Radio Fly (via Papua New Guinea)

Radio Fly in Kiunga, Papua New Guinea was received on 19 March 2012. An English language broadcast of contemporary pop music, moderated by a male announcer, was observed  from 19.45 to 20.45 UTC. Transmission was heard on 3.915 kHz. Reception (SINPO) at 19.45 UTC was 13221 -- weak signal strength coupled with some adjacent jamming, severe atmospheric noise and occasional fading. Despite the mess, audio was detected, audible and clear at times. Reception improved slightly after 20.10 UTC when there was less atmospheric noise and jamming. At 21.00 UTC, BBC in Kranji, Singapore overpowered this 1 kW station.

I'm pretty excited to FINALLY hear this station!  After nearly a year of waiting, during the wee hours of the morning, through either atmospheric noise, jamming and interference from a nearby North Korean station, or -- as was often the case -- the combination of all these factors, I caught this rare gem. 

Reception report was emailed. On 22 March 2012, Winnie Monouluk of Radio Fly sent this email: "Thank you! I will be sending you a QSL card shortly." An eQSL card and cover letter from Winnie Monouluk arrived on 23 March 2012.


Email:

kabua.momo@oktedi.com

Radio Australia (via Taiwan and Pulau)

Radio Australia, transmitting from Tainan, Taiwan and Koror, Pulau, was logged on two separate days in November 2011. Both transmissions were in Bahasa Indonesia. The Tainan transmission was heard on 5 November 2011, from 05.00 to 05.30 UTC, on 11.745. The Tainan transmission was heard on 7 November 2011, from 04.00 to 04.30 UTC, on 17.840 kHz. Reception was fair to good.

Reception report emailed and submitted online to Radio Australia. QSL card arrived in the mail on 19 March 2012, after repeated follow-up emails. I am still awaiting a QSL for a reception report submitted for a Radio Australia transmission originating from Brandon, Queensland, Australia.

VOA-IBB (via Poro Point)

Voice of America-IBB relay station in Poro Point, Luzon, Philippines was logged on 18 March 2012. Transmission was monitored from 15.45 till 16.00 UTC on 1170 kHz (MW).  Reception (SINPO) was 33433 -- good signal strength despite occasional fading and interference from a Thai station broadcasting on the same frequency, which was  identified as early as 10.30 UTC.

Reception report was emailed. QSL card, along with a business card, arrived in the mail on 3 April 2012. NOTE: Email addresses are on the business card. IBB - Philippines address is on the envelop.

Poro Point, Philippines

Back of QSL card with business card

Click here to listen to the sign-off of VOA-IBB in Poro Point. 

RECORDED ON 18 MARCH 2012 AT 15.59 UTC
Using a Sangean ATS-909W

Radio Exterior de Espana -- 70th Anniversary Broadcast

Radio Nacional de Espana celebrated their 70th anniversary on 15 March 2012. It was the 68th anniversary for Radio Exterior de Espana. To commemorate the event, REE's English language service presented a special tribute. This hour long broadcast (19.00 to 20.00 UTC) featured a discussion with past announcers, as well as letters and phone interviews with REE listeners. 

During the broadcast a letter from yours truly was read on air. To listen to this letter, click here.

Unfortunately there was no mention of REE's plan to issue a new QSL card commemorating their anniversary, in much the same way many international broadcasters have done recently. I raised this particular matter with  English service announcer for REE, Alison Hughes, in this same letter, but it was edited out and not addressed. According to WRTH 2011, REE ceased sending out QSLs after 2010.  What a great pity if there is no 70th anniversary QSL!

For lack of a physical QSL, this letter and recording, therefore, will have to suffice as confirmation that REE was received on short-wave. Regrettably with many major broadcasters not issuing their QSL any more,  it is about all the proof a short-wave listener has to show for his effort. Hopefully -- as some fellow short-wave listeners have informed me -- a commemorative QSL from REE will indeed arrive in my mail box soon. Finally! REE sent this QSL card on 20 June 2012.

Radio Tirana

Radio Tirana, transmitting from Shijak, Albania, was heard on 14 March 2012. Broadcast time for French language service was 18.30 to 18.59 UTC (monitored 18.44 to 18.59 UTC) on 7.465 kHz. Reception (SINPO) was 34433 -- fair signal strength, with slight atmospheric noise and fading, otherwise clear and audible speech

Reception report was emailed. QSL card arrived in the mail on 5 April 2012. Interestingly the QSL is the same design I received a few years ago. A second QSL card arrived on 21 April 2012; it is one in a series of Radio Tirana 70th Anniversary QSLs.

Email:

radiotirana@rtsh.al

Radio Canada International Souvenirs

Radio Canada International sent a number of souvenirs recently. These included stickers, bookmarker, pennant and a large wall calendar of Canadian landmarks and scenery.

BBC (via Nakhon Sawan)

BBC, transmitting from the Asia Relay Station in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand, was received on 9 March 2012. An English language broadcast of news, business reports and sports was observed from 00.00 to 01.00 UTC on 9.410  kHz. Reception (SINPO) was 44544 -- good signal strength with slight interference. Speech had some echo effect, which was rectified after 00.15 UTC.

In so much as BBC no longer sends out QSLs, I thought I would post a reception report directly to the relay site. 

Address:

BBC Asia Relay Station, 

P. O. Box 20,

Muang, Nakhon Sawan 60000, Thailand