QSLs for June 2014

QSLs received and promised for the month of June 2014:

BBC "British Antarctic Survey Test Transmission" (eQSL) transmitting from Woofferton (UK) and Al Dhabbaya (UAE)

Radio Veritas Asia (QSL card) transmitting from Palauig-Zambales, Philippines



Voice of Vietnam VOV 1 (QSL card) transmitting from DacLac (formerly South Vietnam)

Atlantic 2000 (eQSL) broadcasting via Internet stream from France

Voice of America (QSL card) transmitting from Santa Maria di Galeria (Vatican)

Voice of Turkey (QSL card) transmitting from Emiler, Turkey

WWV on 25 MHz (QSL card) transmitting from Fort Collins, Colorado (USA)

EA5/GM0OPK (QSL card) transmitting from Valencia, Spain

Radio Romania International (QSL card) transmitting from Tiganesti, Romania

Radio Romania International (QSL card) transmitting from Tiganesti, Romania

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

Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran (QSL card) transmitting from Kamalabad, Iran

Adventist World Radio / KSDA (WaveScan) (QSL card) transmitting from Agat, Guam

Adventist World Radio / KSDA (WaveScan) (QSL card) transmitting from Agat, Guam

PCJ Radio International (eQSL) "First Test Transmission" from Taiwan

Echo of Europe (QSL card and letter) transmitting from Nauen, Germany

Radio Thailand via IBB (QSL card) transmitting from Udon Thani, Thailand




Promised QSL:
China Radio International for PBS Gannan (QSL) transmitting from Hezuo, Gānnán Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, PRC
Radio Ashna (Voice of America/IBB) (QSL) transmitting from Kuwait.

International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) Cuts Broadcasts

Voice of America is expected to reduce their short-wave transmissions after 30 June 2014. Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia  broadcasts will be affected as well.

"All short-wave frequencies will be eliminated for Voice of America English radio broadcasts to Asia, VOA English teaching programs, and VOA programs to Bangladesh," according to BBG Watch.

We have the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB), who operates radio transmissions for Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), to thank for this development. Apparently VOA, RFA and RFE/RL were caught off guard a few days before the announcement, which reflects the utter contempt and ignorance of  the IBB.

Source: BBG Watch

On 29 June 2014, Keith Perron of PCJ Radio International broadcast a Voice of America newscast satirizing the recent and sudden closure. It included an interview with an apparatchik from the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) and a lengthy comment, albeit uncertain David Ensor, Director of the Voice of America. This was followed with comments from a well known voice and WWII adversary. Well, it's better Keith Perron made the announcement since VOA and affiliates could not deliver the message. Up next Radio Free Voice of America. Keep your radios tuned listeners.

In case you missed this PCJ Radio International broadcast, the VOA spoof may be heard HERE. Enjoy!!!

 Source: Keith Perron at PCJ Media.

 

31 Metres. 24 Countries. 1.5 Hours.

While scanning the 31 metre band  24  countries were netted in 1.5 hours on 25 June 2014.  Radio Australia, VOIRI, Radio Riyadh and Voice of Korea operated on two or more frequencies. Another hour or two would easily have chalked up more stations and countries. Tune in and give 31  metres a listen. There's a lot to discover. 73s!!!

GUAM
KTWR // 9.975 // 55555 // 18.56 UTC with light music

PHILIPPINES
Radio Pilipinas // 9.925 // 55545 // 18.50 UTC with English pop tunes and announcements in Filipino

NORTH KOREA
Voice of Korea // 9.875 // 44444 // 18.47 UTC with revolutionary/martial music in Korea/French announcements

SAUDI ARABIA
Radio Riyadh // 9.870 // 45444 // 18.46 UTC with talk on Islam in Arabic

IRAN
VOIRI // 9.860 // 35443 // 18.45 UTC with  talk in French

GERMANY
RFE via Lampertheim // 9.840 // 33443 // 18.43 UTC with discussion in Russian

MALAYSIA
RTM Sarawak FM // 9.835 // 45444 // 18.40 UTC with Malay pop tunes

TURKEY
Voice of Turkey // 9.785 // 35443 // 18.37 UTC with news in English

SRI LANKA
VOA Deewa Radio via Iranawila // 9.780 // 24332 // 18.35 UTC current event reports in Pashto

SOUTH KOREA
KBS World Radio // 9.740 // 53544 // 18.30 UTC with Spanish language programming

VIETNAM
Voice of Vietnam // 9.730 // 24342 // 18.30 UTC with news in French

SOUTH AFRICA
BBC via SENTECH in Meyerton // 9.720 // 24443 // 18.25 UTC with news magazine in Somali

ALASKA (USA)
KNLS  // 9.655 // 45544 // 17.55 UTC with Russian language broadcast and (a first for me) The Moody Blues performing "I Know You're Out There". Sign off at 18.00 UTC.

FRANCE
Afiadarfur via TDF Issoudun // 9.645 // 35443 // 18.00 UTC with current event reports in Arabic and Sudanese

CHINA
China Radio International // 9.645 // 54544 // 19.10 UTC with news in French

BRAZIL
Radio Aparecida // 9.630 // 24321 -- dominant carrier with faint audio // 19.10 UTC with talk in Portuguese

MOROCCO
Radio Mediterranee Internationale // 9.575 // 24432 // 19.15 UTC with pop music in Arabic/French

SPAIN
Radio Exterior de Espana // 9.570 // 24432 // 19.19 UTC two REE transmissions: one in Arabic and another in French with flamenco music

RWANDA
IBRA Radio // 9.550 // 23432 // 19.25 UTC with music in Arabic

INDONESIA
Voice of Indonesia // 9.525 // 55545 // 18.54 UTC with Indonesian pop tunes

AUSTRALIA
Radio Australia // 9.475 // 44444 // 18.20 UTC with contemporary jazz tunes

INDIA
AIR National Channel // 9.470 // 53544 // 18.05 UTC in English with Western pop/rock Deep Purple "Smoke on the Water", The Who live version of "Pinball Wizard", Tommy James "Mony, Mony"

GREECE
Voice of Greece // 9.420 // 44544 // 18.10 UTC with Greek pop tunes

EGYPT
Radio Cairo // 9.280 // 23432 -- overmodulated // 18.15 UTC Turkish music

Radio Ashna (Voice of America)

Radio Ashna (Voice of America), transmitting from the IBB relay site in Kuwait, was logged on 25 June 2014. A Dari language broadcast of news events, including reports on Iran and Iraq, were observed from 02.05 to 02.30 UTC. Reception on the short-wave frequency of 11.925 kHz was (SINPO) 25432 -- weak audible signal with some atmospheric noise and fading. Speech was clear and discernible at times.

Reception report was emailed on the same day. VOA Public Relations emailed in the evening with the following message, "Thanks so much for your feedback and reception. We will send you a QSL card". QSL card from Belgium, postmarked 3 July 2014, arrived in Malaysia on 26 August 2014.

Email:

askvoa@voanews.com

Short-wave Listener's Guide to Ramadan

As the Islamic world enters the annual month of Ramadan, short-wave listeners can expect  extended hours of Islamic programming. Stations not just in the Middle East, but Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia will likely be on air beyond their usual broadcast times. Listeners will hear qāriʾ reciting the Qu'ran, muezzins announcing the call to prayer and imams leading taraweeh prayers. English language broadcasts from Radio Cairo, Voice of Turkey, Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran and Radio Kuwait are certain to dedicate segments of their programming to the characteristics  of Ramadan.

For most Muslims the beginning of Ramadan 2014 will start on Saturday, the 28th of June and will continue for 30 days until Sunday, the 27th of July. To catch the ambiance of Ramadan on short-wave radio, tune to Radio Cairo, Radio Kuwait, Radio Pakistan, Radio Riyadh, Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran, Voice of Nigeria and Voice of Turkey. RFE/RL affiliates Radio Mashaal and Radio Azadi are likely to feature programming, so too is VOA Deewa Radio. The A14 schedule of these stations below should aid in your search. All times are UTC.

Ramadan Mubarak and Happy DXing!!!

ALGERIA -- Radio Algerienne Chaine 1
7.295 // 04:00 - 04:58 // Arabic 
7.295 // 05:00 - 05:05 // French
7.495 // 21:00 - 21:05 // French
9.375 // 20:00 - 20:55 // Arabic
9.375 // 20:55 - 20:58 // French
9.535 // 05:00 - 05:05 // French
12.060 // 19:00 - 20:58 // Arabic
13.820 // 18:00 - 18:58 // Arabic 

BANGALADESH -- Bangladesh Betar
4.750 // 06:00 - 12:35 // Bengali
4.750 // 12:35 - 12:55 // English
4.750 // 12:55 - 15:35 // Bengali
4.750 // 15:35 - 15:55 // English
4.750 // 15:55 - 17:04 // Bengali
7.250 // 05:00 - 06:00 // Bengali
7.250 // 07:00 - 09:00 // Bengali
7.250 // 16:00 - 16:30 // Arabic
7.250 // 16:30 - 17:00 // Bengali
9.455 // 13:15 - 13:45 // Nepali
13.580 // 17:45 - 19:00 // English
13.580 // 19:15 - 20:00 // Bengali
15.105 // 12:30 - 13:00 // English
15.505 // 14:00 - 14:30 // Urdu
15.505 // 15:15 - 15:45 // Hindi

EGYPT -- ERTU Radio Cairo
9.280 // 16:49 - 18:53 // Turkish
9.315 // 00:45 - 02:00 // Spanish
9.315 // 02:00 - 03:30 // English   
9.410 // 19:00 - 20:00 // German   
9.410 // 20:00 - 21:15 // French   
9.490 // 18:00 - 19:00 // Italian
9.685 // 19:00 - 20:00 // Russian   
9.895 // 21:15 - 22:45 // English   
9.965 // 00:30 - 04:30 // Arabic   
9.965 // 23:00 - 00:30    // English
11.710 // 00:45 - 02:00 // Spanish
12.070 // 00:45 - 02:00 //Spanish
12.070 // 23:30 - 00:45 // Arabic
13.580 // 15:00 - 16:00 // Albanian
13.580 // 21:00 - 23:00 // French   
15.160 // 15:00 - 16:00 // Uzbek   
15.285 // 17:00 - 17:30 // Somali   
15.285 // 17:30 - 19:00 // Amharic
15.290 // 19:00 - 20:30 // English
15.345 // 16:00 - 18:00 // English
15.450 // 16:00 - 17:00 // Afar
15.535 // 13:00 - 16:00 // Arabic
15.710 // 12:30 - 14:00 // Indonesian
15.710 // 18:00 - 21:00 // Hausa   
15.710 // 07:00 - 11:00 // Arabic
15.735 // 16:00 - 18:00 // Urdu   
15.790 // 13:30 - 15:30 // Persian   

INDONESIA -- Voice of Indonesia
9.525 // 10:00 - 11:00 // English
9.525 // 11:00 - 12:00 // Chinese
9.525 // 12:00 - 13:00 // Japanese
9.525 // 13:00 - 14:00 // English
9.525 // 14:00 - 15:00 // Indonesian   
9.525 // 15:00 - 16:00 // Chinese
9.525 // 16:00 - 17:00 // Arabic
9.525 // 17:00 - 18:00 // Spanish
9.525 // 18:00 - 19:00 // German
9.525 // 19:00 - 20:00 // English
9.525 // 20:00 - 21:00 // French   
Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) also airs Ramadan programming.

IRAN -- Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran (English only)
7.315 // 19:20 - 20:20  
9.400 // 19:20 - 20:20  
9.715 // 19:20 - 20:20  
11.620 // 15:20 - 16:19  
11.780 // 03:20 - 04:19  
11.885 // 19:20 - 20:20  
13.650 // 03:20 - 04:19  
13.780 // 15:20 - 16:19      
17.640 // 10:20 - 11:17  
17.820 // 10:20 - 11:20  

KUWAIT -- Radio Kuwait
5.960 // 01:50 - 09:00 // Arabic   
6.050 // 16:00 - 21:00 // Arabic   
7.250 // 08:00 - 10:00 // Persian       
9.750 // 11:00 - 16:00 // Arabic   
11.630 // 09:30 - 16:00 // Arabic Holy Quran   
13.650 // 16:49 - 20:00 // Arabic   
15.515 // 04:55 - 09:00 // Arabic       
15.540 // 15:50 - 18:00 // Urdu       
15.540 // 18:00 - 21:00 // English
17.550 // 20:00 - 00:00 // Arabic   
21.540 // 09:30 - 18:00 // Arabic
21.580 // 10:00 - 12:00 // Filipino

MALAYSIA -- Radio Televisyen Malaysia (Malay)
5.965 // Klasik Nasional FM / Radio Satu  00:00 - 00:00
6.050 // Asyik FM / Radio Tujuh // 00:00-14:00 
9.835 // Sarawak FM // 00:00-00:00    
11.665 // Wai/Sarawak FM // 22:00 - 17:00 
  

MOROCCO - Radio Mediterranee Internationale
9.575 // 00:00 - 00:00 // French and Arabic

NIGERIA -- Voice of Nigeria
7.255 // 18:00    20:00 // English       
7.255 // 20:00 - 21:00 // French       
7.255 // 21:00 - 22:00 // Fulfulde       
7.255 // 22:00 - 23:00 // Hausa   
9.690 // 08:00 - 09:00 // Hausa       
9.690 // 09:00 - 15:00 // English       
9.690 // 16:00 - 16:30 // Swahili
9.690 // 16:30 - 17:00 // Igbo       
9.690 // 20:00 - 21:00 // Hausa   
11.770 // 16:00 - 16:30 // Swahili
11.770 // 21:00 - 22:00 // Arabic       
15.120 // 05:00 - 07:00 // English   
15.120 // 07:00 - 08:00 // French   
15.120 // 08:00 - 09:00 // English   
15.120 // 09:00 - 10:00 // English       
15.120 // 15:00 - 16:00 // English
15.120 // 17:30 - 18:00 // Arabic       
15.120 (DRM) //18:30 - 20:00 // English    

PAKISTAN -- Radio Pakistan
9.350 // 17:00 - 19:00 // Urdu   
11.530 // 10:45 - 11:45 // Hindi   
11.530 // 11:45 - 12:15 // Gujarati   
11.530 // 12:30 - 13:00 // Sinhala   
11.530 // 13:00 - 13:30 // Tamil   
11.570 // 17:00 - 19:00 // Urdu   
15.235 // 13:30 - 15:30 // Urdu   
15.730 // 00:45 - 02:15 // Urdu   
15.730 // 05:00 - 07:00 // Urdu   
15.730 // 08:30 - 11:04 // Urdu   
15.730 // 12:00 - 13:00 // Chinese   
15.730 // 13:30 - 15:30 // Urdu   
17.550 // 13:30 - 15:30 // Urdu   
17.810 // 12:00 - 13:00 //  Chinese   
17.830 // 00:45 - 02:15 // Urdu

OMAN - Radio Sultanate of Oman
9.500 // 00:00 - 02:00 // Arabic   
9.540 // 02:00 - 03:00 // Arabic   
9.540 // 03:00 - 04:00 // English   
13.600 // 04:00 - 10:00 // Arabic   
15.140 // 14:00 - 15:00 // English       
15.140 // 15:00 - 22:00 // Arabic   
15.355 // 22:00 - 00:00 // Arabic   




SAUDIA ARABIA -- BSKSA Holy Qu'ran - Radio Riyadh
7.240 // 15:00 - 17:57 // Persian   
9.555 // 17:55 - 23:00 // Arabic   
9.580 // 03:00 - 05:57 // Arabic   
9.580 // 17:00 - 21:57 // Arabic    .
9.675 // 18:00 - 20:57 // Turkish   
9.715 // 03:00 - 09:57 // Arabic   
9.870 // 18:00 - 22:57 // Arabic   
9.885 // 15:00 - 16:00 // Turkmen   
9.885 // 16:00 - 17:00 // Uzbek   
9.885 // 17:00 - 17:57 // Tajik   
11.820 // 17:55 - 22:57 // Arabic       
11.915 // 17:55 - 22:57 // Arabic   
11.930 // 17:55 - 22:57 // Arabic       
11.935 // 08:50 - 11:57 // Arabic   
13.710 // 14:55 - 17:57 // Arabic   
13.775 // 12:00 - 14:57 // Urdu   
15.120 // 12:00 - 14:57 // Bengali   
15.170 // 03:00 - 06:00 // Arabic   
15.205 // 15:45 - 17:57 // Arabic       
15.225 // 14:50 - 17:00 // Arabic   
15.225 // 17:00 - 18:00 // Arabic   
15.285 // 04:00 - 06:57 // Swahili   
15.380 // 05:45 - 08:56 // Arabic   
15.380 // 12:00 - 13:57 // Arabic   
15.435 // 14:50 - 17:00 // Arabic       
15.435 // 17:00 - 18:00 // Arabic   
15.490 // 08:54 - 11:57 // Arabic   
17.560 // 15:55 - 17:57 // Arabic
17.570 // 08:54 - 11:57 // Arabic   
17.615 // 08:54 - 11:57 // Arabic       
17.615 // 12:50 - 15:57 // Arabic   
17.625 // 11:55 - 13:57 // Arabic       
17.660 // 13:55 - 15:57 // French       
17.705 // 11:55 - 14:57 // Arabic       
17.730 // 06:00 - 08:56 // Arabic   
17.740 // 06:00 - 08:56 // Arabic       
17.785 // 08:00 - 09:58 // French   
17.805 // 08:54 - 11:57 // Arabic       
17.895 // 02:55 - 08:00 // Arabic       
17.895 // 11:55 - 14:57 // Arabic       
21.505 // 11:55 - 14:57 // Arabic       
21.670 // 09:00 - 11:57 // Indonesian    

TURKEY -- Voice of Turkey
5.960 // 16:00 - 20:55 // Turkish
6.040 // 04:00 - 05:55 // Turkish
6.165 // 03:00 - 03:55 // English
7.205 // 20:30 - 21:25 // English  
7.210 // 11:00 - 11:25 // Bulgarian
7.260 // 00:00 - 01:54 // Turkish  
7.360 // 17:30 - 18:25 // French
7.360 // 19:30 - 20:25 // French  
9.460 // 16:00 - 20:55 // Turkish
9.465 // 02:00 - 02:55 // Uyghur  
9.515 // 03:00 - 03:55 // English  
9.530 // 15:30 - 16:25 // Azeri
9.540 // 14:00 - 14:55 // Arabic  
9.610 // 14:00 - 14:25 // Italian  
9.635 // 19:30 - 20:25 // French
9.655 // 10:00 - 10:55 // Georgian
9.765 // 15:00 - 15:55 // Persian  
9.770 // 01:00 - 01:54 // Spanish  
9.785 // 18:30 - 19:25 // English  
9.830 // 22:00 - 22:55 // English
9.840 // 13:00 - 15:55 // Turkish
9.855 // 10:00 - 10:25 // Tatar
9.870 // 01:00 - 01:54 // Spanish
11.700 // 12:30 - 13:25 // Uyghur
11.730 // 07:00 - 07:55 // Azeri
11.750 // 06:00 - 08:54 // Turkish
11.750 // 09:00 - 09:55 // Arabic  
11.765 // 15:00 - 15:30 // Dari
11.765 // 15:30 - 16:00 // Pashto  
11.765 // 16:00 - 16:25 // Uzbek  
11.795 // 08:30 - 09:55 // Persian  
11.825 // 12:00 - 12:25 // Turkmen
11.835 // 17:30 - 18:25 // German
11.880 // 13:30 - 13:55 // Kazakh
11.930 // 16:30 - 17:25 // Spanish
11.955 // 06:00 - 11:55 // Turkish
11.965 // 13:00 - 13:55 // Russian
11.980 // 04:00 - 05:55 // Turkish  
13.635 // 06:00 - 12:55 // Turkish
13.650 // 10:30 - 10:55 // Uzbek
13.710 // 12:00 - 12:55 // Urdu  
13.760 // 11:30 - 12:25 // German
15.240 // 11:00 - 11:55 // Chinese
15.450 // 12:30 - 13:25 // English  
15.520 // 16:30 - 17:25 // English  
17.770 // 14:00 - 14:55 // Arabic

Source: Short-Wave dot Info.

BBC World Service - Special Winter Solstice Broadcast To British Antarctica Survey

British Antarctica Survey (Source: BBC)

BBC World Service - Special Winter Solstice Broadcast To British Antarctica Survey (BAS), transmitting from Woofferton (UK), was logged under less than favorable conditions on 21June 2014.  From 21.30 to 22.00 UTC, greetings, good wishes and personal messages from colleagues, family and well-wishers was observed. For added frivolity and fun, snippets of comedic music was interspersed between the comments. At 21.59 UTC BBC World Service ID was heard, then transmission promptly ended at the top of the hour (22.00 UTC). 

Propagation on 5.875 kHz was clearly not ideal in my quarter. Reception throughout the broadcast was poor with a (SINPO) of 24321 -- weak signal with occasional and indiscernible speech due in large part to atmospheric noise and fading. At various times I switched to USB and LSB modes to filter out the noise, but even with this reception remained in a word, terrible. HERE is how the BBC Winter Solstice BAS broadcast on 5.875 kHz sounded in the closing minutes from Malaysia.

Alternative frequencies were much worse: 5.985 kHz was barely noticeable; and 7.350 kHz was buried in QRM from regional stations, namely China. Reception was undoubtedly good elsewhere, and particularly the targeted area -- Antartica. Nevertheless, kudos to the BBC for airing this special winter solstice broadcast!!! 

To learn more about this broadcast, click HERE. If you missed the broadcast and want to hear how it went in 2013, click  HERE. The content and format was essentially similar for 2014. 

Radio France International (via Meyerton)

Radio France International, using the SENTECH transmitter facility in Meyerton, South Africa, was logged on 20 June 2014. A French language broadcast covering the World Cup match of Argentina, moderated by two male announcers,  was observed from 19.40 till 20.00 UTC. Reception on 9.800 kHz was (SINPO) 44544 -- good signal strength, despite mild transmitter droning and occasional, but slight fade. At 19.58 UTC a DRM transmission began, knocking out RFI's signal. 

Reception report was emailed to SENTECH and RFI the following week. RFI sent this eQSL on 12 August 2014. SENTECH took a bit longer to respond with their QSL, which arrived on 27 March 2015.