.

Random Loggings on 1 May 2014

SAUDI ARABIA
Radio Riyadh // 21.670 // 55455 // 09.40 UTC onward with Indonesian service on Islamic economics

PHILIPPINES
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty via Tinang //17.770 // 35453 // 9.30 UTC onward with Russian service of news and commentary

AUSTRALIA
HCJB Australia via Kununurra // 15.400 // 35443 // 10.40 UTC onward Christian sermon in English transmitted to Chinese

IRAN
Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran via Kamalabad // 15500 // 10.40 UTC onward in Dari mentioning "Taliban" and   "Afghanistan"

INDIA
All India Radio via Banglaru // 13.695 // 54545 - transmitter hum // 10.35  UTC onward in English discussing film career of Bollywood actor

MONGOLIA
Voice of Mongolia // 12.085 // 22342 -- weak signal and noisy transmitter; signal improved at 10.20 UTC to 34443; 10.45 UTC signal remained relatively weak with a noisy transmitter at 33443 // 09.45 till 10.00 UTC with programming in Mongolian. Male and female announcers with music clips between talking at 09.48 until 09.58 UTC. Interval and ID heard at 09.59 UTC, followed by broadcast in Chinese at 10.00 UTC. Pop music was noted at 10.23 UTC, then closure ID. Japanese broadcast followed at 10.30 UTC with news, followed by talking from male announcer. Transmission in Japanese closed at 11.00 UTC.

VIETNAM
Voice of Vietnam via Hanoi // 12.020 // 54545 // 10.00 UTC onward with English language broadcast of news and programmes

BRAZIL
Radio Nacional da Amazona // 11.780 // 53545 -- excellent signal strength, but with QRM splatter from adjacent station // 10.15 UTC onward in Portuguese

SOUTH KOREA
KBS World Radio via Kimjae // 9.770 // 55555 // 10.27 UTC onward with interval tune and Chinese ID

NEW ZEALAND
Radio New Zealand International // 9.700 // 34443 // 10.20 UTC onward with National news in English

Receiver: Tecsun S-2000 // Antenna: elevated 1/4 wave aerial // RX location: Subang Jaya, Malaysia

QSLs for April 2014

QSLs received and promised for the month of April 2014:

Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (eQSL) transmitting from Honiara, Solomon Islands

Télédiffusion de France for Radio Hilaac (eQSL) transmitting from Issoudun, France

WRMI for PanAmerican Broadcasting (QSL card) transmitting from Okeechobee, Florida (USA)

Atlantic 2000 International (eQSL) Internet stream from France

FEBC Radio (eQSL and Letter) transmitting from Bocaue, Philippines

PCJ Radio International (eQSL) transmitting from Trincomalee, Sri Lanka

Voice of Russia (QSL card) transmitting from Novosibirsk, Russia

All India Radio (QSL card) transmitting from Aligarh, India

Voice of Vietnam 5 (QSL card) transmitting from Woofferton, UK

FEBA India "Test Transmission" (eQSL) transmitting from Trincomalee, Sri Lanka

NHK World - Radio Japan (QSL card) transmitting from Medorn, Palau

STF Radio International (eQSL) transmitting from Trincomalee, Sri Lanka





Promised:
Radio Romania International

Vatican Radio (via Santa Maria di Galeria)

Vatican Radio, transmitting presumably from Santa Maria di Galeria,  was logged on 30 April 2014. Between 18.40 to 19.00 UTC, a priest and congregation recited the Rosary. Avé María was repeated many time, i.e. "Avé María, grátia pléna, Dóminus técum. Benedícta tu in muliéribus...". Broadcast closed with brief instrumental music, then Vatican Radio interval tune. Transmission was observed on the 19 metre frequency of 15.595 kHz. Good reception was noted with strong and clear signal, despite occasional atmospheric noise -- (SINPO) 45454.

Reception report was emailed to Vatican Radio the following day. Sergio Salvatori, Vatican Radio, Frequency Management, replied with this email on 2 May 2014: "Thank you for the report. I have sent you the requested QSL". Their QSL card, along with a calendar, arrived on 15 May 2014.




Website:

www.news.va/en/source/vatican-radio

Radio Veritas Asia

Radio Veritas Asia, the Philippines-based Catholic broadcaster transmitting from Palauig-Zambales, was logged on 29 April 2014. A radio programme for children and "Berita" (news) in Filipino was observed from 22.58 to 23.27 UTC. Station signed on and off with station interval and ID: "This is Radio Veritas Asia broadcasting from from Quezon City, Philippines. The following broadcast will be in Filipino". Reception on 15.355 kHz was (SINPO) 35333. Signal strength was poor to fair due to severe fading and atmospheric noise. Despite these conditions their transmission was audible and discernible.

Reception report was emailed and submitted on-line to Radio Veritas Asia's FaceBook page and website on the following day, 30 April 2014. QSL card, sticker and pocket calendars arrived in the mail on 24 June 2014.

Website:

www.rveritas-asia.org

FaceBook:

www.facebook.com/rveritas.asia‎

Email (Filipino service):

filipino@rveritas-asia.org

RNZI "Sounds Like Us - Kiwiana Radio" QSLs

One of my all time favorite short-wave broadcasters is Radio New Zealand International (RNZI). The first time I tuned in and caught their unmistakable bellbird interval I was mesmerized. The year was 1969.

Fish & Chips Radio

Back then the station broadcast with two 7.5 kW transmitters from Titahi Bay. These capable transmitters, which had been left behind by the US military after the Second World War, operated on the 25 and 31 meter bands from 1948 till 1990. Their signal carried well into the wee hours of the morning, between 06.00 and 09.00 GMT, reaching beyond New Zealand to the Rocky Mountains where I lived.

Bush Radio

What a delight it was to hear Radio New Zealand, as the station was then known. The regional news and weather, Pacific island languages, insightful programmes on New Zealand to contemporary music with quotations interspersed between songs seemed all too exotic, at least fascinating enough to entice me to listen frequently.

Anzac Radio

As the 1980s drew near I listened less, not just to Radio New Zealand, but shortwave broadcasters in general. By this time my life had become increasingly focused on career and family. Meanwhile political pressure grew for Radio New Zealand to take a more active role in the Pacific area. The New Zealand government upgraded the station's service and installed a new 100 kW transmitter, which commenced operation on opening day of the Commonwealth Games held in Auckland. At this point, the station was re-launched as Radio New Zealand International.

Pacific Radio

Today, RNZI has two transmitters – a 100 kW analogue transmitter and a 100 kW digital capable (DRM) short-wave transmitter. The transmission site is located at Rangitaiki, 41km east of Taupo in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. Audio is fed to the transmitters by a digital link from the studios in Wellington, 400km south of Taupo. 

Since resuming the hobby of short-wave listening I have rediscovered Radio New Zealand International. And their programming is just as captivating as it was all those years ago.

Pavlova Radio

One additional bonus is their attractive and creative series of "Sounds Like Us - Kiwiana Radio" QSLs. While I had the fortune to QSL Radio New Zealand twice in the late 60s and early 70s, on separate frequencies, I have been sufficiently impressed in recent years to submit several reception reports just to collect RNZI's current QSL series.

Grandma's Knitting Basket Radio

In 2007 Radio New Zealand International introduced this new and fresh advertising campaign focusing on iconic and traditional New Zealand images. With some Kiwiana twists these images were developed into ten classic and quirky model radios created by the very talented team at WETA Workshop. A further five radios were created from the winning designs in the 2010/2011 radio design competition.

Maori Radio

The competition alone attracted hundreds of students at schools and tertiary institutions around New Zealand. The aim was to display their Kiwi creative ingenuity and to explore why they were passionate about New Zealand culture, and what it meant to them to be a Kiwi. From a campaign concept and radio competition an assortment of fantastic radio creations, the "Sounds Like Us - Kiwiana Radio" QSL series evolved.

Equally important for QSL collectors, Radio New Zealand International remains a station willing to verify correct reception reports. This is especially unique in an age when international shortwave broadcasters have either ceased operation or issuing QSL cards. 

Gum Boot Radio

RNZI makes one request. To help defray costs, radio enthusiasts seeking their QSL are asked to enclose either two International Reply Coupons (IRCs) or US$2.00. It's a small price to pay, but one well worth it.

These and more designs may be also downloaded as screensavers HERE.

Radio New Zealand International

Radio New Zealand International, "The Voice of the Pacific", was logged on 23 April 2014. Their Dateline Pacific programme was monitored between 18.15 to 18.50 UTC. Reports highlighted Fiji indigenous land rights and loopholes, political history and media censorship in Pacific nations, assault on asylum seekers in Manus Island and New Zealand fisheries. This was followed with news about New Zealand in English, then Samoan. A country and western tune and RNZI bellbird interval wrapped up transmission on 9.700 kHz. Reception (SINPO) at 18.15 UTC was 55454 -- excellent signal strength with minor atmospheric noise. At 18.30 UTC reception was degraded to 53453 due to station splatter from China Radio International.

Reception report was posted to RNZI, c/o Mr. Adrian Sainsbury, on the following day. One may obtain a paper QSL card for reports mailed to RNZI, together with US$2 or 2 IRCs. Emailed reports are acknowledged with an eQSL, never paper QSL. I received their QSL card, programme schedule, brochure on RNZI and stickers on 15 May 2014.

Postal address:

Radio New Zealand International

C/O Mr. Adrian Sainsbury

P.O. Box 123

Wellington, New Zealand

Email:
info@rnzi.com

Website:
www.radionz.co.nz