Monday, May 05, 2008

Observations from Myanmar

This mornings news has reports of a devastating cyclone in Myamar (also known as Burma). State radio reported that almost 4,000 people were killed and nearly 3,000 others were unaccounted for in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city.

Additional news from Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,354139,00.html
Reuters:
http://www.reuters.com/
BBC News:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
VOA News:
http://www.voanews.com/english/portal.cfm

In recent weeks, the following radio observations have been noted.
All times UTC // parallel frequencies

Myanmar Radio
Rangoon has two additional transmissions on the air, makes it four in total. (wb)

5985.8 Myanmar 2342 with talks in Bamar (unsure due to low signal) followed by music. New tune in 0000 with music Liangas April 18. (Zacharias Liangas-GRC, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Apr 23)

I received Myanma Radio on 5985.00 kHz (just on nom. freq) at 1250-1600 UT (KOed by CRI-Swahili) of Apr. 21. Followed English ID of a female at 1530 UT and became English service. Audio file by Sei-ichi Yamamori on Apr. 23 at 1529 UTC:
(Sei-ichi Hasegawa-JPN, NDXC HQ Apr 25)

On April 19, I heard a station on 5985.0 from 1416-1435 UTC, with easy-listening pop songs, in an Asian language with poor reception, due to adjacent splatter. Had first thought the language was right for Myanma Radio, but then they did not change over to English as they normally do at 1430, so thought I must be wrong, but thanks to Sei-ichi Hasegawa observations, it really was them with a new schedule for their English programming (starts at 1530 UT).

There was no sign of anything on the usual 5985.83. Have not checked on this again, as every day I have been involved in monitoring the activity of Lao National Radio on 6130, checking what was actually heard against their website schedule. (Ron Howard-CA-USA, DXplorer Apr 25)

I'm hearing a Burmese (may be Kachin or Karen) program at 0000-0130 UT with lots of music and also at 1230-1500 UT (s/on, s/off time may vary). In the morning it is causing severe cochannel to Vatican Radio to So.Asia at 0025 UT onwards till 0130 UT.
(Alok Dasgupta-IND, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Apr 26)

Checking at 1100 found 5915 running \\ to 5040 with Domestic Service and also 5985 kHz exactly not that off freq of 5985.75 or so, with the usual more western oriented service.

At 1230 also noted 5770 active making 4 SW transmitters. At 0000 UT on 5915 \\ 5985.75 kHz Burmese Service. At 0030 UT 7185 kHz starts up as well. (Victor Goonetilleke-CLN 4S7VK, DXplorer Apr 28-29)

I think now at 1330 they are on 5985 kHz exact. Can't confirm 5915 kHz due to CRI.
(Mauno Ritola-FIN, DXplorer Apr 29)
(Source: WWDXC/Top News/BC-DX #858 via wb, Germany)