Voice of Korea - Pyongyang

The Voice of Korea in Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) was monitored on 8 April 2011 between 11.00 and 12.00 UTC on 11.735 kHz. Broadcast was in the French language and featured a largely talk/commentary format, interspersed with 'Revolutionary' inspired music.

Signal (SINPO) was very strong and clear using my venerable old Grundig Satellit 500. It was linked to a 10 meter elevated 1/4 wave aerial with a 50 ohm coaxial cable fed through an MFJ-956 antenna tuner.

Although the Voice of North of Korea has been QSLed and is heard regularly in Malaysia, I have opted for a recent QSL card from them. Reception report was sent by mail. QSL card was received on 20 July 2011, along with a pennant, lapel pin, newspaper and cultural magazine.

Address: 
The Voice of Korea
Pyongyang, 
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)

Email:
vok@star-co.net.kp

Galei Zahal - Israel

Galei Zahal (Israel Defence Forces Radio) in Zahal, Israel was monitored in Malaysia on 11 April 2011 from 14.00 to 15.15 UTC on 15.850 kHz. The video below was made at 16.30 UTC on 27 April 2011, to date the best reception of Galei Zahal in my location. 


Signal (SINPO) at 14.00  UTC was 15111. Transmission was detected, but extremely weak with a lot of QRN and at times undiscerned speech; at 15.00 signal was much clearer, but still very weak at 25111.

Programming  was in Hebrew and consisted of a talk/commentary format with occasional interviews or on-location coverage, hosted by female and male announcers. A station announcement or advertisement was heard just before 15.00 UTC, then news followed on the hour.

Receivers used to monitor the broadcast included a Sangean ATS-909, a Grundig Satellit 750 and Grundig Satellit 500. While all three radios logged this purportedly 10 kw transmitter, the Sangean ATS-909 had better sensitivity, followed by the Grundig Satellit 750 and Grundig 500. The radios were linked to a 10 meter elevated 1/4 wave aerial with a 50 ohm coaxial cable, which was fed through an MFJ-956 antenna tuner.


Video recorded on 27 April 2011 (using a Tecsun S-2000/Grundig Satellit 750)

Reception report for QSL card was sent by email and mail shortly after 11 April 2011. Galei Zahal issued QSL on 2 May 2011. Lost somewhere on the postal seas, it arrived in the mail on 21 November 2011.

Address:

Galei Zahal
Israel Defence Forces
Military Post Office 1005
Zahal, Israel

Email:

glz@galatz.co.il

Voice of Turkey - March 2011 QSL

Adiyaman regional folk dance known as Galuc

Voice of Turkey in Ankara, Turkey sent a QSL card today, 8 April 2011. It was for their 5 March 2011 broadcast on 11.735 kHz, between 13.30-14.25 UTC.

Radio Kuwait - August 2010 QSL

Radio Kuwait in  Sufat, Kuwait was logged on 12 August 2010 at 05.00-07.00 UTC on 15.515 kHz.

QSL card  finally arrived today,  8 April 2011. This distinctive QSL card is embossed in gold and approximately the size of a certificate. It arrived with a cover letter, a tourist brochure of Kuwait and three post cards. 

Earlier this year, in January 2011, I received two desktop calendars and pocket calendar from Radio Kuwait. MashaAllah!!! Needless to say I am impressed. 

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty was heard on 4 April 2011, broadcasting in Russian on 5.990 kHz from 18.00-19.00 UTC and Belarusian on 5.995 kHz from 19.00-22.00 UTC. Signal (SINPO) was 25432 -- very weak, but nevertheless with audible speech.





Address: 
RFE/RL
Vinohradska 159A
100 00 Prague 10
Czech Republic

WWVH - Hawaii, USA

WWVH in: Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii (USA) was logged on  31 March 2011 at 14.00 UTC (generally signal is heard 24 hours). It was monitored on 2.500 kHz (not audible at 14.00 UTC), 5.000 kHz  (audible at 14.00 UTC), 10.000 kHz  (audible at 14.00 UTC) and 15.000 khz (not audible at 14.00 UTC).

Signal (SINPO) was 45444 on 10.000 kHz with light QRN, otherwise a strong signal and clearly discernible speech; on 5.000 kHz reception was 44554. Female announcer provided frequencies, address and time  from WWVH, stating "At the tone 14 hours coordinated universal time...".

Although I have heard this ubiquitous 10 kw station on many occasions and QSLed it from the United States (Denver, Colorado) in the 1970s, I couldn't resist the opportunity to try QSLing it this time from Malaysia. Reception report was mailed on 1 April 2011.  


POSTSCRIPT (27 April 2011): 
I received an email from WWVH stating reception report has been verified. See note below:

"Thank you for your reception report and your interest in WWVH.This is to notify you that a QSL card for your reception report will be mailed today.

Aloha,

Adela Mae P. Ochinang
NIST-WWVH Secretary"


POSTSCRIPT (13 May 2011)
QSL card recived in mail on 13 May 2011, along with a photocopy of a flyer about the history of WWVH.

Radio Portugal International - Lisbon

Radio Portugal International in Lisbon, Portugal was monitored on 9.820 kHz from 20.00-22.00 UTC on 3 April 2011. Signal was very strong with slight interference from CRI after 21.00 UTC. Normally the transmission time is 20.00-21.00 UTC, but was extended due to  football coverage of the Argentina vs Brazil match.

I logged this broadcast after receiving an e-mail notifying me of RTP's current transmission frequencies and times, effective from 31 March 2011 onward. In response to their e-mail I submitted the above reception report  by e-mail to paula.teixeira @ rtp.pt and mail.

POSTSCRIPT (14 May 2011):

QSL card received in the mail today, along with a letter mentioning possible and temporary suspension of short-wave service. Programme schedule for 2011 was included as well.