QSLs for March 2017

ABC Sydney 702 - 2BL  (eQSL) transmitting from Sydney (Preston), New South Wales, Australia

 Voice of Turkey (QSL Card) transmitting from Emirler, Turkey

Frecuencia Al Dia - WRMI (QSL Card) transmitting from Okeechobee, Florida, USA

Wavescan - WRMI (QSL Card) for Dec. 2016 broadcast from Okeechobee, Florida, USA

Wavescan - WRMI (QSL Card)  for Jan. 2017 broadcast from Okeechobee, Florida, USA

Radio Taiwan International (QSL Card) transmitting from Paochung, Taiwan

Isle of Music (eQSL) in a test transmission from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria

Shortwave Service for Radio-Menschen & Geschichten* via Radio 700 (QSL Card) in Kall-Krekel, Germany

Voice of Vietnam / VOV-5 (QSL Card) transmitting from Hanoi, Vietnam

China Radio International (QSL Card) transmitting from Jinhua, China

China Radio International (via Jinhua)

China Radio International, transmitting from Jinhua, was logged on 15 February 2017. A Japanese broadcast of "Highway Beijing", was observed from 23.05 till 23.57 UTC. Reception on  9.695 kHz rated a SINPO of 44444 -- good signal strength, clear and discernible audio, slight transmitter hum and fading.

Reception report was submitted on the following day. QSL card arrived in the mail on 29 March 2017. 

Voice of Vietnam (VOV-5)

Voice of Vietnam (VOV-5), transmitting from Hanoi, was logged on 2 March 2017 on the short-wave frequency of 9.840 kHz with SINPO of 54555. Programmes "Current Affairs", "Economic Statement", "Country in Vietnam" and a Vietnamese pop song was observed from 10.00 till 10.28 UTC.

Reception report was emailed. QSL card arrived in the mail on 28 March 2017.

QSL email from ABC Sydney - 2BL

 A follow-up verification from ABC Sydney - 2BL, a medium-wave station in New South Wales, was received yesterday. Thank you, ABC Sydney!

Voice of Turkey

Voice of Turkey, transmitting from Emirler, was logged on 24 February 2017.  "File on Agenda", "Culture of Living Together", "Question of the Month" and Turkish pop music was heard from 17.35 till 18.18 UTC, on the short-wave frequency of 11.730 kHz. SINPO initially rated 55545 -- excellent signal strength and audio quality, despite slight fading. By 18.00 UTC reception worsened to 35433 due to weaker signal and increased atmospheric noise and fading.

Reception report was emailed the following day. QSL card and coaster arrived the mail on 27 March 2017.

Radio Tirana Tribute

Radio Tirana (RTSH-Radio Televizioni Shqiptar) is slated to cease  medium-wave and short-wave transmissions from Albania at the end of March 2017. It joins Radio Australia as yet another long-standing and international broadcaster to leave the airwaves this year.

RTSH-Radio Televizioni Shqiptar has decided to end their MW and SW services in favour of FM, proxy short-wave providers (chiefly, Shortwave Service in Kall-Krekel) and the Internet.  Apparently, the transmitters at the Fllake (MW) and Shijak (SW) sites were old, uneconomical and unreliable to operate.

Like many short-wave listeners of my generation, this is disheartening news. Back in the 1960s and 1970s, Radio Tirana was one of those 'exotic' East European countries behind the iron curtain one had to catch...had to QSL! And I did, I'm proud to say.

As I recall they used to broadcast on 7.300 kHz. Their signal was sufficiently strong to reach Denver, in the western United States, where I lived at the time. In recent years their signal was heard occasionally, albeit weakly, in South East Asia (Malaysia), despite their transmissions being targeted for Europe.

While I am saddened to see Radio Tirana disappear from the airwaves, I want to thank them for the years I did listen. It is only fitting I bid adieu  with their interval (as recorded in Malaysia a year ago). And while their programmes may be heard on the Internet, it's still not the same. There is something magical...a bit of a challenge to hear a distant radio station break through the static. Radio Tirana was one of those.

So long, Radio Tirana. Faleminderit!

Logbook for 24 March 2017

ASCENSION ISLAND 

BBC news report on looming vote on Trumpcare at around 18.15 UTC. Reception on 11.810 kHz rated a SINPO of 34433.

CHINA
PBS Yunnan Voice of Shangri-La via Kunming was heard around 11.50 UTC up until sign-off at 12.00 UTC with instrumental music. Reception on 6.035 kHz was 33443 with a bit of transmitter noise.

INDONESIA

Voice of Indonesia in Jakarta with news in German was heard after 18.00 UTC on 9.525 kHz. SINPO was not surprisingly a solid 55555.

PHILIPPINES

Raydo Pilipinas with programming in Filipino language was noted at 18.05 UTC. Reception on 15.190 kHz rated a strong SINPO of 45444.

SWAZILAND

Trans World Radio with sermon in English on "God's rejection of those who reject Him", "new sexual morality" etc at 18.20 UTC. Reception on 9.500 kHz rated a SINPO of 35543.

TURKEY

Voice of Turkey with Turkish pop music was receive at 18.00 UTC on 11.730 kHz. SINPO was a pleasant 55545.

Receiver used: Tescun BCL-3000 Antenna: 10 meter long wire.