Random log 27 and 28 May 2014

IRAN

Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran // 9.570 // 54544 // 18.00 UTC onward with cultural programme in German

NEW ZEALAND

Radio New Zealand International // 9.700 // 44444 // 18.05 UTC onward with Dateline Pacific

SOUTH AFRICA 

BBC via SENTEC in Meyerton // 9.720 // 23332 - noisy transmitter or jamming // 18.55  with  discussion between male announcers in Krwanda Krundi, then music till sign-off at 19.00

SPAIN

Radio Exterior de Espana // 9.730 // 44444 // 18.10 UTC with news reports in Spanish

AUSTRALIA

Radio Australia //9.820 // 44444 // 18.10 UTC with music (Caravan of Love)

GERMANY

RFE/Radio Liberty in Lampertheim // 9.840 // 45444 // 18.15 UTC news reports on Russia in Russian

Echo of Europe via Media Broadcast GmbH in Nauen //  7.315 // 24321 -- despite poor signal strength, fading and atmospheric noise, faint audio was detected on a clear frequency // European current event news in French from 18.30 to 18.45 UTC

KUWAIT

VOA - Radio Deewa // 9965 // 55555 // Talk in Pashto at 18.15 UTC

SOMALILAND

Radio Somaliland // 7.120 // 35453 // 18.20 UTC  with jazzy Horn of Africa music

MADAGASCAR 

BBC via MGLOB facility in  Talata Volondry // 7.445 kHz // 25322 - weak, noisy and fading to the point audio occasionally dropped off // 19.00 to 19.35 UTC (broadcast time 17.00 to 20.00 UTC) with English language broadcast on African current events

BBC via MGLOB (Talata Volondry)

BBC via MGLOB facility in  Talata Volondry, Madagascar was logged on 28 May 2014. An English language broadcast on African current events was monitored from 19.00 to 19.35 UTC (broadcast time 17.00 to 20.00 UTC). Reception on 7.445 kHz was (SINPO) 25322 - weak, noisy and fading to the point audio occasionally dropped off. Nevertheless signal was audible and speech discernible at times.

Reception report was emailed to MGLOB. QSL card arrived in the mail on 2 July 2014.

Echo of Europe (via Nauen)

 

Need news about Europe? Tune to Echo of Europe. EOE broadcasts 15 minutes of news related to European events, every Tuesday and Friday. They may be heard either on the short-wave frequency of 7.315 kHz or webcast from 18.30 to 18.45 UTC. Transmission originates from the Media Broadcast GmbH facility in Nauen, Germany with antenna array pointed towards southwestern Europe. While their signal is best received in the targeted area, it is possible to receive them elsewhere. 

Echo of Europe, although targeting Europe, was logged in Southeast Asia on Tuesday, 27 May 2014. A French language broadcast of news featured a discussion on European politics from 18.30 to 18.45 UTC. Transmission closed with brief instrumental music. Reception on 7.315 kHz was poor, yet audible with (SINPO) of 24331 -- weak signal, fading and atmospheric noise was observed on an otherwise clear frequency once CRI signed-off at 18.26 UTC. Had co-channel interference existed from another broadcaster their transmission would most probably have not radiated to this region of the world. 

Reception report was emailed and submitted on-line to Echo of Europe immediately after the transmission. An email from Echo of Europe  promised to mail a paper QSL. This was followed up with an email to Media Broadcast GmbH who sent an eQSL on the same day. QSL card and letter arrived in the mail from France on 5 June 2014.

Email: 
contact@echoofeurope.eu 

Website: 
 echoofeurope.eu

Radio Thailand

Like most radio listeners around the world I tuned in to radio broadcasts coming out of Thailand shortly after the military coup. On the eve of the take-over all MW stations -- which are numerous -- I observed synchronised patriotic music and talk on every station. The following evening I caught Radio Thailand on short-wave with their familiar format of news and tourism related promos.

Transmitting from the IBB relay site in Udon Thani, I logged the station on 23 May 2014, broadcasting to Europe from 19.00 to 20.00 UTC. Reception on 9.390 kHz was (SINPO) 55555 - Excellent.

HERE's an audio file of the news read at the top of the hour.

Reception report was emailed early the following week to both Radio Thailand and IBB Udon Thani. An email from Radio Thailand was received on 26 May 2014, confirming reception report would be sent by IBB. QSL card from IBB for Radio Thailand arrived in the mail on 4 June 2014. Finally, a QSL card from Radio Thailand World Service (HSK9) arrived by registered mail on 4 September 2014.

Email:
feedback@hsk9.org (Radio Thailand)
manager_thailand@tha.ibb.gov (IBB)

Special NHK World - Radio Japan Broadcast to Thailand

In light of the recent Thai military coup and control  of media, NHK World - Radio Japan aired a special Japanese programme for their compatriots based in Thailand.

BROADCAST SCHEDULE

09.00-17.00 UTC // 11.815.kHz
17.00-19.00 UTC // 7.225 kHz
19.00-21.00 UTC //  9.560 kHz
21.00-01.00 UTC // 13.680 kHz
01.00-05.00 UTC // 17.810 kHz
05.00-08.00 UTC // 17.585 kHz
08.00-09.00 UTC // 13.650 kHz

I was fortunate to catch this special broadcast from 17.00 to 19.00 UTC on 23 May 2014. Format consisted of news, contemporary and traditional Japanese music as well as an interview of a Japanese celebrity. Transmission originated from Yamata on 7.225 kHz, Reception (SINPO) was 55555 - excellent!!!

Reception report was emailed and submitted on-line to Radio Japan on the following day.

WWV Returns to 25 MHz

Silenced in 1977, WWV is back on 25 MHz "for old times' sake" -- on an "experimental basis." Acting on the request of an amateur radio operator lead electrical engineer at WWV, Matt Deutch, gave the green light to resurrect the long-dormant standard time outlet operated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Deutch put the signal back on air first on 4 April 2014 for about 3.5 hours. He followed up with another test on 27 April. Initially the signal was only meant to stay up for 24 hours or so, but Deutch has reactivated it. Well, at least on 20 May the 25 MHz frequency was still in operation.

NIST said the 25 MHz broadcast consists of the normal WWV signal heard on all other WWV frequencies, at the same level of accuracy. The transmitter in Fort Collins, Colorado, can deliver 2500 watts (2.5 kW) into its "broadband monopole" antenna, although Deutch stated he is running it at 1200 watts (1.2 kW). 

WWV in Fort Collins, Colorado (USA) was logged on the reactivated frequency of 25 MHz on 20 May 2014. After nearly two months of trying to catch their signal I managed to finally detect not only time pips and pulses, but speech between 18.02 to 18.36 UTC. Although weak with minor QRM and fading, WWV was audible with a SINPO of 24322 until 18.36 UTC when it disappeared completely.

Although the following audio clips are poor, they provide an idea of the signal quality  heard in Malaysia:

AUDIO FILE #1 at 18.08 UTC (voice).

AUDIO FILE #2 at 18.11 UTC (time pips/pulses).

Reception report was emaled to WWV on the same day. WWV replied on 27 May 2014 with an email promising QSL. WWV's confirmation arrived on 10 June 2014.

NIST website:
www.nist.gov

WWV email: 
wwv@nist.gov 

PCJ Radio International

PCJ Radio International, in a test transmission from Taiwan, was logged on 18 May 2014. After an initial mix up regarding transmission on 11.765 kHz, frequency was switched to 15.680 kHz @ 20 kWs. Rather than register for their own frequency Radio Taiwan International loaned the frequency to PCJ Radio. Reception was near perfect with (SINPO) of 55545 -- excellent signal strength with minor fading. From 13.25 to 13.58 UTC (broadcast time 13.00 to 13.58 UTC), host Keith Perron read letters from listeners, announced a radio giveaway, and played songs performed by Duke Ellington, Kenny Rogers, Buddy Holly and Marlene Dietrich.

A sample of this outstanding transmission can be heard HERE.

Reception report was emailed to PCJ Radio International on the following day.This eQSL was received on 3 June 2014.

Email:

pcjqsl@pcjmedia.com