CHU (National Research Council of Canada)

CHU (National Research Council of Canada), transmitting from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, was logged on 13 November 2012. Time monitored was from 22.25 to 23.00 UTC. Transmission was on the frequency of 7.850 kHz. Reception (SINPO) was 23332 - weak signal strength with time pips clearly heard and unintelligible audio despite interference from unidentified radio operators in Thailand and  atmospheric noise. Signal gradually disappeared after 23.00 UTC. Under grey-line conditions, time pips were clearly detected, then double beeps, followed by weak audio from male announcers, speaking in English and French, providing station ID and time in UTC on the minute.

Reception report was submitted on the same day and on-line on 15 November 2012. Bill Hoger, Technical Officer, Frequency and Time for CHU replied the following day, comfirming the report: "Thank you for your interest in our radio station. Your QSL card is on the way." This QSL card arrived in the mail on 5 December 2012.

Website: 

www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/services/time/short_wave.html.

Email:

radio.chu@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Address:

Mr. Bill Hoger

Technical Officer

Frequency and Time

NRC | CNRC

M-36, 1022

1200 Montreal Road

Ottawa, Canada K1A 0R6

Alcaravan Radio (Colombia)

Alcaravan Radio, a 1 kW station transmitting from Puerto Lleras, Colombia was received from 10.50 to 11.10 UTC on 10 November 2012 at 5.910 kHz.  Reception (SINPO) at 10.50 UTC was 25322 - weak, clear and audible, despite fading and poor signal strength.  As the grey-line between Colombia and Malaysia disappeared at 11.15 UTC, signal gradually faded away and only a faint carrier was detected at 11.25 UTC. After 11.30 UTC, no signal was heard.

Within this period of time I enjoyed several lovely Colombian / Latin American songs with occasional moderation from a Spanish speaking announcer. 

To hear how Alcaravan Radio sounded in Malaysia at 10.58 UTC,  listen  HERE. The static bursts heard on the recording are from an approaching thunderstorm.  

A reception report was emailed to the QSL Manager, Mr. Rafael Rodriguez. Within six hours of submitting it, I received this eQSL and message from him. He wrote: "Greetings from Colombia. Many thanks for your reception report to our signal in 5910 kHz. This will help us to improve our signal. I send you our e-QSL. From January 2011 to all reports received by e-mail we send e-QSL, but if you want full QSL (card, sticker and other little gift) please send you report by airmail including 2 IRCs."

Email:

rafaelcoldx@yahoo.com

Address:

ALCARAVÁN RADIO
c/o Rafael Rodríguez R.
Apartado Aéreo No. 67751
Bogotá D.C. - COLOMBIA

WBCQ (via Maine, USA)

WBCQ - The Planet, transmitting from Monticello, Maine, USA was logged on 2,  3 and 4 November 2012. A largely talk format, occasionally with music mixed under,  was observed  from 18.55 to 19.15 UTC (broadcast time is 12.00 to 23.00 UTC) on 2 and 3 November. Station was observed again on 4 November from 14.20 to 14.30 UTC. Transmission was noted on 15.420 kHz. Reception (SINPO) was 15321 -- prominent carrier signal was  present with  faint audio when signal peaked, otherwise reception was poor.  WBCQ often cannot be heard earlier due to either interference from Radio Free Sarawak in Palau or Adventist World Radio in Guam. Generally after 19.45 UTC, it is impossible to hear anything except static.

A reception report was emailed in subsequent days after logging WBCQ. Their website states a SASE is required to obtain a paper QSL. True enough, this QSL card was sent in the SASE and signed by Allan Weiner. It arrived in the mail on 14 December 2012.

Email:

wbcq@wbcq.com

Address:

WBCQ The Planet
C/O Mr. Allan Weiner
274 Britton Road
Monticello, Maine 04760
USA

WYFR - Family Radio (via Mykolayiv / Nikolayev)

WYFR - Family Radio, transmitting from Mykolayiv  (Nikolayev), Ukraine was logged on 5  November 2012. Evangelical Christian programmes and music, broadcast in the Azeri language, was heard from 15.00 to 16.00 UTC on  9.380 kHz. Reception (SINPO) was 55545 -- excellent signal strength, clear audio with minor fading.

A reception report was emailed on the same day to Family Radio. 

Email:

familyradio@familyradio.org 

info@familyradio.org 

international@familyradio.org

Radio Verdad (Guatemala)

Radio Verdad, transmitting from Chiquimula, Guatemala, was logged on 2 November 2012. After many months of monitoring the station on 4.055 kHz in LSB mode, sometimes hearing only a carrier or no signal at all, I was fortunate to detect a trace of audio for approximately 10 minutes at around 12.00 UTC. Reception (SINPO) at  the time was 15321. Weak audio, lacking clarity, was observed. After 12.15 UTC only faint talking was occasionally heard when the signal peaked, otherwise carrier signal was  prominent amidst atmospheric noise most of the time up until 12.30 UTC.  

Generally Radio Verdad's signal is quite poor in South East Asia.  A carrier signal is almost always detected, and only in LSB mode shortly after 11.30 UTC, then peaks around 12.00 or 12.05 UTC when slight audio is heard.  This occurs almost regularly under a grey-line path from Guatemala to Malaysia. Shortly after sunrise in Guatemala, only a carrier is audible. By 13.00 UTC, no signal from Radio Verdad is observed. While no definitive ID has ever been heard, I strongly suspect this is Radio Verdad; no other station in South East Asia  or elsewhere operates on 4.055 kHz.

QSL and freebies from Radio Verdad

A reception report was emailed to Radio Verdad. Dr. Edgar Madrid replied within 24 hours, acknowledging receipt of my report and stating he would reply later in the week. He indeed followed up on 7 November 2012, confirming the above reception report and promising a QSL card from Radio Verdad. After a long delay, I emailed Dr. Madrid in mid-March 2013. In subsequent emails he emailed, at my request, Radio Verdad's QSL and posted it as well on 25 March 2013. QSL card, calendar, sticker and pennant arrived in the mail on 22 April 2013.

Address:

Radio Verdad

C/O Dr Edgar Madrid

Apartado Postal 5, 

Chiquimula, Guatemala, 

Central America

Email:

 radioverdad5@yahoo.com

Radio Makedonias (ERT 3)

Radio Makedonias (ERT 3), transmitting from Avlis, Greece, was logged on 29 May 2012. A Greek language broadcast with Greek music was monitored from 19.30 to 20.00 UTC (broadcast time 17.00 to 22.50 UTC) on 7.450 kHz. Reception (SINPO) at 19.30 was 34443 -- fair signal strength, minor transmitter noise and slight fading, otherwise clear and audible speech. At 20.00 UTC reception was 12441 due to strong interference from PBS Xizang

A reception report was emailed shortly afterward with follow-ups. Somehow I received this QSL, not from Radio Makeonias, but from Voice of Greece on 3 November 2012. I resubmitted the reception report on 19 December 2012. Within the day, an eQSL and brochure on Macedonia was sent to me.

eQSL letter from Radio Makedonias (logo was added)

Radio Cayman 1 - Breeze FM (Internet)

Radio Cayman 1 (89.9 Breeze FM) - "The Voice of the Caymans" in George Town was logged on  14 October  2012. Using an Internet stream at 31 kps in Windows format, a broadcast of local news, community announcements, advertisements and  raggae music was monitored from 08.55 to 09.55 UTC. Excellent fidelity was transmitted via WiFi to a Blackberry Bold using the TuneIn Radio application.

A reception report was submitted on-line at Radio Cayman 1.  After multiple follow-up emails, I received confirmation from Radio Cayman 1 - Breeze FM Programme Director, Norman McField. This self-prepared eQSL was submitted to her and subsequently stamped on 4 December 2012.