Monday, March 18, 2024

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

 



:Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2024 Mar 18 0617 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
11 - 17 March 2024

Solar activity ranged from low to moderate levels. Moderate levels were reached on 14 Mar due to an M1.0/sf flare at 14/0604 UTC from Region 3599 (S12, L=065, class/area Dao/230 on 12 Mar). On 16 Mar, Moderate levels were once again seen as an M3.5 and an M1.1 occurred at 16/1635 UTC and 16/2155 UTC from a region just beyond the SE limb. Region 3599 was also responsible for a series of CMEs just beyond the SW limb which occurred at 15/0210 UTC and 15/0328 UTC. Modelling of the event indicated no Earth-directed component, however, an associated minor solar radiation storm (S1) was observed. Other activity included an approximate 35 degree filament channel eruption centered near S28W25 beginning at 17/0100 UTC. Two subsequent CMEs were observed in SOHO/LASCO C2 imagery off the SSE and SW limbs at 17/0312 UTC and 17/0336 UTC, respectively. Modelling indicated possible glancing blows late on 20 Mar to early on 21 Mar. 

A greater than 10 MeV proton event above the 10 pfu (S1/Minor) threshold as a result of activity from Region 3599 beyond the SW limb early on 15 Mar. The event began at 15/2050 UTC, reached a peak flux of 16.7 pfu at 16/0635 UTC, and ended at 16/1505 UTC. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels on 11 Mar due to CH HSS influence. A peak of 1,420 pfu was observed at 11/1605 UTC. 

Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed decreased on 11 Mar as weak negative polarity CH HSS influence diminished. A solar sector boundary crossing was observed midday on 11 Mar followed by another mild increase in solar wind speed and total field on 12-13 Mar. Solar wind speed reached a maximum around 484 km/s by 14/1350 UTC with total field near 9 nT early on 14 Mar due to positive polarity CH HSS influence. The geomagnetic field responded with unsettled periods on 12 and 14 Mar and an isolated active period early on 15 Mar. Solar wind speed slowly decreased around 290 km/s with total field values below 5 nT by the end of the period. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 18 March - 13 April 2024

There is a chance for moderate (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) levels through 31 Mar, mainly due to the flare potential of Region 3614 (N16, L=223, class/area Hax/080 on 17 Mar) and an unnumbered region rotating onto the SE limb. Low levels with a slight chance of
M-class flares are likely on 01-13 Apr. 

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels on 07-08 Apr due to recurrent CH HSS influence. 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to active levels, with G1 (Minor) storming likely, on 20-21 Mar due to activity from the 17 Mar CMEs. Unsettled levels are expected on 28-29 Mar, 03-05 Apr, and 09-11 Apr due to recurrent CH HSS
activity. 

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2024 Mar 18 0617 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
#                Issued 2024-03-18
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2024 Mar 18     155           5          2
2024 Mar 19     160           5          2
2024 Mar 20     162          18          5
2024 Mar 21     165          16          5
2024 Mar 22     160           5          2
2024 Mar 23     155           5          2
2024 Mar 24     155           5          2
2024 Mar 25     152           5          2
2024 Mar 26     160           5          2
2024 Mar 27     160           5          2
2024 Mar 28     162          12          3
2024 Mar 29     165           8          3
2024 Mar 30     165           5          2
2024 Mar 31     160           5          2
2024 Apr 01     155           5          2
2024 Apr 02     155           5          2
2024 Apr 03     155          15          3
2024 Apr 04     158          12          3
2024 Apr 05     160          12          3
2024 Apr 06     160           5          2
2024 Apr 07     162           5          2
2024 Apr 08     155           5          2
2024 Apr 09     150           8          3
2024 Apr 10     145           8          3
2024 Apr 11     148           8          3
2024 Apr 12     148           5          2
2024 Apr 13     152           5          2
(NOAA)

Friday, March 15, 2024

Uncle Bill's Melting Pot announces programming shift

 

Teak Publishing wishes 'Uncle Bill'  the very best on his broadcasting project.

Dear radio friends, 
Our last broadcast on WBCQ The Planet 7490 kHz on the shortwave bands will be Sunday, March 17 from 6-7pm EST (2200-2300 UTC). 

The program will also stream on www.wbcq.com (it is livestream ONLY, not available on demand). 
This will touch on St. Patrick's Day, Daylight Savings Time, spring training in US baseball, and some goodies from around the world..

In April the show will be migrating to Europe. More details in the coming weeks. This is not an easy decision - we were born on WBCQ, and it was very good to us over the years, but there isn't enough financial support to do both the Americas and Europe, and European audiences have been more engaged on the whole than North American shortwave listeners over the years.  If it can be only one, Europe makes sense.  
(Uncle Bill) 
 
William "Bill" Tilford, Owner/Producer
Tilford Productions, LLC
809 S. 20th ST
Lafayette, IN 47905-1551

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Blog Logs

 Welcome to the March 2024 edition of Blog Logs. Thank you for your email, and welcome to the new contributors for this edition. 

Do you have any logs or information to share for the next edition of Blog Logs? Your input from mediumwave or shortwave is welcome at: w4gvhla@gmail.com  Tell the world what you’re hearing in your listening post or portable monitoring! 

Have you subscribed to the Shortwave Central YouTube channel? You can find a large selection of video and audio airchecks, posted at: https://www.youtube.com/c/ShortwaveCentral Our numbers are growing!
Don’t forget to follow Shortwave Central on X/Twitter at Shortwave Central (Gayle Van Horn W4GVH) @QSLRptMT for tips and information from the amazing realm of radio!
Bog Logs Issue # 3
Language services as indicated.
// denotes heard on a parallel frequency
*Sign-on - sign-off *
All frequencies in kilohertz (kHz)
SDR or receivers as listed.
All times UTC

Monitored Feb 20-March 13, 2024 


Mediumwave
Saudi Arabia
882 SBA Quran Radio (10 kW Buraydah) 1825-1835. Quran recitations in Arabic on // 531, 558, 567, 657, 765, 792, 810, 936 kHz. (G. Van Horn/Kiwi Qatar) 
630 SBA Radio Jeddah (20 kW Jizan) 1835-1840.Quran recitations in Arabic on // 612, 684, 702, 747, 927, 1035, 1044, 1080, 1089, 1098, 1116, 1206, 1215 kHz. (Van Horn/Kiwi Qatar) 
594 SBA Call of Islam (50 kW Makkah) 1910-1920. Quran recitations in Arabic on // 783, 1422 kHz (Van Horn/Kiwi Qatar)

United Kingdom/Isle of Man
1368 Manx Radio (20 kW Foxdale) 1715-1720. Afternoon show with Alex Brindley. U.S. pop vocals, local ads for restaurants, Shop Rite store, singing local scrap metal ads, Manx Memorials, and singing ID for Manx Radio.  (Van Horn, Kiwi UK) Website: https://www.manxradio.com/ 
1458 Lyca Radio (125 kW Brookmans Park) 1725-1730. Asian pop vocals to station promo, contest offers plus an ad for clothing store. (Van Horn) Station website: https://www.lycaradio.com/ 
United States
1150 WJBO Baton Rouge, LA 1648-1700. News radio format with Clay & Buck show. Station IDs and ads for Baton Rouge. (Van Horn, LA/Airspy+Discovery)
1200 WOAI San Antonio, TX 2000-2030. Afternoon syndicated programming to station news and traffic updates. (Van Horn)  
1320 WRJW Picayune, MS 1635-1640. Classical country from Ray Price to ad for Sonic in Picayune, First Place Express Car Wash. Canned station ID for AM/FM for Pearl County, Mississippi. (Van Horn)
1460 WXOK Baton Rouge, LA 1702-1710. Urban gospel vocals to canned ID (Van Horn)
1540 WFNO Gretna, LA 1645-1650. Tejan vocals to Spanish rap. Station ID/freq (Van Horn)
1550 WPFC Baton Rouge, LA 1655-1700. Urban gospel vocals to station program promotional and ID, followed by the sermon. (Van Horn) 
1600 KLEB Golden Meadow, LA. 1630-1645. Local ads for Golden Meadows to station ID and Queen’s, We Will Rock You. (Van Horn)

Shortwave
Alaska
6075, KNLS Anchor Point. *0800-0811. Station interval signal to English religious programming. SINPO 15421 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain/BDXC)  http://www.knls.org 

Ascension Island
11810 BBC World Service 0635-0650. News-Talk format discussing world events. Fair-good signal to 0659* (F Hilton, SC) http://www.bbc.com 


Australia
15320, Reach Beyond Australia, Kununurra. 1159-1209. English program to “thank you for tuning to Radio Reach Beyond Australia.” Station interval signal to “welcome to the program…from Reach Beyond Australia.” Religious text. SINPO  35433 (Méndez) 
11875, via Kununurra 1345 with Punjabi religious service to station info, website, and address for fair-good signal (Hilton, SC) www.reachbeyond.org.au

Bolivia
3310, Radio Chaski, Cochabamba. 2350-0000. Fair-poor signal of Bolivian music. Barely making it through poor conditions. Station’s website in down, but the audio stream is available at https://mytuner-radio.com/radio/radio-chaski-445344/ (Van Horn/Kiwi Paraguay)

Botswana
4930, Voice of America relay 0335. National news on technology // 6080. SINPO 34442 (Jonathan Slayton, MS) http://www.voanews.com 

Brazil
4885, Rádio Clube do Pará, Belem, 2350-0030. Portuguese programming with announcer’s chat, Station ID, and national news. (Van Horn/Kiwi Paraguay) https://radioclube.dol.com.br/ 

6010, Rádio Inconfidencia, Belo Horizonte, 2110-2135 with live soccer coverage // 15190 kHz. SINPO 15431 (Méndez) http://www.inconfidencia.com.br 

9665, Rádio Voz Missionaria, Cambourú 0123. Portuguese religious sermon. No ID was observed at 0130 as the sermon continued for fair signal (Ed Cichorek, NJ/NASWA) http://www.radiovozmissionaria.com.br 11750, 2034-2053. Religious vocals to ID “Voz Missionaria” // 9665 (Méndez) 

11815, Rádio Brasil Central, Goiania. 0548-0621. English and Brazilian pops to “Madrugada Musical.” Distorted signal. SINPO 35433. (Méndez)

15414.8, Rádio Clube de Ribeirão Preto, 1903-2131. Portuguese comments from male/female duo. Brazilian music to “Campeonato Paulista” relaying Radio Bandeirates soccer coverage and IDing as “Radio Bandeirantes futebol.” SINPO 24322. (Méndez)

China
5050, Beibu Bay Radio, Nanning, 1238. Poor-fair signal, just fading up during orchestra music // 9820. http://bbrtv.com China Radio International on 5915, 1043 with fair signal for Russian service // 7290. No sign of 5915 kHz Myanmar. 
https://www.cgtn.com/ China’s Voice of Jingling, Nanjing on 6200 at 1310. Chinese news conversation (Ralph Perry, IL/NASWA) CRI 5965 at 1514 in Russian to Siberia. Excellent signal, minor QRN. (Vince Henley, WA/NASWA).


Ecuador
6050, HCJB Pichincha 0441-0447. Spanish program “Ritmos y Canciones de Nuestra Tierra.” Ecuadorian music and comments. SINPO 25432 (Méndez)

Eswatini
11660, Trans World Radio, 1721. Listed service as Amharic for religious vocals, lady’s station announcement to TWR chimes, interval, and sign-off (Harold Sellers, Vernon, BC Canada). Website: www.trw.org/ 

India
9620, Akashvani, Bengaluru, 2021-2031*. Hindi music vocals to lady’s French text. Nice station ID at 2028, followed by instrumental music to closedown for fair-good signal (Rich D’Angelo, PA/NASWA). Farsi service on 9620 at 1642 with Spotlight program. Poor signal with co-channel China (Sellers). 11805 Ashkavani, Bengaluru 1310. Pashto service with presumed local news (S Wright, MS) https://prasarbharati.gov.in/ 

Liberia
6055, ELWA Radio, Monrovia, *0600-0635. English religious vocals observed at sign-on after three days absence. (Wright). http://www.elwaministries.com 

Madagascar
13830, Vatican Radio relay at 1631. English service for scripture readings from book of Genesis. Very good signal // 15565 (Sellers). http://www.vaticannews.va 

Mexico
6184.97 XEPPM-Radio Educacion-Cultura Mexico Senal Internacional 0503-0515. Spanish conversations with poor signal quality, better in USB for clarity. (Gianni Serra, Italy/NASWA). 
Mexican folk vocals were observed from 0235-0300. (Hilton)


Mongolia
12085, Voice of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, *0900-0914. Station interval signal to “Welcome to the Voice of Mongolia in English.” National news and comments. SINPO 25432 (Méndez) http://www.vom.mn 

Netherlands
5955, Radio Veronica, Westdorpe. 0554-0612. English pop oldies music to Dutch comments. Station ID “Radio Veronica.” SINPO 35433 (Méndez)

6020, Radio Casanova, 0641-0655. English pop tunes to “Radio Casanova” and Dutch comments. SINPO 35433 (Méndez)

6110, Radio Delta International, Elburg 0537-0613. Oldies tune from Simon and Garfunkel’s Mrs. Robinson.’ “Radio Delta” ID and website www.radiodelta.am SINPO 35433.Monitoring 0805-0846 on 12030 kHz (Méndez)

6140, Radio Onda Borculo, 1622-1701. Radio Senado program “Brasil Sertanejo,”  Sertanejo music program to Portuguese comments. Station ID “A Radio Onda, a primeiro  programa de música brasileira nas Ondas curtas…para a comunidade brasiliera y Portuguese …” SINPO 35433 (Méndez)

North Korea
11645, Voice of Korea, 1612 in English with newscast. Signal poor quality with het QRM. Noted on 11710 at 151 with English service on the political commentary of United States, United Nations, and Israel concerning the Israeli-Hamas war. Signal good on // 9435 and 12015 as poor quality (Sellers).

Peru
4810, Radio Logos, Chazuta, 1035. Poor signal for Spanish religious text, only audible in LSB, which eliminates QRM from CODAR. (Ralph Perry, IL/NASWA) 

Philippines
12120, Radyo Pilipinas 1731. Station ID “Radyo Pilipinas, the Voice of the Philippines.” Filipino service with additional IDs, frequencies, and website for “Radyo Pilipinas World Service.” Heard // 9925 kHz with very weak signal (Sellers).
9400, FEBC Radio Liangyou 1, 1317. Lady’s Mandarin commentary. Poor to fair signal (Bob Brossel, WI/NASWA). https://www.febc.org/philippines 
11565, Radio Free Asia, Tinian 1650. Mandarin service hardly makes it through signal jamming due to poor signal quality (Slayton). http://www.rfa.org/english 
11570, VOA relay via Tinang 1200. Korean service with good reception (Wright)


Tajikistan
4765, Tajik Radio, Dushanbe. 1930-1950. Fair-poor signal of Tajik program items. (Van Horn) Tajikistan, Radioi Tojikiston, 4765 kHz (100 kW Dushanbe (Yangiyul) 09 Oct. 2020 at Shortwave Central YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGvO6Tu7ZD0  
15515, AWR Tajikistan relay, 1447. Religious sign-on tune What a Friend We Have in Jesus to Hindi service. Station ID “you’re listening to Adventist World Radio” to various multilingual IDs and closing announcements for fair-poor signal (Sellers).

São Tomé
11900, Voice of America relay at 2020. Fair-good programming for English/French programming to station ID and information (B Clement, WA) http://www.voanews.com 

South Korea
6015, KBS Hanminjok Bangsong 1 via Hwaeong, 1229 check with fair-good signal and no jamming noted for Korean discussion (Perry).

Sri Lanka
9765, Adventist World Radio 1549. Listed as Oriya service with an ongoing religious sermon to closing prayer and vocal tune. Station contact info and AWR website as www.awr.org Announcement included email address in India (Sellers).


Vietnam
9840, Voice of Vietnam, 1500 with English sign-on and welcome to listeners. Program preview and national newscast. Fair signal quality. Audible on 11885 kHz at 1607 with English service (Sellers). Noted on 7220 in Vietnamese at 1540-1555. Asian pop vocals to announcer’s chat for fair signal via Sontay (Van Horn). https://vovworld.vn 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

History of Radio Luxembourg

 

This coming Thursday, March 14th, from 19:00 till 21:00 UK time, on www.192radio.nl you can listen to part 6 of a series about Radio Luxembourg. The English service will be the main subject. 

We will follow the history of the station from the beginning in the 1930s until 1970 and part 6 will be about the period 1963-1964. Frank van Heerde will provide lots of information about those years and of course, he plays music from that period. This show will not only be of interest and entertaining for grandparents, but also for everyone interested in free radio.

Happy listening!

Production: Frank van Heerde and Kees Brinkerink
Presentation: Frank van Heerde
Engineering: Frank van Agtmaal

(Mike Terry/BDXC)
(photo/Digital History)

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

New TWR Website Builds Connections With Latin Americans

 

TWR’s ministry in Latin America has launched a new website to build community and collaboration among Christian organizations and boost the distribution of gospel media content throughout the region. RTMLatinoAmerica.org was created by and for TWR’s ministry to Latin America and the Caribbean, one of four major global regions where the ministry proclaims the gospel via radio, video, and multiple digital media. RTM stands for Radio Trans Mundial, https://rtmlatinoamerica.org/ which is the Spanish and Portuguese equivalent of Trans World Radio.

"The digital world has created a new environment with its own language and logic," said Esteban Larrosa, RTM vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean. "It opens up the opportunity for us to complement radio broadcasting with other possibilities of interaction, deepening the relationship with our audience and with the network of stations that use RTM's multimedia content production every day."

Latin America and the Caribbean are home to more than 600 million Spanish and Portuguese speakers, and the international TWR ministry has national partners in 17 of the region’s countries. TWR and its partners share the gospel via the hemisphere’s most powerful AM transmitter on the island of Bonaire, another substantial though less-powerful AM transmitter in Uruguay, many local stations, and various digital platforms.

RTM leaders decided to build a customized website to help achieve several key objectives, and the effort was led by regional International Director Annabel Torrealba and Communications Director Maralina Alfonso. They want to bring social-media users, churches and other Christian organizations to a single site where the ministry can be introduced and content promoted. That includes more than 72 Spanish-language programs produced by TWR and its media partners. They also seek to inform local radio stations – over 600 of which already carry RTM Spanish programs – about the abundant programming available for broadcast.

Another desire is to share articles addressing topics of concern for Latin American audiences. New articles titled “The Silent Enemy,” by Larrosa, and “What Every Man Should Know,” by Carlos Cardenas of Colombia, were posted at the launch. Alfonso said other features are also planned and will debut on the site when ready. The RTM staff believe RTMLatinoAmerica.org will enable them to better interact with and keep informed Latin Americans like this listener in Cuba.

“I listen to your program through Radio Trans Mundial from Bonaire, and it is a great blessing for me,” the listener wrote in an email. “… Unfortunately, here in Cuba there are no Christian radio stations. For this reason and much more, it is very good for the Cuban people to have the great privilege of being able to count on you. Your program nourishes my life.”

Although the new site is aimed mainly at Spanish speakers outside the United States, lively pages geared toward Hispanics in the U.S. are accessible at transmundial.org or via the Español selection under the Regions tab on www.twr.org.

TWR Staff
Maralina Alfonso, TWR communications director for Latin America and the Caribbean, provided the information for this report.
(photo/TWR)

India frequency updates

 The Updated schedule of Akashvani External Services  (formerly known as All India Radio) is in their official web site as follows:

Note: : Latest change given in it
1045-1215 Tibetan 9875 (Ex 9735) via  New Delhi 100 kW
1230-1330  Baluchi  9875 (Ex 9735) via  New Delhi 100 kW
The same is reflected in HFCC registrations also
Yours sincerely,
Jose Jacob, VU2JOS

Wavescan looks at the use of Callsigns, Part 1 and 2

 Special thanks to Ray Robinson and Jeff White for sharing the Wavescan script of Part 1 and 2 on Callsigns 

Callsigns, Part 1 - Mixed Letters and Numbers

Jeff: What is the origin for the system of radio station callsigns that are in use throughout the world to this day? How come some stations are identified with just alphabetic letters only? And other stations are identified with both numbers and letters?  Ray Robinson has been digging into this history, and has more from Los Angeles.

Ray: Thanks, Jeff.  Way back 180 years ago, in the early days of telegraphy by Morse Code, the operators at each station that was connected by telegraph wire used a simple abbreviation to identify the sending station, rather than laboriously spelling out the location name. The usage of many abbreviations enabled the operators to send their messages more quickly.

Some 50 years later, when wireless stations were erected for the transmission of messages by Morse Code, the same procedures were followed; that is, the usage of as many abbreviations as possible, including an abbreviation for the sending location. Some abbreviations for the locations of very early wireless stations were quite logical, such as for example:-

CC Cape Cod Massachusetts USA
FL Eiffel Tower Paris France
SF San Francisco California USA
GB Glace Bay Nova Scotia Canada

However, due to the number of wireless stations proliferating throughout the world, most of the abbreviations in use for the locations of wireless stations bore no resemblance to the actual location. For example:-
EX Los Angeles California USA
SN Cordova Alaska
UA Nantes France
DF Santa Barbara California USA
Another DF Vancouver British Columbia Canada

In an endeavor to regulate this confusing system of random choices, an international wireless convention was held in Berlin in 1906.  This was the second international convention in Berlin that addressed the need for the regularization of the newly developing wireless scene that began with the work of the famous Italian, Guglielmo Marconi.

At this 1906 wireless convention, a system of alphabetic designations was allocated for all countries throughout the world.  For example, transmitter callsigns beginning with:-
G were allocated to Great Britain
V British colonies
F France & French colonies
I Italy
J Japan
K N W USA

There was a third international wireless convention held in London, England on April 23, 1913.  Even though this event was staged mainly to address the wireless scene in Europe, delegates from the United States also attended and participated.

One of the important matters looked at on this occasion was the identification of amateur and experimental wireless stations which were beginning to proliferate in many countries.  However, because the coverage area from these lower-powered operations was considered to be quite local, it was decided to implement a different system of identification.

The decision reached was to introduce a system of numbers and letters, with the initial number indicating the geographic location. Single numbers were chosen for each of the participating countries in Europe, as follows:-

Luxembourg was assigned number 1
United Kingdom was assigned numbers 2, 5 & 6
Germany was assigned number 4
Denmark number 7
France number 8
Holland number 0

The major determining factor at the 1913 convention was that the initial digit number in a callsign indicated a specific geographic area. At this stage in Europe, the initial number indicated a specific country.

Likewise, when the American delegates returned home, the government authorities decided to implement a similar system in the United States using the numbers 1 through 9, with each number indicating a specific cluster of states.  North of the border in Canada, they soon implemented a similar system, with an initial digit assigned to each province.

This same numeric scheme was also implemented in the South Pacific.  Australia chose the numbers 2 through 9, indicating each separate state, as well as nearby Papua & New Guinea.  New Zealand chose the numbers 1 through 4, indicating major geographic areas in the twin island country, beginning with 1 at the top of the North Island and ending with 4 at the bottom of the South Island.

When radio broadcasting was introduced in England, this same numeric system was implemented according to the action taken at the Third International Convention in London in 1913. The first radio broadcasting station was 2MT Writtle, a Marconi experimental station launched in Essex, north east of London, in February 1922; and next on the list came 2LO London, three months later.

However, in the list of the 22 introductory radio broadcasting stations in England from 1922 to 1925, there seems to be little apparent logic in the choice of the initial digit, whether it was 2 or 5 or 6. Likewise, there was little apparent logic in the two letters of the alphabet that made up the remainder of the callsign.

Obvious callsigns in Great Britain during this era were 2BE Belfast in Northern Ireland; 5WA in Wales, at Cardiff; and 6ST in Stoke-on-Trent.  However, in view of the fact that so many of the other callsigns in England during this early era seemed to be almost randomly assigned, it is probably the case that calls were chosen that were not already taken up by amateur radio operators.  Even to this day, all amateur radio stations throughout the world are identified according to a mixture of letters and numbers.  The initial alphabetic digits indicate the country, and the following numeric digits usually indicate regions within that country.

Likewise with the countries that have retained a similar system for the callsigns of radio broadcasting stations.  In Australia, the initial number still indicates the state, and the following two letters identify the station, and quite often, also the location. For example:-

2BH is located in Broken Hill New South Wales,
4TI Thursday Island Queensland
6XM Exmouth Western Australia
8AL Alice Springs Northern Territory

Next week here in Wavescan, we will take a further look at the interesting story regarding the usage of radio callsigns throughout the world; and on this next occasion, it will be the interesting story specifically of shortwave callsigns.

Callsigns, Part 2 - Shortwave

Jeff: Last week in here in Wavescan, Ray Robinson introduced the topic of Call Signs, and how specifically mixed calls containing a combination of numbers and letters came to be assigned.  This week he delves further, specifically into the history of shortwave callsigns.  Ray?

Ray: Thanks, Jeff.  I’ve been interested in all things radio throughout my teen and adult years, and always assumed that call signs in those countries which used them for broadcast stations were assigned to the stations themselves.  However, I was surprised to learn that just before the middle of the last century, the government licensing authority in the United States issued a decree stating that every shortwave transmitter should be licensed with its own separate callsign.  And thus, a station with more than one transmitter would have to have more than one callsign.

But even that was rather loosely implemented.  As an example, a list of shortwave channels for the RCA station located at Bolinas in California was published in the monthly magazine, Radio News, for August 1935.  This list shows almost thirty different three letter callsigns ranging from KEB to KWE; but, there is one callsign per channel frequency used, not one callsign per transmitter.  It appears that, in practice, if a transmitter changed frequency, it also changed callsign.

This same 1935 list shows more than twenty callsigns for the large RCA communication station on the east coast, at Rocky Point on Long Island, New York.  There, the three letter callsigns run from WAJ down through WQP, though not all of these letters were taken up by the station.  Interestingly, when this RCA station at Rocky Point was on the air with radio broadcast programming, an experimental callsign, W2XBJ was used, regardless of transmitter and regardless of frequency.

However, it is true; most of the shortwave stations in the United States that were on the air with broadcast programming during the 1930’s & 1940’s were identified with just one callsign per transmitter.  Examples of this form of callsign usage would be:-
W8XK Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
WRUW & WRUL Scituate Massachusetts
KGEI & KGEX Belmont California
W4XB Miami Beach Florida
W2XAD & W2XAF Schenectady New York

Going northwards into Canada, one authority informs us that the basic callsign for the large RCI shortwave station that used to be located at Sackville, New Brunswick was CKCX.  However, during the earlier part of its history, this shortwave station was on the air with one callsign per each shortwave channel.  The CBC International Service (as Radio Canada International was called before 1970) first launched in February 1945 with three new 50kW shortwave transmitters, obtained from RCA in the United States.  The callsigns used were constructed with four letters, all beginning with CH or CK. The basic callsign, CKCX, identified both the station, and also the shortwave channel 15190 kHz.

Over in England during the15 year period extending from 1930 to the end of World War II in 1945, the BBC in London used a total of 46 shortwave transmitters installed at eight different locations scattered throughout different areas of the British Isles, including Northern Ireland. This enormous assemblage of shortwave transmitters ranged in power from 7.5 kW right up to 250 kW.

Various callsigns were used; but again not with one callsign per transmitter, but rather with one callsign per shortwave channel.  These callsigns, numbering more than one hundred, ran from GRA to GSZ and GVA to GWZ.

Under these circumstances, the BBC operated with maximum flexibility, and they could use any transmitter, at any location, at any desired power level, on almost any shortwave channel.  It was therefore impossible for international radio monitors in those days to know just which transmitter at which location they were listening to.

Over in Australia, the old AWA shortwave station located at Pennant Hills, an outer suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, was on the air with an interesting mixture of callsigns.  For example, they operated three different communication transmitters during the middle of the 20th century, and these shortwave units were identified with the internationally recognized Australian callsigns VLK, VLM & VLN.
However, when AWA Pennant Hills was calling:-
England with communication traffic, they identified with the callsign VLK,
when they were calling Java, they used VLJ,
and when they were calling New Zealand, they used VLZ, all without regard to the transmitter or even the frequency being used.

When Radio Australia was launched at the end of 1939 under the slogan, “Australia Calling”, transmitters VLK & VLM were dedicated to the new broadcast service with new callsigns, as VLQ & VLQ2.  However, even that was not consistent, because sometimes transmitter VLQ was also on the air with a numeric callsign as VLQ5.

In 1939, the 2 kW ABC shortwave transmitter at Lyndhurst, Victoria was used for both the ABC Home Service as well as Australia Calling under the callsign VLR.  In mid-1941, an additional 10 kW shortwave transmitter was installed at Lyndhurst, which was inaugurated under the same callsign VLR.  But, to avoid confusion with the two transmitters at the same location using the same callsign, eventually the callsign for the new transmitter was changed, and it became identified as the more familiar VLG.

In 1946, another 10 kW shortwave transmitter was installed at Lyndhurst, and this one was identified as VLH.  In those post-war years, program relays of medium wave 3AR & 3LO via VLR and VLH were quite regular and consistent for Home Service coverage throughout Australia.

At one stage back then around mid-morning, both 10 kW transmitters were on the air using the callsign VLH on two different shortwave channels, with overlapping scheduling for a quarter of an hour or more.  Thus, by that stage, VLH had become more of a program service on shortwave rather than a transmitter identification.

The Shepparton shortwave station broadcast Radio Australia with three transmitters identified as VLA, VLB & VLC.  When these transmitters were given a new shortwave channel, a suffix number was added, such as:-
VLA2 on 9615 kHz and VLA3 on 9680 kHz
VLB3 on 11770 and VLB4 on 11810, and
VLC9 on 17840 and VLC10 on 21680

However, this system became quite cumbersome, so Radio Australia changed the system in mid-1951 and the suffix numeral indicated the MHz band; thus:-
VLA7 was used for any channel in the 7 MHz 41 metre band
VLB9 for any channel in the 9 MHz 31 metre band, and
VLC11 for any channel in the 11 MHz 25 metre band.

These days, use of callsigns throughout the world to designate shortwave transmitters is very much decreasing.  The shortwave station Voice of Hope – Africa that I help manage in Lusaka, Zambia has two 100 kW transmitters, but they’ve never been assigned callsigns by the licensing authority there.  And here in the United States, the FCC currently only allocates one callsign per commercial shortwave station, regardless of how many transmitters are in use.  For instance, WRMI in Okeechobee, Florida, WBCQ in Monticello, Maine, and WWCR in Nashville Tennessee all have multiple transmitters, but only one callsign each.

Our editor-in-chief, Dr. Adrian Peterson, perhaps harking back to an earlier era, would still prefer a system of identification for shortwave transmitters as one callsign, one transmitter.  It seems, however, that particular boat has long since sailed.  Back to you, Jeff.
(AWR/Ray Robinson/WRMI/Jeff White)

Europe on Shortwave covers NHK in Russian

 


'Europe on Shortwave' on the club's website at http://bdxc.org.uk/europe.pdf
(compiled by Tony Rogers) shows Encompass WRN on 12095 kHz 1500-1700 UTC via UAE (as below) under Russia (target broadcasts to Russia on shortwave).



Listed in WRTH 2024:
1600-1700 250 kW via UAE - NHK World Radio Russian daily to Europe on 12055
1630-1700 250 kW via UAE - Radio Slovakia Int'l in Russian  daily to Europe on 12055

Ramadan Special for radio monitoring

 



India's special transmissions on mediumwave for Ramadan 

Like every year, the special transmissions for Ramadan has started from Akashvani stations in Jammu & Kashmir as follows:
Timings (variable) : 4.20 am to 5.25 am (2250 to 2355 hrs UTC)
Frequencies

1116 kHz 300 kW  Srinagar
1350 kHz 20 kW Kupwara
103.5 MHz 10 kW Srinagar
This transmission is for about 1 hour and sign on and sign off timings vary. It will continue for one month - till Ramzan day ie around 9 April 2024
 
After the above program the Srinagar station signs off and comes back on air for their regular broadcasts starting from 6.48 am. 
It is a good time to catch the station from long distances
(Jose Jacob, VU2JOS)
National Institute of Amateur Radio 
Box 1515, Somajiguda
Hyderabad-500082, India

RAMADAN  SPECIAL   March 10 - April 9, 2024 in Germany.


Indonesia - Return of RRI Nabire 40 kW shortwave with outstanding reception.

7289.93 kHz RRI Nabire Pro 1, on March 8; very pleased to find them back on the air again after being absent for a while; just in time for the start of Ramadan (March 10 - Sunday); decent reception, but after 0900 UT the usual QRN.

0832-0910 UT The normal programming of mostly easy-listening songs and announcers.

0910-0916 UT Islamic Shalawat Tarhim prayer, before the call-to-prayer.

0916-0920 UT The distinctive Maghrib (sunset) call-to-prayer. Right on
time!

0920 UT till suddenly cut off 0929* UT: EZL songs.

My audio of a portion of one minute of the Shalawat Tarhim prayer and one
of music -


Nabire Islamic call-to-prayer times for March 8:
Fajr    - dawn           04:49  (1949 UT)
Dhuhr   - after midday   12:12  (0312 UT)
Asr     - afternoon      15:14  (0614 UT)
Maghrib - sunset         18:16  (0916 UT)
Isha    - nighttime      19:24  (1024 UT)
(Ron Howard-CA-USA, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews March 8)
(WWDX Top Nx 1573/08 Mar 2024

Iran
Ramadan - The latest HFCC files include the following special transmissions: VoIRI Tehran, Ramadan special broadcasts,
10 - 30 March 2024, acc. to HFCC registrations, all from Sirjan tx site:

All times UTC
0120-0220 Turkish   6060  6170
2020-2350  Azeri "A" 7230
2120-2250 Tajik     5990  6180
2320-0120  Arabic    7220  7250
2350-0050  Kurdish   6060  7280
2350-0320  Azeri "T" 7230
(HFCC)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

 


:Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2024 Mar 11 0558 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 04 - 10 March 2024

Solar activity was at low to moderate levels. Region 3599 (S13, L=067, class/area Dai/220 on 09 Mar) produced two M-class flares. The first was an impulsive M1.3/Sf at 08/2126 UTC. The second was an M7.4 flare at 10/1213 UTC with an associated 340 sfu Tenflare, a Type II radio sweep (714 km/s), a weak Castelli U radio signature, and a CME directed off the NW limb at 10/1248 UTC. Initial modelling of the CME indicated no Earth-directed component, however further analysis is on-going. A faint partial halo was observed beginning at 10/1812 UTC in coronagraph imagery, likely related to a C6.9/1f flare at 10/1538 UTC from Region 3599. Initial analysis showed a glancing blow around midday on 13 Mar. 

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. A slight enhancement to near 0.4 pfu was observed following the M7.4 flare at 10/1213 UTC. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels with a peak flux of 739 pfu observed at 10/1935 UTC. 

Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to active levels. The period began under the influence of CME activity that left the Sun on 28 Feb. Total field reached 13 nT early on 04 Mar and diminished to 5-7 nT by 05 Mar. Solar wind speed gradually increased from approximately 350 km/s to near 460 km/s during this time. The geomagnetic field responded with quiet to active levels on 04 Mar and quiet to unsettled levels on 05 Mar. Solar wind speed continued in the 350-460 km/s range through early on 08 Mar. Quiet to
unsettled levels were observed on 06-07 Mar. By 08 Mar, solar wind speed increased to around 515 km/s due to negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS) activity. Solar wind speed slowly decreased thereafter to near 410 km/s by the end of the period. The geomagnetic field responded with quiet to active levels on 08-09 Mar and quiet to unsettled levels on 10 Mar. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 11 March - 06 April 2024

Solar activity is expected to be at very low to low levels with a chance for M-class (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) flares on 11-14 Mar due primarily to the flare potential of Region 3599. Quiet to unsettled levels are expected on 15-26 Mar. On 27 Mar-06 Apr, a chance for M-class flares is once again likely as Region 3599 returns to the visible disk. 

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to continue at normal to moderate levels. 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to reach unsettled on 11-12 Mar due to CH HSS activity and unsettled to active levels on 13 Mar due to possible influence from the 10 Mar CME. Unsettled levels are likely again on 28-29 Mar and 03-05 Apr due to recurrent CH HSS activity. 

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2024 Mar 11 0558 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
#                Issued 2024-03-11
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2024 Mar 11     125           8          3
2024 Mar 12     125          12          3
2024 Mar 13     122          12          4
2024 Mar 14     118           5          2
2024 Mar 15     122           5          2
2024 Mar 16     125           5          2
2024 Mar 17     122           5          2
2024 Mar 18     127           5          2
2024 Mar 19     130           5          2
2024 Mar 20     135           5          2
2024 Mar 21     135           5          2
2024 Mar 22     135           5          2
2024 Mar 23     135           5          2
2024 Mar 24     132           5          2
2024 Mar 25     130           5          2
2024 Mar 26     132           5          2
2024 Mar 27     138           5          2
2024 Mar 28     140          10          3
2024 Mar 29     140           8          3
2024 Mar 30     142           5          2
2024 Mar 31     140           5          2
2024 Apr 01     135           5          2
2024 Apr 02     130           5          2
2024 Apr 03     128          12          3
2024 Apr 04     125          12          3
2024 Apr 05     125          12          3
2024 Apr 06     125           5          2
(NOAA)

Friday, March 08, 2024

DX Central - LIVE TONIGHT from Northshore Studios !!


DON'T MISS IT - JOIN IN !!

Tune in tonight, Friday, March 8, at 7:45 EST/6:45 CST (0045 UTC) for a new edition of Loyd Van Horn's program LIVE AM/MW DX Central, broadcasting from Northshore Studios. (Season 4) at https://www.youtube.com/@DXCentral 

To learn more visit DX Central,  for DX tips, airchecks, and educational resources for the AM and FM Dxer at: www.dxcentralonline.com 

"DX Central - because we're all about radio!"
Twitter:  @DXCentral
Facebook:  @DXCentralonline

                                                       DON'T MISS IT !!!!!

Milcom Files still available at Amazon

 

The Spectrum Monitor - February issue 2024, has featured two of Larry's books from Amazon. Both remain timely and are now an heirloom. Do you have your copies yet? There are many at Amazon, including these three at: 

Encore Classical music from Radio Tumbril

 


Regular Broadcast times of Encore By WRMI and Channel 292 are:

02:00 - 03:00 UTC Friday 5850 kHz WRMI to US
20:00 - 21:00 UTC Friday 15770 kHz WRMI to Europe
11:00 - 12:00 UTC Saturday 9670 kHz Channel 292 to Europe
01:00 - 02:00 UTC Sunday 5850 kHz WRMI to US and Canada
18:00 - 19:00 UTC Sunday 3955 kHz Channel 292 to Europe (Back on 3955 now Antenna repaired)
03:00 - 04:00 UTC Monday 5950 kHz WRMI to the US and Canada
13:00 - 14:00 UTC Tuesday 15770 kHz WRMI to Europe, east coast of US and Iceland. (Sometimes RTTY on the lower sideband. Suggest notch out or use USB.)
 
Some Things to see on The Encore Website:
The Encore website is www.tumbril.co.uk where you will find:
Important information about funding of Encore - Radio Tumbril.
Up to date transmission times and frequencies.
The playlists for the most recent programmes.
An email link.
Informal reception reports as well as those requesting eQSL cards are welcome.
 
ENCORE IS A ONE-MAN OPERATION -  PLEASE MAKE A PAYPAL DONATION OR 'BUY ME A COFFEE' AND HELP PAY THE  BROADCASTERS AND KEEP ENCORE ON THE AIR - Go to - www.tumbril.co.uk
 
WRMI and Channel 292 are very generous with their air-time but Encore still costs around 100 Dollars/Euros a month to broadcast.
If you can - please send a small contribution to help Encore keep going.
 
THE DONATION BUTTON AND 'BUY ME A COFFEE' BUTTON are on the homepage of the website - www.tumbril.co.uk - which folks can use if they would like to support Encore.
 
(Please don't be put off by the POWR security wall when using the PAYPAL button - it is a harmless requirement of WIX the website hosting service.)
 
THIS FORTNIGHT'S PROGRAMME - (First broadcast this FRIDAY 8th March) by WRMI at 0200 UTC on 5850, (and 2000 UTC on 15770) and then Channel 292 on SATURDAY (9th March) at 11:00 UTC on 9670 kHz):
Starts with Alfred Brendel playing part of the Italian Concerto by Bach.
Then we have some Stravinsky arranged for piano and violin followed by part of Visions of Arctic by Eriks Esenvalds. Something new from the ever original Caroline Shaw next, a lullaby from contemporary Latvian Composer Karlis Lacis, and The Witch of Endor; written and performed by Moondog.
The Programme ends with two subtle piano pieces by Lili Boulanger and a Baroque piece featuring the bassoon from Jan Dismas Zelenka.

A very good site for online SDR receivers all over the world is: http://kiwisdr.com/public/  Click the 'Map' button in the top left of the screen.
 
Thank you for spreading the word about Encore - Classical Music on Shortwave on Radio Tumbril - and thank you for your support.
 
Brice Avery - Encore - Radio Tumbril - www.tumbril.co.uk 
GMØTLY

Pirate Letters Go to South Carolina, New Jersey

 

These cases date to March 2022 and August 2023

BY Radio World Staff 
Published March 4, 2024 

Two more property owners have received the FCC’s “pirate radio” letter.

The commission has informed Charles Wyatt that agents from its Atlanta office, acting on a complaint, traced a signal on 87.9 MHz to his property in Greenville, S.C. 

That happened in March of 2022. The letter didn’t explain why it took two years for the notice to be issued.

Separately the commission has notified Somerset Maplewood LLC that a signal on 91.7 was traced to its property in Maplewood, N.J. That was in August of 2023.

Both letters inform the owners that third parties who help or enable pirate broadcasts are liable to federal penalties of up to $2.4 million under the PIRATE Act.

The commission recently told Congress that to help fight pirate radio, it had hired four full-time people in fiscal 2023 and was in the process of hiring more.

Link to Pirate Radio Not Just a Big City Problem

Radio Poland marks 88 years on the air

 

On March 1, 2024, Radio Poland marked 88 years on the air. 



Radio Poland is celebrating its 88th anniversary on the air. The station,launched on March 1, 1936, is part of Poland's public radio network.

It broadcasts programmes on developments at home and abroad,Polish foreign policy, the economy, business and foreign investment.

Radio Poland, also known as Polish Radio's External Service (Polskie Radio dla Zagranicy), aims to provide objective and impartial information about Poland and the country's stance on international affairs.

It reports on developments in Polish society, its daily life as well as scientific and cultural achievements.

The thenews.pl website, part of Radio Poland, is a leading English language resource for Polish news.

Updated regularly all day, every day, the website covers domestic and foreign affairs, economy and business, culture, sports and human interest stories.

Polish Radio launched shortwave broadcasts in English and Polish in 1936.They were discontinued with the outbreak of World War II in 1939.

After the end of the war in 1945, the shortwave channel Warszawa III resumed external broadcasts.

In 1990 Polish Radio started broadcasting in Ukrainian, Belarusian, Lithuanian, Czech and Slovak.

Then in 1994 the External Service began daily broadcasts in several languages via the World Radio Network.

In 2007, Polish Radio's External Service launched its news website now available at  www.polskieradio.pl

Today, Radio Poland broadcasts in Polish and five foreign languages:
English, German, Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian.
(polskieradio.pl  via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews March 2)

Akashvani (All India Radio) schedules

 


Akashvani schedule

Look for additional updates for the upcoming summer schedule period which begins 31 March 2024

INDIA   Akashvani -  External Services
(Earlier known as All India Radio, New Delhi-IND)

B23  VU2JOS  5 Febr 2024
Note: A 15 minute program in English called <Spotlight> is newly broad-
cast in the various services.


Time sorted
https://qsl.net/vu2jos/es/time.htm

Language      UTC     kHz  (Tx site)    Target Area

Bangla     0030-0900    594(C)                         Bangladesh
Sindhi     0100-0130   1071(R)  7215.003_BGL           Pakistan
Tibetan    0100-0230  11734.774_DEL       Tibet, jammed by CHN mainland
Indonesian 0130-0230  15280.004_BGL                    Indonesia
Nepali     0145-0230  15410.010_BGL 103.2(N) 103.7(G)  Nepal
Hindi      0230-0245  15410.010_BGL 103.2(N) 103.7(G)  Nepal
English    0245-0300  15410.010_BGL 103.2(N) 103.7(G)  Nepal
Nepali     0300-0315  15410.010_BGL 103.2(N) 103.7(G)  Nepal
Baluchi    0300-0430  11804.773_DEL                    Pakistan
Burmese    0315-0415  15410.010_BGL                    Myanmar
Farsi      0400-0530  15280.004_BGL                    Iran
Urdu       0400-0745   1071(R) 100.8(F), 103.6 MHz(A)  Pakistan
Dari       0430-0600   9734.804_DEL  11875.004_BGL     Afghanistan
Pashtu     0430-0600  11804.773_DEL  15185.008-BGL     Afghanistan
Arabic     0530-0630  15280.004_BGL                    Middle East

Nepali     0900-1030   9734.807_DEL  11804.785_DEL  15400.004_BGL
                       103.2(N) 103.7(G)               Nepal
Urdu       0930-1130   1071(R) 100.8(F), 103.6 MHz(A)  Pakistan
Bangla     1000-1515    594(C)                         Bangladesh
Chinese    1030-1200  15400.004_BGL          China, jammed by CHN mainland
Tibetan    1045-1215   9734.806_DEL  11804.786_DEL
                                 Tibet, jammed by CHN mainland on even fqy
Saraiki    1130-1200   1071(R) 103.6 MHz(A)            Pakistan
Punjabi    1200-1330   1071(R) 103.6 MHz(A)            Pakistan
Swahili    1215-1315  15400.012_BGL                    East Africa
Baluchi    1230-1330   9734.805_DEL                    Pakistan
Pashtu     1230-1400  11805.004_BGL                    fr 12.15 UT onwards
                                                       Afghanistan
Dari       1330-1500   9735.003_BGL  S=9+40dB powerful Afghanistan
Hindi      1515-1530    594(C)                         Bangladesh
English    1530-1545    594(C)                         Bangladesh
Bangla     1545-1830    594(C)                         Bangladesh
Urdu       1545-1930   1071(R) 100.8(F), 103.6 MHz(A)  Pakistan
Farsi      1600-1730   9620.003_BGL                    Iran
Arabic     1730-1930   9620.003_BGL                    Middle East
French     1930-2030   9620.003_BGL            DRM digital mode WestEurope
                                                 but also heard in AM mode
Punjabi    2330-0100   1071(R) 103.6 MHz(A)            Pakistan
Chinese    2345-0115  15280.004_BGL          China, jammed by CHN mainland

Note: Home Service and other languages may be heard briefly for a few
minutes prior to the start / end of some of the scheduled External
Services languages.

Time Wise schedules is in: <https://qsl.net/vu2jos/es/time.htm>
Reception Reports to:      <spectrum-manager -at- prasarbharati.gov.in>

Transmitter Sites used for External Services:

Code Location kW    kHz/MHz
A  Amritsar   1x20   103.6
B  Bengaluru  3x500  7215 9620 9735 11735 11805 11875 15185 15280 15400
                    15410
C  Chinsurah  (Kolkata) 594
D  New Delhi  2x100  9735 11735 11805
F  Fazilka    20    100.8
G  Gadania    1x10  103.7
N  Nanpara    1x10  103.2
R  Rajkot     1071

Live streaming:  <https://prasarbharati.gov.in/get-apps/>

Prepared by Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, India.  Email: <vu2jos -at- niar.org>

(IDXC 'Focus On India'  <idxc.international -at- gmail.com>
Jose Jacob VU2JOS; DX India, Febr 5, 2024; monitored by wb  df5sx  wwdxc)
(WWDXC 1528/08 Mar 2024)

World Music Radio testing new transmitter

 


World Music Radio (WMR) is testing a new 300 Watts transmitter (AM carrier) on 25800 kHz since February 19 - instead of the old one which was 60 Watts (AM carrier) only. Unfortunately we are causing some interference to a local Ethernet set up. So at times modulation has been lowered, and power is slightly under 300 Watts.

Signals can be heard worldwide. With a bit of luck and patience as well as a good receiver and a good aerial. The best chances are in Southern Europe, Northern Africa, Russia, and Eastern North America. But signals have also been picked up in Western North America, Japan, South America, Australia/NZ, the Middle East, South Africa, and Japan.

All World Music Radio frequencies: 927, 5930, 15700, and 25800 kHz are on the air 24/7 hrs/d . QSL's available from

World Music Radio
P.O.Box 112
DK-8960 Randers SØ
Denmark - Europe

Please enclose return postage (2 IRCs or 5 EURo) if possible. The printed 2024 QSL card will be available soon (before Summer hopefully).
Best 73s - ( Stig Hartvig Nielsen-DEN, hcdx via
ARDXC ADXN magazine March, direct ARDXC to wwdxc BC-DX TopNews March 8)
(WWDXC Top Nx 1573/08 Mar 2024)

SM Radio Dessau program schedules

 

SM Radio Dessau 

Germany/Austria: SM Radio Dessau

https://www.smradio-dessau.de


The following broadcast will be on the following schedules: 

(UTC, +1=CET, +2=CEST):

Sun , March 10, 2024, 12 p.m.-1:00 p.m.: 6070 KHz (Moosbrunn 100 kW) Buchenwald process

Sun, April 14, 2024, 11:00 a.m.-12 p.m .: 6070 KHz (Moosbrunn 100 kW) Contemporary witnesses of the magnetic tape factory Dessau

Sun, April 21, 2024, 10.00 -11 a.m.: 6095 kHz (Nauen 100 kW) contemporary witnesses of the Dessau magnetic tape factory

Meaningful reception reports are welcome at Max Berger, Saalestrasse 44, 06846 Dessau, maxberger@smradio-dessau.de. 

(Bernd Seiser/Thomas Becker)

News on LRA 36 Radio Nacional Arcangel San Gabriel


Antarctica
LRA 36 Radio Nacional Arcangel San Gabriel, status info:

Alejandro Petrecca (Chief of the LRA1 TX Plant) and Claudio Garcia (technical operator of Radio Nacional El Bolson and amateur radio operator with previous experience at LRA 36) finally arrived at Joint Antarctic Base Esperanza. Their mission is to perform maintenance and optimization work on the audio chain, install a new console, and place the FM antenna and the tower that will be used for the new LRA 36 shortwave transmitter.

Upon arrival, they discovered that the output stage of the Collins HF 80 transmitter, which is used to transmit LRA 36 programs on 15476 kHz, was burned out. They also found that the tower sections for the shortwave antenna and the audio console had not yet arrived at the base. LRA 36 broadcast regularly until January 13.

Then, Juan Benavente, the architect of many LRA 36's achievements in recent years, was recalled. With Benavente's departure, the radio was left in the hands of unqualified people, which is evident by the fact that the transmitter burned out the day after he left.

The cause of the fire is being investigated. Juan and Nicole Valdebenito (operator) know the sequences necessary to start up the transmitter by heart, but this was not the case with those who came after them.

Currently, Petrecca and Garcia are installing the FM antenna for local coverage. It is estimated that the new Studio Console and audio distributor donated by Trialcom will arrive at Joint Antarctic Base Esperanza by the end of next week. The output board of the transmitter is also being sent to replace the burned one and keep it in operation during February.

If Juan Benavente had been coordinating, none of these situations would have occurred. Unfortunately, political favors promoted by the previous administration left LRA 36 abandoned in its most important mission, which is shortwave transmission. I estimate that if they agree and the planets align, we could resume LRA36 shortwave broadcasts before the end of February. 
(Adrian Korol Director of RAE via Horacio Nigro-Uruguay CX3BZ / DXplorer)

Juan Benevente confirms that a new 10 kW transmitter is due to be delivered this year.

LRA36 often takes breaks around this time of year - midsummer.
(Manual Mendez-Spain / British DX Club)

There were special tests conducted on February 2nd (Fri) and 3rd (Sat) that were widely reported. (R_A_D)
('Listener's Notebook' by Richard A. D'Angelo-PA-USA via
NASWA Journal #3 - page #26 / 27 ; of March 8, 2024)

Wednesday, March 06, 2024

How a pirate radio station shook Los Angeles: the story of KBLT

 

MARK FRAUENFELDER  1:55 PM TUE MAR 5, 2024


KBLT was an unlicensed pirate radio station in Los Angeles that operated out of a hilltop apartment in Silver Lake from 1995 to 1998, until it was shut down by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). 

Founder Paige Jarrett (real name: Susan Carpenter) ran the station on less than $100 a month. At the time, as a freelance journalist, Jarrett also operated the pirate radio station KPBJ (named after the peanut butter and jelly sandwich) in San Francisco before moving to Los Angeles.

Get the story at: