Monday, August 30, 2010

Radio Bulgaria DX Program

This is Radio Bulgaria’s weekly DX Program for radio amateurs and shortwave fans and DXers which is included in our one-hour broadcasts starting as follows: Friday at 21.00 UTC on 5900 and 7400 kHz beamed to West Europe, at 23.00 UTC and Saturday at 02.00 UTC on 9700 and 11700 kHz to North America, as well as in the half-hour broadcast at 06.30 UTC on 9600 and 11600 kHz to West Europe.

In this issue by DX Editor Dimiter Petrov, LZ1AF, with Broadcast Tips by Rumen Pankov:

SABA 2010 DXpedition (Netherlands Antilles)
Team leader Bob Allphin, K4UEE, has released the following update:

The Saba 2010 team has completed all preparations for the activation of Saba beginning October 10, 2010. As you know by now, that is the likely date that the Netherlands Antilles will cease to exist and several new DXCC entities will be created as a result. One of those new countries should be Saba/St. Eustatius Island due to their close proximity. Although, this is not a 100% certainty, it is likely enough to plan an operation.

Two teams, comprised mostly of members of the Southeastern DX Club (SEDXC) will operate over a two-week period beginning October 10th and ceasing operations the morning of October 23rd.

A reconnaissance trip was conducted to Saba Island in March this year, and two sites were selected. They are a minimum of 500 ft above the sea with a clear shot to the main target areas of Japan, North America and Europe. In March, this location produced many contacts all over the world with low power and wire antennas. We should be loud! Combine this location and the excellent operators and we believe DXers worldwide will have a great chance of making contacts for a brand new one.

We have created a website http://www.saba2010.com/ and we will be updating it periodically. It is our intention to upload to Log Book of the World (LoTW) from Saba often.

Please note that this operation is entirely self-supporting. The operators themselves will bear all the costs and provide their personal equipment for the stations and antennas.

YJ0VK – Vanuatu

Chris, VK3QB updates us on this operation scheduled for August 27 to September 2. The YJ0VK team is fully prepared now. We fly out of the eastern seaboard of Australia on Thursday, August 26. We expect to be operational on 20 meters by 00.00 UTC August 27. Other bands will come on-line through the day. Our vertical antennas are constructed and tested and appear to be working very well.

We will be placing a special focus on the WARC bands, so please look for us on the following frequencies: CW - 10107, 18077, 24897 kHz; SSB – 10130 (our comment is - it is strange, the 10 MHz band is an exclusively CW band, how can SSB be used?).

On the traditional bands we will be operating on the following frequencies +/- QRM:
CW: 1820, 3511, 7011, 14011, 21001, 28011 kHz; SSB: 1860, 3670, 7170, 14170, 21270, 28470 kHz.
We have a limited station for 160 meters, but we’ll certainly have it operational each day at our sunrise and sunset.

We welcome all QSLs; please send them to the address on our website or via the QSL bureau – the team hopes to achieve DXCC during these six days. For more information please visit our website: http://yj0vk.vkham.com/ .

Propagation Conditions

According to K7RA Solar Update, sunspot numbers and solar flux declined this week, with the average daily sunspot numbers down nearly 17 points to36.1, and the average daily solar flux down to 83.5. In the previous week, the average daily sunspot numbers had risen nearly 33 points to 53.
New sunspot groups appeared on August 11, 13 and 16, but on Tuesday and Wednesday (August 17-18), total sunspot area was one-fifth what it was on August 16, less than one-seventh the area on August 14 and less than one-fourteenth the area of August 12.

Projections for solar flux over the next 10 days, August 20-29: rising from 78 to 81 gradually. Predictions for planetary A index over those same days are 5 on August 27-29. Geophysical Institute Prague predicted unsettled conditions August 24-28.

B R O A D C A S T T I P S

Eritrea. Eritrean Radio in July used the frequency of 9715 kHz but after Radio Saudi Arabia showed up there, has moved to 9710 kHz. The station was heard in Sofia at 03.55 hours with Identification Signal and news bulletin from 04.02 hours on 7150 and 7175 kHz – right in the 40 meter HAM band and on 9710 kHz.

Japan. NHK Radio Japan in Japanese was received in Sofia between 03 and 04 hours on 15195, 15325 and 17810 kHz from transmitters located in Japan.

St. Helena. As you may know, Radio St. Helena on the island with the same name in the South Atlantic has only one broadcast a year and always on the same frequency of 11092.5 kHz USB. Last year the broadcast took place in December and was received by a small number of listeners.
This year the broadcast will be on October 9 as follows: from 19 to 20.30 hours to Europe; from 20.30 to 23 hours to Asia and from 23 to 00.30 hours to North America.

India & Spain. Two radio stations broadcasting in English are received from 00 to 00.45 hours on one and the same frequency 6055 kHz – All India Radio and Radio Exterior de Espana. The Indian Radio is on till 00.45 hours and afterwards the Spanish radio is audible without interference.

Turkey. Radio TRY or Turkyie Radio and TV has extraordinary broadcasts and was reported on August 22 at 20 hours on 5960, 9460 and 702 kHz with a sports program and on 954 and 891 kHz with another music program. On August 23 there were broadcasts from this station from 03.30 hours on 702, 954 and 891 kHz. These frequencies haven’t been used for a long time with small exceptions of 702 kHz.

Chagos Islands & USA. Music program with announcements in English was heard after 02.30 hours on 7811 kHz from a transmitter in Florida and on 12759 kHz from Diego Garcia Island in the Indian Ocean, both in USB mode. At 03.00 hours the station announced “This is the American Forces Radio.”

Germany. Radio Gloria International in English was heard with a program of retro-songs on August 22 from 09 hours on 6140 kHz via a transmitter located in Germany. It is on the air once a month.

Ethiopia. With the strongest signal out of all local stations in this country Radio Oromya was noted on August 23 at 03.30 hours on 6030 kHz.

With this we have come to the end of our weekly DX Program. Your opinions and suggestions will be appreciated and all reception reports confirmed with the QSL card of Radio Bulgaria. Please address your letters to English Section, Radio Bulgaria, Sofia, Bulgaria or by e-mail to english@bnr.bg . An online reception report form is available at http://www.bnr.bg/ – click on English and navigate!
So, 73 and DX!
(Source: Radio Bulgaria: DX programme August 27, 2010 http://bit.ly/aklrZt
(Yimber Gaviria, Colombia)

Pirate radio on shortwave

All times UTC *sign-on/sign-off*


Captain Morgan Shortwave captianmorganshortwave@gmail.com
6924, 0159-0209.* The Rolling Stones tune Brown Sugar and You Know What I Mean. Possible ID at 0209 when apparently closed. Signal peaked at fair but very deep fades. (D’Angelo-PA)

6925 AM 14 Aug 2010 0105-0122. Blues show with frequent IDs. (SIO 252, Hunsicker, PA)

Eccentric Shortwave
6930 USB, 0107. Music by the immortal Hank Williams. Other music followed, some modern pop. Station ID "you are listening to the .. shortwave" at 0117. Peter Gabriel's Red Rain at 0118. Occasional brief audio drop-outs and problems in the audio during during this song. 0122, Beatles' Rain. Email contact at 0125, "you are listening to Eccentric Shortwave" at 0127. Good signal and sound, S7. (Will-MD)

Ha Ha Radio
6925 USB, 0115-0152, SINPO 35434. Monologue from a boy DJ, put downs for a science class. Music by Monk. Friend Nick joins to discuss a cartoon ?yoko.. Brother Love . Station ID at sign off , "Ha Ha Radio" with peppy backing music (Ragnar)

KUSA
6935 USB, 0121, SIO 434. Very strong signal, English is My Language song about the American Revolution. Station ID at 0127, “KUSA North America.” Other patriotic music, station ID, and off at 01:39 (Fansome-central Maine)

MAC Shortwave macshortwave@yahoo.com
6925 USB, 0110, SIO 534. Some noise, sort of a MIDI piano intro, followed by Ultraman announcing the show, and some rock music. Station ID and a dumb jokes at 0115, says he's going back to school and that he'll miss pirate radio. More MIDI-type music (Fansome, PA)

Northwoods Radio northwoodsradio@gmail.com
6935 USB, 0210-0248.* Man announcer with IDs and gmail address for reception reports. Seemingly endless closedown routine with announcer mentioning he has been drinking beer and bourbon. Numerous UTC time checks. Said would return tomorrow morning at 1200 or 1300 UTC depending upon when he woke up. Good signal. (D’Angelo-PA)

Outhouse Radio outhouseradio@gmail.com
6925 USB, 2145-2158, SINPO 35343. Disco inferno to computerized voice ID. (Ragnar)

Outhouse Radio
6930 USB, 0412-0428+. Music oldies, R&B, rap & rock to some clipped short. Station ID at 0426+ and 0427+. Quick response from operator to email query confirmed Outhouse too. SIO 254. (Frodge-MI)

Radio Free Euphoria
5110 AM, 0303. Immediately after Area 51 on WBCQ went off, an AM signal popped up playing an episode of Radio Free Euphoria with Captain Ganja. Horrible co-channel noise prevents better reception, but distinctive "no pets" and "tony straka" soundbytes heard, as well as the Cheech and Chong song. s3. (Will-MD)

Sycko Radio syckoradio@gmail.com
6925 USB, 1305-1312, SINPO 25322. Operator said broadcasting on 6925 upper and just wanted to make sure the transmitter still worked. One rock song then off. (Ragnar)

WKNR
6925 USB, 0148-0315.* Caught Radio Animal with his review of QSL cards, the pennant from Radio USA, during his Pirate Report of November 1995. promotion for A*C*E*, Pirate Pages and the Andrew Yoder's Pirate Radio Directory for 1995 ( which I have a copy) Electronic Barking Dog Alarm for less for $9.98 (0306) and the barking Dog's Jingle Bells Song. Noted at sign-off with WKND - short wave Freedom Radio -ID, BRS QSL Address, 'Fight for Flea radio' motto, barking dogs trilogy ..and finally 'we are pure canine dog..WKND (please qsl) SIO 353. (Edward Kusalik, ALberta, Canada)

QSL
From Outhouse Radio, 6930 USB. Received a reply to my report of his test run of the new ICOM 718. The operator sent a photo of the transceiver and the test run first broadcast. Report sent to outhouseradio@gmail.com . Along with the QSL reply, a MP3 audio clip of the sign-off song: Soulful Strut by Young Holt Unlimited included. Special thanks to Outhouse for the privilege of being able to hear this test broadcast of the new rig and for the audio clip. (Edward Kusalik-Alberta, Canada)
(excerpts from FRW # 758 Bill Finn & #759 via Ragnar Daneskjold)

Euro Pirates log
All times UTC
3905,00 1008 2035 Radio Northcoast. English pops, jingle, rock, ID, email, SINPO 24322
3905,00 1108 2150 Radio Baken 16. Spanish stroll, Petshop boys, pops SINPO 24232
3905,00 1408 2005 Henk Skyline International Radio. Station ID, pops, ballad, pop, rock SINPO 34322
3910,00 0908 2100 Radio Northcoast, Dance music and talks, SINPO 24222
3932,00 0908 2108 Radio Jan van Gent. Dutch music ballads, SINPO 24211
6220,00 0908 1703 Mystery Radio. English disco dance, jingle ID SINPO 35443
6220,00 1408 2006 Mystery Radio. English ID, music from Cat Stevens, pops, funky tunes. SINPO 34333
6301,00 1108 1600 unid, D, ballad, rock 24332
6301,00 1208 1655 Radio Boomerang. Pop dance music, SINPO 34333
6301,00 1208 1704 Mustang Radio. Boney M to station ID. SINPO 34333
6301,00 1308 1728 Mustang Radio. Music of banjo and polka to talks. Bye bye closing down at 1731. SINPO 33333
6305,00 0908 1705 Radio Merlin International. Music pops and ballads to ID. SINPO 24232
6305,00 1208 1709 Radio Weerklak? German schlger music to ID and comments. SINPO 24222 6305,00 1308 1732 Radio Black Power. German dance music to pops tunes. SINPO 34343
6305,00 1408 1540 Marconi Radio. Disco dance, pops, and rock to jingle. Dj's "hello everybody." Program closing down at 1646. SINPO 34333
6306,00 1408 1738 Marconi R, D,E, country rock, ID, testing, bye bye, closing down at 1751 35443
6310,00 1308 1840 unid, pop funky SINPO 34333
6310,00 1408 2155 Radio Black Bandit. English talks, ID, and rock to ballads. SINPO 24222
6310,00 1508 1510 Radio Malaysi. English pops and dance music. DJ spots to jingle. SINPO 24232
6313,00 1308 2010 Oldtimer Radio. German pops, ballads to Petshop Boys. SINPO 24222
6325,00 1008 1720 Radio Black Bandit. Pops and German polka schlger. SINPO 24222
6375,00 1208 1725 Radio Redymix ? German pops to schlager tunbes and ballads. SINPO 24232
6420,00 1408 1615 Radio Alice. German polka to ID. Talks, banjo, closing down at 1623. SINPO 24332
6912,00 1008 2020 Cactus Jack Radio. Music ballad, Roxette, jingle ID, and Phil Collins music. Noted on USB, SINPO 24222
6912,00 1108 1850 Cactus Jack Radio. English pop dance tune to jingle ID. Item on Flu A campaign. Noted on USB. SINPO 35443
6925,00 0908 1950 Spider Radio. English ballads and music from The Police. Noted on USB. SINPO 24222
6925,00 1208 1955 Spider Radio. Music ballad, noted on USB, SINPO 24311
6925,00 1308 1950 Spider Radio. Musical ballad to station ID and film soundtrack. Noted on USB, SINPO 24222
6925,00 1508 1945 Spider R, E, pops ABBA, ballad, on USB 24211
7610,00 1308 2000 Radio Amica. Italian station ID and email, DJ asking for reports. Pop dance and ballads from live DJ. SINPO 34232
7610,00 1408 1525 Radio Amica. Italian. Pop dance tunes to staiton ID. SINPO 24332
7610,00 1508 0615 Radio Amica, Italian. Pop dance tunes to ID and email. DJ asking for reports. SINPO 24332
(Silveri Gomez/playdx2003)

Shiokaze adds new segment to programming


Clandestine
5910, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze via Yamata,*1400-1430* (sign-on/sign-off), August 27 (Friday). English. Usual segments of "Today’s News Flash" and “Today’s News on North Korean ssues.” Station IDs as; “This is Shiokaze Sea Breeze from Tokyo, Japan.” Signal poorer than usual due to moderate jamming.

They have added a new segment at 1425 heard as, “this is a message from the Japanese government, the Japanese government will surely bring all the abductees back home.” The government will be broadcasting (every night ?) a program in Japanese and Korean on 900 kHz. This announcement followed by Shiokaze's normal canned sign off announcement. On Wednesday (25th) was in Korean, not the normal English programming.
(Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA/Cumbre DX)

Voice of Turkey A10 schedule


Effective to: 30 October 2010

Voice of Turkey - target areas: af (Africa) am (Americas) as (Asia) eu (Europe)pa (Pacific)

All times UTC

Arabic
0900-1000 11690as 11750af/as
1400-1500 9540as 17770af

Azerbaijani
0700-0800 11730as
1400-1430 9540af
1530-1600 9530as
1600-1630 9530as

Bulgaria
1100-1130 7210eu

Chinese
1100-1200 15240as

Dari/Pashto/Uzbek
1500-1600 11765as
1600-1630 11765as

English
0300-0400 5975am/eu 6165af/as
1230-1300 15450eu 15520as
1300-1330 15520as
1830-1900 9785eu
1900-1930 9785eu
2030-2100 7205as/pa
2100-2130 7205as/pa
2200-2300 9830am/eu

French
1930-2000 9535af 9635eu
2000-2030 9535af 9635eu

Georgian
1000-1100 9655as

German
1130-1200 13760eu
1200-1230 13760eu
1730-1800 11835eu
1800-1830 11835eu

Italian
1400-1430 9610eu

Kazakh
1330-1400 11880as

Persian
0830-0900 11795as
0900-1000 11795as
1500-1600 9765as

Russian
1300-1400 11965as

Spanish
0100-0200 9770am/eu 9870am/eu
1630-1700 11930eu
1700-1730 11930eu

Tatar
1000-1030 13770as

Turkish
0000-0100 7260as
0100-0200 7260as
0400-0500 6040as 11980as/eu
0500-0600 6040as 11980as/eu
0600-0700 11750as 11955af/as 13635eu
0700-0800 11750as 11955af/as 13635eu
0800-0900 11750as 11955af/as 13635eu
0900-1000 11955af/as 13635eu
1000-1100 11955af/as 13635eu
1100-1200 11955af/as 13635eu
1200-1300 11955af/as 13635eu
1300-1400 9840eu
1400-1500 9840eu
1500-1600 9840eu
1600-1700 5960af/as 9460eu
1700-1800 5960af/as 9460eu
1800-1900 5960af/as 9460eu
1900-2000 5960af/as 9460eu
2000-2100 5960af/as 9460eu

Turkmen
1200-1230 11825as

Urdu
1200-1300 13710as

Uyghur
0200-0300 7200as
1400-1500 7200as

Uzbek
1030-1100 15280as
(Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India)


TRT Worldlinks at: http://www.trt-world.com/
































QSL Report Central

The following QSLs were recently omitted from my QSL Report column in Monitoring Times for space constraints. Thanks to all who have contributed - what have you verified recently ?
Gayle Van Horn


Clandestine
Radio Oromiyaa Liberation, via Nauen, Germany 13830 kHz. Full data QSL card signed by Jeff White-WRMI. Received in 27 days for an English report and $1.00 US. QSL address: WRMI International, 175 Fontainebleau Blvd., Suite 1N4, Miami, FL 33172 USA. (Luca Botto Fiora/playdx2003)

Voice of Oromiyaa Liberation Front, 11975 kHz. Full data QSL card signed by Jeff White-WRMI. Received in 27 days and an English report and $ 1.00 US. QSL address: (see above, WRMI address). (Luca Botto Fiora/playdx2003).

Colombia
Marfil Estero 5910 kHz. Full data card signed by Rafael Rodriguez plus sticker. Received in 56 days for an email report to: rafaelcoldx@yahoo.com . (Antonio Madrid/playdx2003).

Egypt
Egyptian Radio Television Union, 6270 kHz via Abu Za'bal. Full data Broadcast and Television Building card, signed by Amgad Bligh-Head of Spectrum & Monitoring Department. Received in 99 days for an English report, postcard and $1.00 US. (Kivell, FL/NASWA Aug 2010)

Equatorial Guinea
Radio Nacional Ecuatorial Guinea 5005 kHz. Full data QSL card. Received in 141 days for a Spanish report and $ 2.00 US for return postage. Station address: c/o Radio Bata, Apartado 749, Republic Guinea Ecuatorial.
(Antonio Madrid/playdx2003).

Germany
MV Baltic Radio via Wertachtal, Germany 6140 kHz. Full data QSL card, signed by Roland Rohde. Received in 46 days for $1.00 US. QSL address: R&R Medienservice, Seestrasse 17, DE-19089 Gohren, Germany. (Luca Botto Fiora/playdx2003).

Greece
Dromos FM 89.8 MHz. E-QSL from Stttttavros Boulitsakis. Received for an English follow-up report with attached MP3 to info@dromosfm.gr . (Luca Botto Fiora/playdx2003).

India
All India Radio via Shillong 4970 kHz. Full data E-QSL in 456 days for email report to: airshillong@rediffmail.com . (Luca Botto Fiora/playdx2003).

Mediumwave
Cyprus: CyBC 963 AM kHz. Full data card of studio view, unsigned. Received in 42 days for an AM report and $ 2.00 US for return postage. (Albert Muick, Kabul, Afghanistan).

Czech Republic: Radio Prague 954 kHz AM. Radio Prague QSL card plus mouse pad. Received in 189 days for an email to: info@rozhlas.cz . (Antonio Madrid/playdx2003).

Isle of Man: Manx Radio, 1368 AM kHa (20 kW). Date only large island view card unsigned, plus station pen. Received in 54 days for an AM report and $ 2.00 US for return postage. (Albert Muick, Kabul, Afghanistan).

Mauritius: MBC 684 kHz AM. No-data email QSL card from Cyril Nankoo-Acting Chief Engineer. Received in 73 days, plus followed in a couple of weeks by an MBC gift pack with a pen, DVD about the extinct Dodo bird and an MBC polo shirt, which sadly is (I'm ashamed to admit) way too small for me. All this for $ 5.00 US return postage. I have a good correspondence going with Cyril and he informs me they are moving into new headquarters there soon. (Albert Muick, Kabul, AFghanistan).

Réunion:(France)FR3 Radio Réunion, 666 kHz AM. Full data Rotatable Antenna in Issoudun France card, unsigned. Received in 80 days for a French report and $ 5.00 US for return postage. Report was sent Réunion, however reply came from TDP Radio Business Unit, Shortwave Department, Montrouge, France. (Albert Munick, Kabul, Afghanistan).

Moldova
Voice of Russia, 6240 kHz. Full data QSL card, without transmitter site notation. Received in six weeks. (Lawrence, RI/NASWA Aug 2010)

Nigeria
Voice of Nigeria, 15120 kHz. Full data QSL card, sticker and schedule. Received in three weeks for an English email report to: englishvon@yahoo.com . (Artur Fernandez llorella, Catalonia, Spain/playdx2003).

Russia
Trans World Radio via Samara,11955 kHz. Full data card including transmitter site notation, signed from Franklin Abraham. Received in 17 months for a report to: info@twr@in . Reply from fabraham@twrindia.org .(Artur Fernandez Llorella, Catalonia, Spain/playdx2003).

Rwanda
Deutsche Welle via Kigali relay, 7240 kHz. Full data Walled-In Germany's Inner Border, a computer animated documentary by DW-TV, from Customer Service. Received in 11 days. (Rich D'Angelo, PA/NASWA Aug 2010)

Radio Nederland via Kigali relay 9895 kHz. Full data QSL card, unsigned. Received in 57 days. Station address: P.O. Box 222, NL-1200 JG Hilversum, Netherlands) (Luca Botto Fiora/ playdx2003).

Sri Lanka
Radio Nederland via Trincomalee relay 9895 kHz. Full data QSL card, unsigned. Received in 57 days. Station address: (see Rwanda). (Luca Botto Fiora/playdx2003).

Syria
Radio Damascus, 12085 kHz. Full data card signed by Amelia Puga, plus station sticker. Received in eight days for an email report to: radiodamasco@yahoo.com . (Antonio Madrid/playdx2003).

Tajikistan
Bible Voice via Yangi Yul, 7485 kHz. Full data QSL. Received in 30 days for email report and MP3 to: mail@biblevoice.org . (Luca Botto Fiora/playdx2003).

Arguments for keeping VOA Greenville site continue


"The phrase Voice of America (VOA) has always stood for a strong, powerful American broadcasting entity. The United States government intended the Voice of America to provide hope to people around the world and to counteract the propaganda espoused by America’s enemies in war conflicts. In the mid 1990s the federal government began closing or consolidating some large VOA broadcasting facilities. The federal government would like to close VOA site B in Greenville, NC. I hope they choose not to for some several reasons. ... The VOA may be old by some standards but it is new to those who cherish the iron clad tube technology and massive antennas as well as those who rely on shortwave for critical and sometimes life-saving information. Let us not forget, telephone, cell towers and the related internet infrastructure is vulnerable during emergencies and disasters and the VOA’s former cold war technology is always reliable." With photos. -- Anyone familiar with the variable nature of shortwave propagation knows that it is not "always reliable." But shortwave does have the advantage of not relying on landlines or cell relays in areas affected by distasters, wars, or dictators.

Previous post:
"U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield ... will tour Voice of America’s Site B transmitter facility outside of Grimesland [North Carolina]... . Along with viewing a live broadcast, Butterfield will meet with staff and discuss Radio Marti, which is broadcast by shortwave radio to Cuba. President Obama’s 2011 budget recommends closing the local VOA site, which would save $3.1 million for its parent organization, Broadcasting Board of Governors, according earlier news reports. Butterfield and Pitt County’s other congressional representative, U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones Jr., R-N.C., have opposed the closure. The Broadcasting Board of Governors said the closure is part of the organization’s efforts to update satellite and other broadcasting technology. The local facility, which opened in 1963, employs 23 people."
"'We have one advantage over the Internet — no one can stop us,' Al Bailey, an lectronics technician at the facility, said. Stopping Internet delivery is as simple as cutting a phone or fiber optic line or padlocking the server location, he said. Internet programming also can be traced. The equipment needed to jam shortwave radio signals is expensive, he said. Although the Pitt County site broadcasts to three regions, its signal can be heard worldwide, Bailey said."
(The Daily Reflector/KIim Elliott)

Mediumwave WOR in New York on Shortwave

The 88 year old mediumwave radio station WOR in New York City is one of the well known mediumwave stations in the United States. Among its achievements is the fact that it has retained its original callsign all the way through, and it is the only three letter callsign still in use in New York City. However, in spite of its high profile throughout its long and illustrious history, there are very few people today who are aware that this notable mediumwave radio station was also involved in experimental shortwave broadcasting back in its earlier years.
Radio station WOR was launched by Jack Poppele, of subsequent VOA fame, back on February 22 in the year 1922. At the time, the station was licensed to Newark New Jersey and it was installed in the sixth floor of the fourteen storey Bamberger Store in Newark. The original transmitter was a 250 watt unit constructed by De Forrest and it was allocated the congested 833 kHz channel.
In the license application, request was made for the callsign WLB, but that had just been taken up by another station so they were granted the sequential call WOR. At the time, this call had just been relinquished by the Orient Line passenger vessel, S S “California”. This call, WOR, had meaning as the first two letters in the name Orient Line, but it had no meaning whatsoever to the Bamberger store.
Soon afterwards, the transmitter was removed from the sixth floor and re-installed on the roof of the Bamberger building; and shortly afterward again, a 500 watt Western Electric transmitter was installed. During the following year again, WOR moved from the highly undesirable 833 kHz channel to the more open channel 740 kHz.
At this stage, studios were opened at Chickering Hall on West 57th Street in New York itself, though shortly afterwards, these were moved to a more prominent location at 1440 Broadway.
When station WOR was just five years old, a more impressive transmitter facility was constructed on a lonely plot of land four miles away at Kearney, still in New Jersey. The power level here was raised to 5 kW, and the frequency was changed to 710 kHz. A colorful old postcard shows an attractive aerial view of this ornate facility.
When station WOR was twelve years old, another transmitter facility was constructed, this time at more distant Carteret, though again still in New Jersey. The property here was thirty four acres against the Rahway River. The new building was planned to house several transmitters, including the 5 kW mediumwave unit from Kearney, a new 50 kW mediumwave, an airways beacon, and also a shortwave transmitter. The counterpoise system for the mediumwave antenna was made up of thirty five miles of buried copper wire covering an area of ten acres, some of which was buried beneath the flowing waters of the Rahway River.
The president of the United States at that time, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, performed the opening ceremony for the new WOR on March 4, 1935 during a special event at the White House.
In 1967, a new transmitter facility was constructed near Lyndhurst, and the previous Carteret site became a community park. Almost forty years later again, another new transmitter facility was constructed for station WOR at Rutherford, and the Lyndhurst property became a golf course. These days, station WOR can be heard widely with 50 kW, still on 710 kHz. They have always been a reliable verifier of reception reports.
In addition to the main mediumwave transmitters, station WOR has also been involved in other forms of radio transmission. Back in the year 1928, they operated a mobile shortwave transmitter, W2XAQ, which was installed in an airplane for a remote broadcast. Eight years later, they performed another significant remote broadcast out in the Atlantic with the usage of their mobile shortwave transmitter on the new luxury passenger liner, the “Queen Mary”.
During the late 1930s, station WOR operated a high fidelity shortwave transmitter on 11 metres under the callsign W2XJI. In spite of the low power for this experimental operation, just 100 watts, yet it was often heard in Australia and New Zealand.
During the experimental era of fax broadcasting in the late 1930s, station WOR was on the air mediumwave with the late night transmission of a fax newspaper. They also operated a shortwave fax transmitter during this same era with the callsign W2XUP. Sometimes this transmitter on 11 metres was also heard in Australia and New Zealand, and at times with the occasional broadcast of musical programs.
Then too, they were also involved in FM broadcasting from several locations under half a dozen different callsigns; and of course, they were also involved in early TV transmissions as well.
OK, now back to their involvement in the shortwave scene. It was in the year 1928, that a 50 watt shortwave transmitter was installed at their new transmitter base near Kearney in New Jersey. This was an experimental unit, on the air under the previously used callsign W2XAQ, and subsequently as W2XCX, with the intent of installing a higher powered unit in due course.
In the early part of the year 1933, it was announced that WOR was ready to install a powerful new shortwave transmitter. The transmitter itself was already constructed, the announcement stated, but the building was not yet readied for this purpose.
During the following year, WOR announced the date for the inauguration of their new shortwave service. Their new shortwave transmitter, W2XHI, would be inaugurated on December 1, 1934, at the same time as the inauguration of their new mediumwave transmitter base at Carteret, New Jersey.
Subsequent news statements indicated delay after delay, until finally in November 1935, the shortwave project was abandoned, it was stated.
However, that was not the end of WOR on shortwave. In April 1937, international radio monitors in the United States noted WOR as a shortwave relay from the Press Wireless station at Hicksville, under the callsign W2II. On several occasions during the year 1937, the programming from WOR mediumwave was heard on relay from PWI Hicksville. The Hicksville callsign was W2XGB and the shortwave channel was usually 17310 kHz. PWI issued QSL cards confirming these broadcasts.
On two occasions, the high profile Jack Poppele of station WOR attempted to communicate with the planet Mars with the usage of transmitters at Hicksville; once in 1924, and again in 1939. These attempts were notably unsuccessful, due probably to the fact that Mars is uninhabited. (!!!)
The final occasion when WOR was noted with a shortwave relay was in September 1942, around the time when Hicksville was conducting experimental broadcasts in anticipation of their coming relay service on behalf of the Voice of America. International radio monitors in New Zealand and Australia sent reception reports on these shortwave broadcasts to mediumwave WOR in New York City. Official reply letters stated that WOR new nothing of the relay of their programming over callsign WJQ on 10010 kHz at Hicksville. However, they suggested, keep on listening to the same shortwave channel, and you will hear WOR again.
Thus it was, that mediumwave WOR was involved with shortwave broadcasting in, shall we say, four different eras:-
* Between the years 1928 & 1936, they are known to have operated their own 50 watt shortwave transmitter W2XAQ/W2XCX on several occasions.
* In the mid 1930s, they planned and prepared for a shortwave station, W2XHI, that never eventuated.
* In 1924 & 1939, WOR was involved in unsuccessful relays to the planet Mars via shortwave transmitters located at Press Wireless Hicksville.
* In the late 1930s & early 1940s, WOR was often noted on air via the shortwave facilities of PWI Hicksville.
(AWR Wavescan # NWS 79 via Adrian Peterson)

Friday, August 27, 2010

The Best of the Best - DX Programs on Shortwave

a reminder to our blog readers. Have you tried the rest ? Now try the best in weekend DX programs on shortwave !

All times UTC

SATURDAY
0240 R Bulgaria “Calling DXers”: 9700 11700
0245v RAE Buenos Aires “DXers Supplement”: 11710
0605 WWCR "Into Tomorrow": 4840
0640 R Bulgaria “Calling DXers”: 9600 11600
0800 HCJB Australia "DX PartyLine: 11750
0810 KBS World R, Seoul “Worldwide Friendship”: 9570
0830 IRRS/IPAR "DX PartyLine": 9510ri
1210 KBS World R “Worldwide Friendship”: 9650ca
1245 V of Turkey “DX Corner” (alt wks): 15450 15520
1310 KBS World R, Seoul “Worldwide Friendship”: 9570 9770
1315 HCJB Australia "DX PartyLine": 15400
1515 HCJB Australia "DX PartyLine": 15340
1610 KBS World R, Seoul “Worldwide Friendship”: 9515
1600 WHRI "DXing With Cumbre": 17520
1810 KBS World R, Seoul “Worldwide Friendship”: 7275
1830 WHRI "DXing With Cumbre": 11785
1845 V of Turkey “DX Corner” (alt wks): 9785
1845 IRRS/IPAR "DX PartyLine": 7290-ri
1930 T8WH Palau "DXing With Cumbre": 9930
2045 V of Turkey “DX Corner” (alt wks): 7205
2110 KBS World R, Seoul “Worldwide Friendship”: 3955uk
2115v REE Madrid “Radio Waves”: 9650 (irreg)
2215 V of Turkey “DX Corner” (alt wks): 9830
2310 KBS World Radio "Worldwide Friendship": 1440-lx

SUNDAY
0015v REE Madrid “Radio Waves”: 6055
0130 WHRI "DXing With Cumbre": 5920
0145 WWCR Nashville “Ask WWCR”: 4840
0200 WWCR “Australian DX Report" (Bob Padula): 4840
0210 KBS World R, Seoul “Worldwide Friendship”: 9580
0215 WWCR “DX PartyLine”: 4840
0315 V of Turkey “DX Corner” (alt wks): 5975 6165
0500 WWCR Nashville “Into Tomorrow”: 4840
0510 R Japan "World Interactive": 5975ra 6110ca 11970fr 15205ta 17810ya
0600 WWCR Nashville "Into Tomorrow": 4840
0800 Amateur Radio Mirror (South Africa): 7205me 17570me
0945 WWCR Nashville "Ask WWCR": 4840
1000 WHRI "DXing With Cumbre": 5920
1010 R Japan "World Interactive": 9605 9625 9840 11780ta
1200 Adventist World R "Wavescan": 15435we
1210 R Japan "World Interactive": 6120ca 9625 9695 9790we
1310 R Japan "World Interactive": 11985
1330 WHRI "DXing With Cumbre": 11785
1410 R Japan "World Interactive": 11705 11985 21560fr
1500 Adventist World R "Wavescan": 11720gm
1500 DXing With Cumbre: WRN-Eu
1505 RCI “Maple Leaf Mailbag”: 11675ku 15125ur
1510 RCI “Maple Leaf Mailbag”: 9515ca 9800drm
1530 Adventist World R "Wavescan": 15255we
1600 Adventist World R "Wavescan": 11720gm 11805gm
1610 RCI "Maple Leaf Mailbag": 9515ca 9800ca-drm
1630 Adventist World R "Wavescan": 11740gm
1805 RCI “Maple Leaf Mailbag”: 9530ks 11765sk 17735ca 17810sk
1902 BBCR4 ”Feedback”: 198LW MW FM DAB online
1930 T8WH Palau "DXing With Cumbre": 9930
2005 RCI “Maple Leaf Mailbag”: 15235ca 17735ca
2010v R Havana “DXers Unlimited”: 11760
2105 RCI “Maple Leaf Mailbag”: 9800ca-drm
2130 Adventist World R "Wavescan": 11850gm
2230 Adventist World R "Wavescan": 15320gm
2310v R Havana Cuba “DXers Unlimited”: 5040
2330 WBCQ “International Radio Report”: 5110 9330-usb
(BCDX/Aug 2010 update)

Radio Netherlands Program Preview, Aug. 28-Sept. 3


Welcome to our weekly guide to Radio Netherlands Worldwide's English Service - a list of the new programs coming up on Radio Netherlands Worldwide this week, beginning on Saturday.

SATURDAY 28 AUGUST
*** The State We're In ***

Crooked cop, straight goods: Eleven policemen have been implicated in the attempt to cover up the killing of unarmed civilians in New Orleans in the days following Hurricane Katrina. Robert Leon Davis knows something about police corruption. He was a crooked cop himself. After getting caught, he fled the US for over 20 years. Jonathan met with Robert in New Orleans to find out why he went bad, and why he decided to turn himself in.

Whirlwind romance: Hurricane Katrina came at just the right time for Paul Timmons and Nicole Saulnier. Both were wondering what to do with their lives when the hurricane struck. Both volunteered to help in the clear-up. That's where they met, and fell in love. They now live in New Orleans with their children.

Picking up the pieces: When Simone Bruni lost everything in Hurricane Katrina, she didn't know how to put her life back together. So she decided to tear down and rebuild her home. That led to a whole new career of being a "Demolition Diva", demolishing and restoring post-Kartina New Orleans, brick-by-brick.

Bounce music: Katey Red and Big Freeda are hot in New Orleans. They're the biggest stars in Bounce music and have come to be known as Sissy Rappers - a reference to their sexuality. Jonathan goes to one of their homes in New Orleans together with the DJ Rusty Lazer and gets the full Sissy Rap Treatment!

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
10.00 East and Southeast Asia 11895, South Asia 15110, China 12065
14.00 South Asia 11835, 15745
18.00 East and central Africa 15535, Southern Africa 6020
20.00 East and central Africa 11970, West Africa 11610, Southern and central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
10.00 Africa and Asia
12.00 North America
17.00 Europe
22.00 Asia and North America

*** Network Europe Week ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe. If you missed any editions of

Network Europe satisfy your needs with this digest of the programme's top stories.`

This week:

· Will anyone settle for peace? - the EU is asked to help keep Middle East talks alive.
· Italy clampdown - freedom of movements ok, but only if you're the right sort.
· Is it art or is it trash? Or maybe it's trash-art.
· Being Facebook friends with North Korea.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
19.30 East and central Africa 11970 and 15535, West Africa 11610, Southern and central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
17.00 Europe
22.00 Asia and North America

SUNDAY 29 AUGUST
*** Radio Books ***

'The Birds' - by Luc De Vos
Flemish columnist and writer Luc De Vos is also the lead singer with the Belgian pop group Gorki. He's a regular guest on TV programmes and has written a series of autobiographical novels.

His Radio Books story begins in 1978 when a young priest is teaching religion and music to adolescent boys - including one from an important political family. Thirty years later the boy is the country's new premier when he encounters the priest again - in a most unusual manner!

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
18.30 East and central Africa 15535, Southern Africa 6020
19.30 East and central Africa 11970 and 15535, West Africa 11610, Southern and central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
04.30 Africa, Asia and North America
10.30 Africa and Asia
12.30 North America
14.40 Europe

*** Network Europe Extra ***

Arts and Culture brought to you each Sunday from Europe's widest partnership of international broadcasters.

This week:
· Be prepared to be amazed as women surrealist painters become all the rage.
· For the young at heart, the cute and cuddly are on display at a Parisian zoo.
· Living art? Bio-chemical photographs showcased in Ljubjana.
· Poland's emerging fashion industry.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1530 South Asia 11835, 15745

MONDAY 30 AUGUST
*** Classic Dox ***`

'At the Edge in Soweto'
On the edge of Johannesburg, densely populated Soweto is where Freddy and Sibusiso, young men in their 20s, live and are looking for work. Unemployment among young people there is higher than the national average and rising. Anza Dali is looking for a job too. She explores how Freddy and Sibusiso cope with long-term unemployment and the constant temptation to make a 'fast buck' rather than an honest buck.

This SAFM programme is part of the international exchange series Global Perspective.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
10.30 East and Southeast Asia 11895, South Asia 15110, China 12065
19.30 East and central Africa 11970 and 15535, West Africa 11610, Southern and central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
10.30 Africa and Asia
12.00 North America

*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
19.00 East and central Africa 11970 and 15535, West Africa 11610, Southern and central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
17.00 Europe

*** European Jazz Stage/World Music ***

The vocal side of things, with two very different artists: American singer Curtis Stigers at the North Sea Jazz Festival, and from the Schaffhausen Jazz Festival in Switzerland Swedish singer Marielle Racine. All of that, on the European Jazz Stage with Hans Mantel.

*** Live! at the Concertgebouw ***

The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Leonard Slatkin plays a Beethoven Overture and the Sibelius Violin Concerto. Christian Tetzlaff is our soloist. Hosted by Hans Haffmans and Cynthia Wilson.

*** The State We're In - Midweek Edition ***

Crooked cop, straight goods: Eleven policemen have been implicated in the attempt to cover up the killing of unarmed civilians in New Orleans in the days following Hurricane Katrina. Robert Leon Davis knows something about police corruption. He was a crooked cop himself. After getting caught, he fled the US for over 20 years. Jonathan met with Robert in New Orleans to find out why he went bad, and why he decided to turn himself in.

Bounce music: Katey Red and Big Freeda are hot in New Orleans. They're the biggest stars in Bounce music and have come to be known as Sissy Rappers - a reference to their sexuality. Jonathan goes to one of their homes in New Orleans together with the DJ Rusty Lazer and gets the full Sissy Rap Treatment!

*** Africa in Progress ***

'Urban trees'
When we hear of tree farming, we often think of rural areas. But trees are as important in our towns as they are in our rural areas. In this programme, we discuss the importance of trees in our towns and cities. They can help increase our food production, they bring shade and clean air and they can make our cities more beautiful.

TUESDAY 31 AUGUST
*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
10.00 East and Southeast Asia 11895, South Asia 15110, China 12065
19.00 East and central Africa 11970 and 15535, West Africa 11610, Southern and central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
12.00 North America
17.00 Europe

*** Commonwealth Story ***

A selection of winning stories chosen from the large number of entries for the 2009 Commonwealth Short Story Competition.

Caramel - by Princeton Ebanks from Jamaica.
A high school girl dreams of glamour and escape.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
10.00 East and Southeast Asia 11895, South Asia 15110, China 12065

Broadcast times on WRN
10.00 Africa and Asia
22.00 Asia and North America

*** Live! at the Concertgebouw ***

The Orchestra des Champs Elysées under conductor Philippe Herreweghe is visiting the Concertgebouw. They perform great music by Hector Berlioz, from Romeo and Juliet, and his Symphonie Fantastique. Hosted by Hans Haffmans and Cynthia Wilson.

*** Classic Dox ***

'Wedge Island'
North of Perth, Western Australia - on a rugged and secluded stretch of coastline - is a settlement time forgot. Its shacks are makeshift creations fashioned out of corrugated iron with no electricity or running water. It's a holiday in the finest Australian beach shack tradition. But it could all be about to end. Officially, the residents of Wedge Island are squatters. Twenty years ago the government introduced its Squatter Removal Policy, slowly working its way down the coast demolishing more than 600 shacks. Wedge Island is next in line. But the shackies are shaping up for the fight of their lives.

Broadcast times on WRN
12.00 North America

WEDNESDAY 1 SEPTEMBER
*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
10.00 East and Southeast Asia 11895, South Asia 15110, China 12065
19.00 East and central Africa 11970 and 15535, West Africa 11610, Southern and central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
12.00 North America
17.00 Europe

*** Reloaded ***

Weekly highlights presented by Mindy Ran

*** Classic Dox ***

'Living in Limbo'
No-one is more marginalized in the UK than asylum seekers who have not had their applications accepted, but not been asked to go - sometimes for as long as eight years. Collen thinks his four years of asylum claims and appeals may be at an end, but is too frightened to return to Zimbabwe. Thomas, from Eritrea, doesn't know yet if he can stay in the UK after originally claiming asylum as a teenager seven years ago. Jenny Cuffe investigates the impact of this long wait on their lives.

This BBC programme is part of the international exchange series Global Perspective 2010.

Broadcast times on WRN
12.00 North America

THURSDAY 2 SEPTEMBER
*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
10.00 East and Southeast Asia 11895, South Asia 15110, China 12065
19.00 East and central Africa 11970 and 15535, West Africa 11610, Southern and central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
12.00 North America
17.00 Europe

*** Earth Beat - South Asia edition ***

A short version of RNW's environmental programme Earth Beat produced for broadcast in partnership with All India Radio.

*** South Asia Wired ***

Afghan analyst Martine van Bijlert talks to Dheera Sujan about her insiders view of the complicated and multi-layered relationship Afghanistan has with the international community.

*** Classic Dox ***

'Feet First'
In August 2009, an arsonist started a fire that burned more than 160,000 acres in the mountains around Los Angeles County. The mountains have long been home to pockets of residents, but in recent decades neighbourhoods have boomed with large housing developments. Some residents in the fire zone knew and accepted the risks of living there, but many had no idea they were living so near to danger. Many residents simply won't give up on their properties and the lifestyle they symbolise. Eve Troeh follows families who evacuate and still return, and the fight they have with public officials who want to shut the neighbourhood down.

This programme produced by Soundprint Media Center is part of the international exchange series Global Perspective 2010.

Broadcast times on WRN
12.00 North America

FRIDAY 3 SEPTEMBER
*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
10.00 East and Southeast Asia 11895, South Asia 15110, China 12065
19.00 East and central Africa 11970 and 15535, West Africa 11610, Southern and central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN
12.00 North America
17.00 Europe

*** Bridges with Africa ***

We're giving the microphone to Diaspora groups in Europe and are linking up with stations in Africa. The show goes beyond the clichés of starving children and war-ridden countries and seeks to bring you genuine voices from a vibrant continent.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
14.00 South Asia 11835, 15745
18.00 East and central Africa 15535, Southern Africa 6020
20.00 East and central Africa 11970, West Africa 11610, Southern and central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
04.30 Africa, Asia and North America
17.00 Europe
22.00 Asia and North America

*** Earth Beat ***

This week on Earth Beat, we ask: "What's lurking under the waves?"
As a ten-year project to take stock of fish stocks prepares to publish its results, we ask how you go about counting all the fish in the sea?
We also have other fishy tales on the show, including an interview with the author of '4 Fish'. He tells us how four fish types can teach us a more responsible way of farming the sea. Land-based stories in the show include several quests for water and struggles to cope without it.
Water woes and fishy stories, on Earth Beat.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
10.30 East and Southeast Asia 11895, South Asia 15110, China 12065

*** Classic Dox ***

'Little Fish in a Multiculti Pond'
A short tram ride from the centre of Amsterdam is a neighbourhood called the Baarsjes, or "little fish." One-and-a-half square kilometres house 35,000 residents - more than half of which are foreigners from 126 countries. The largest immigrant communities are from Morocco and Turkey. Such multicultural diversity in such a small area has not been without serious problems. But residents believe they can make a difference by taking initiatives to bring this diverse community together.

This programme was part of the international exchange series Global Perspective 2007.

Broadcast times on WRN
12.00 North America

(R Netherlands)

East Timor joins International Telecommunications Union

Text of press release issued by Geneva-based International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 25 August

Geneva: ITU is proud to announce that the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste has become the Union’s 192nd member state, effective from 24 August 2010.

The country, which gained its independence on May 20, 2002 to become the 21st century’s first new sovereign state, utilizes the international dialling code +670, and the internet top-level domain country code (TLDcc) .tl.

“We are delighted to welcome Timor-Leste to the ITU fold, and hope that by working together we will help drive rapid ICT development across the country,” said ITU secretary-general Dr Hamadoun Toure. “Small island states like Timor-Leste can benefit enormously from the power of modern connectivity, particularly in areas like mobile and wireless broadband. ITU is committed to connecting the world, and Timor-Leste’s accession to the Union helps us further that dream.”

Timor-Leste’s mountainous terrain makes for challenges in connecting its people. Latest ITU figures (from 2009) show fixed line telephone teledensity (number of fixed telephone lines per 100 inhabitants) as low as 0.2 per cent, with mobile penetration at 29.1 per cent. Mobile connectivity is growing very strongly, with over 200 per cent growth reported in 2009.

As a new ITU member state, Timor-Leste will participate for the very first time in ITU’s Plenipotentiary Conference, which will take place in Guadalajara, Mexico from 4-22 October. Held every four years, the conference defines, in particular, the future work plan and strategic goals of the Union.
(Source: ITU website, Geneva, in English 25 Aug 10 via BBC Monitoring/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Thursday, August 26, 2010

UVB-76 Russian Enigma S28 Buzzer Update

And from the SCAN-DC newsgroup via the BTown Monitoring Post blog at http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/.

UVB-76 is the callsign of a shortwave radio station that usually broadcasts on the frequency 4625 kHz (AM suppressed lower sideband). It is known among radio listeners by the nickname The Buzzer. It features a short, monotonous buzz tone, repeating at a rate of approximately 25 tones per minute, for 24 hours per day. The station has been observed since around 1982. On rare occasions, the buzzer signal is interrupted and a voice transmission in Russian takes place. Only four to five such events have been noted. Despite much speculation, the actual purpose of this station remains unknown to the public, but is probably used for relaying military orders. There has been a spike in activity as of late August, 2010. More details on the spike below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UVB-76#August_2010

Here is the latest intercepts from the Wikipeda link above:

August 2010
There has been a spike in activity on UVB-76 in August 2010. Following messages have been detected by listeners:

On August 20, 2010 at 05:11 UTC, a garbled voice speaking Russian, was detected by amateur listeners. It made a short message with 56° 5'8.23"N little interference and then repeated itself with noticeably more static. This followed recent activity on the station tha little interference and then repeated itself with noticeably more static. This followed recent activity on the station that included more static than usual and several instances of objects being moved/dropped. All of this was detected by amateur listeners and is unconfirmed at the moment.

On August 23, 2010 at 13:35 UTC, a voice speaking in Russian was detected. The voice read out a single, short transmission several times before the line went dead, then returned to its normal broadcast. As the message was transmitted on upper side-band, reception with ordinary AM receivers was weak and distorted.
The message, repeated twice, was: UVB-76, UVB-76 — 93 882 naimina 74 14 35 74 — 9 3 8 8 2 nikolai, anna, ivan, michail, ivan, nikolai, anna, 7, 4, 1, 4, 3, 5, 7, 4[11] (recording of the August 23 2010 voice transmission)

On August 24, 2010 at approximately 04:00 UTC, a heavily distorted voice was heard by amateur listeners.

On August 24, 2010 at 13:25 UTC, another heavily distorted voice was detected by several amateur listeners.

On August 24, 2010 at 17:43 UTC, Hard to hear voices were heard over the transmission.

On August 24, 2010 at around 03:30 UTC, distorted voices in addition to fast beeps and pulses were heard.

On August 25, 2010 around 06:13 UTC, Random knocks or shuffles as if someone is in the room, changes in tone randomly.

On August 25, 2010 at 11:53 GMT the following message was detected: "August 3 5 2 7 Accretion 3 6 0 9 5 6 7 3". A recording is available here mirror Said message is a Google Translate of 3 8 5 2 7 ???????? 3 6 0 9 5 6 7 3. This is identical to the August 25, 2010 06:54 UTC message mentioned below.

On August 25, 2010 at 06:45 UTC, A grumble or garbled sound appeared out of nowhere for 389 ms.

On August 25, 2010 at 06:54 UTC, Another transmission occurred. (Recording of the fifth voice transmission) A new sequence/pattern with a chirping/crank noise occured on top of the previous buzzer. At times this new noise made the old buzzing noise barely audible.The message content was: "UVB-76. UVB-76. 38, 527. ????????. 36, 09, 55, 73.".

On August 25, 2010 at 18:07 UTC, Morse code could be heard behind the buzzer signal. It lasted until approximately 18:20 UTC. At approximately 18:08 UTC A tone was heard in the background followed by a short message.

There is a lot of very interesting additional details at the Wikipedia website above.

Also courtesy of the Spooks list and Jakon Hays, the following associated links:

Saw a post on MeFi this morning about it.
http://www.metafilter.com/95091/4625-kHz

Which cites this site.
http://uvb-76.blogspot.com/2010/08/august-23-2010-935am-pst-voice.html

The wiki page has been updated quite a bit though the day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UVB-76

And there is a live stream here.
http://www.justin.tv/rampageturke#/w/340896016/4

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Mysterious Russian 'buzzer' radio broadcast changes

The output of Russian number station UVB-76 has increased dramatically over the past week or so. The station, which broadcasts from near Povarovo [on 4625 kHz AM with suppressed lower sideband], is known as “The Buzzer” by its listeners because of the short, monotonous buzz tone that it normally plays 21 to 34 times per minute. It’s only deviated from that signal three times previously - briefly in 1997, 2002 and 2006.

In early August, a garbled recording of a voice speaking Russian was heard by listeners. A few days later, on 23 August at 13:35 UTC, a clearer voice read out the following message twice: “UVB-76, UVB-76 — 93 882 naimina 74 14 35 74 — 9 3 8 8 2 nikolai, anna, ivan, michail, ivan, nikolai, anna, 7, 4, 1, 4, 3, 5, 7, 4″, before returning to its normal broadcasting.

Since then, a number of other distorted voices have appeared over the normal buzzing transmission, as well as knocks and shuffles, as if someone were moving things around inside the broadcasting room. It’s believed that the transmission site has an open microphone, which occasionally picks up sounds from technicians working within the broadcast site.

Additional story at: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-08/25/russian-numbers-station-broadcast-changes
(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

All time UTC // parallel frequency *sign-on / sign-off*

Chad reactivates 7195 kHz
7120, Radio Dif. Nationale Tchadienne, Gredia, N’Djaména, 1617-1731*, Aug 10. Vernacular reports from various African countries with African folkmusic bridges between items. Telephone reports, 1700 two gongs, ID and news to economic reports. Transmitter was off 1704-1705. Reactivated! Signal S 8-9. (Schulze/DX Window 409)

additional loggings
6165, Radio Dif. Nationale Tchadienne at *0427-0459. Sign on with Balafon interval signal and national anthem at 0429. Opening French announcements at 0430, into afro-pop music at 0433. Signal weak but readable. Covered by Radio Nederland sign on at 0459. (Brian Alexander, PA)

6165, Radio Dif. Nationale Tchadienne, *0430-0459. Abrupt sign on tonight with French talk. Local afro pop music after 0431. Local tribal music, covered by Radio Nederland sign on at 0459. Signal poor-fair. (Brian Alexander, PA)

6165, Radio Dif. Nationale Tchadienne, 2220-2301.* African hi-life music to afro pops and French announcements. Sign off with national anthem. Signal fair. In the past sign off was usually at 2230. (Brian Alexander, PA)

Clandestine monitoring
4879.95, Voice of Iranian Kurdistan, via Salah Al-Din, No. Iraq (presumed), *0301-0340, Aug 15, 16 and 20. Orchestra music, announcement in Kurdish, 0306 Call to Prayer, songs and talk. Frequency jumped at 0318 to 4889.02. Jammed from 0301 which followed to 4889. Seems back around former frequency after some months around 4775, 23322 also CODAR interference. (Petersen). Also heard on Aug 14 on 4891 with carrier on 0258, *0259 ID, 0301same hymn as 3931. Each day the frequencies are vary up to +/- 2-3 kHz, plus jammer of Iranian type. (Pankov via BC-DX/(DX Window 409)

9710, Voice of the Broad Masses, Asmara, 1640-1648, Aug 16. New frequency // 7140 and 7165(Timofeyev in Dxplorer). Yes, they have been doing that to deter the Ethiopians from jamming their broadcast, bugging close to Ethiopian frequencies. The Chinese have a massive jamming machine set up in Ethiopia. (Goonetilleke in Dxplorer/DX Window 409)

Coast program note
Next week's Coast, Wednesday September 1, 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on BBC2, has the following item:

On the shingle bank at Orford Ness, Alice Roberts leads a team trying to recreate the original war-winning experiment which proved that radar would work. Alice visits Bawdsey Manor, where the first British radar station was built, to meet two women posted there during the war to operate the early warning system. It was 'hush-hush' work that they kept completely secret - even from close family.

Full program details and link to Iplayer after broadcast at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tmysq(Mike Barraclough, UK/World DX Club)

Egypt on 11590
11590, Radio Cairo in Arabic via Abis, 2300-0430 to zones 6&7, 250kW 330degr, heard at 0419 UT Aug 23 performing S=9+20dB. Qur'an program.(wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Aug 23/BC DX 977/Top News)

India daytime 41 meter band observations
7230 All India Radio, Kurseong, Aug 12 at 0730 UT English news, 0735, short instrumental tune into announcement. Tibetan chant by male group, 0802 chant by female group to 0830 into announcement. Tentative ID at 0859 as "Akashvani Kurseong" 0900 news, 0909 live report from Jammu-Kashmir, (presumed about floods). Aug 20, 0630-0635 in English with news.

7280 AIR Guwahati; Aug 12 at 0730, English news, Aug 20 at 0630 English news, tentative \\ 7230 kHz.

7315 AIR Shillong; Aug 10 at 0715, English program weak but clear to 0845+.

7380 AIR Chennai, Aug 10 at 0845. English progra, (Gerhard Werdin-Bang Saen-Thailand, on the Gulf of Thailand,wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Aug 22/BC-DX 977 Top News/BC DX 977 Top News)

Indonesian monitoring during Ramadan
Start of Ramadan was quite disappointing, no additional stations heard and only some of the ones reported earlier heard in period Aug 12-15.

3325 RRI Palangkaraya; fade-in at 1100, heard throughout sign-off at 1600, the most reliable of them all, also heard local morning at 2200.

3345 RRI Ternate. Not positively heard again.

3976 RRI Pontianak. Only once positively heard on Aug 12, at 1215-1445. Heavy interference from 3980 kHz which sound like a flock of WWII-Bombers.

3987 RRI Manokwari. Not positively heard.

3995 RRI Kendaki. Heard in period 1100-1445. Also local morning at 2200 on Aug 13 at 1100 blocked by Chinese station with TS and ID "... gunagbo dientai." No splash from 3990 kHz, because different voice, only this date.

4606 RRI Serui. Not heard again at 1100-1500 period, nor local morning at 2200.

4750 RRI Makassar. Blocked by Bangladesh Betar 1100-1500, but clearly Aug 13 at 2200.

4790 RRI Fak-Fak. Not heard again at 1100-1500 nor local morning at 2200.

4870 RRI Wamena. As reported by others, but never heard here.
(Gerhard Werdin-Bang Saen, Thailand, on the Gulf of Thailand,wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Aug 22/BC DX 977 Top News)

Jordan
11960, Jordan Radio Amman, observed from 0400 until 0459, closedown, down, Aug 23. S=9+30dB full power 500 kW at 350degr. Second strongest broadcast signal in 25mb at that time, only Radio Rossii Taldom Moscow on 12070 kHz is stronger. HFCC and WRTH update time entries are wrong. Comment in Arabic, in western style with many jingles in between. News on Palestine and Israel matter, Iraq and USA, Kuwait. Football soccer 448-0450
news on English Premier League teams. Nothing heard on 11960 kHz channel on Wed Aug 25th in 0400-0700 slot. No audio or carrier, Amman was totally off. (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Aug 23/25/BC DX 977 Top News)

Nigeria
15120 Voice of Nigeria in English at 1510, Aug 20. Powerful broadcaster at S=9+25dB level. Buzzy background audio. Female English announcer and some interviews given, 1500-1600 English scheduled.

Voice of Nigeria started with crash start into Qur'an prayer at 1729:50, Aug 20, S=9+20dB, Arabic service scheduled until 1800. (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Aug 20/BC DX 977 Top News)

6089.86 FRCN - Kaduna, at 0400-0435 UT on August 21, talk in listed Hausa. Qur'an. Poor to fair in noisy conditions. Anguilla 6090 kHz off the air allowing this station to be heard.
(Brian Alexander-PA-USA, DXplorer Aug 22)

Uganda heard on 7195
7194.95, UBC Radio, Kampala, *1600-1920 fade out, Aug 11 and 16. Now on this frequency, English and vernaculars, English news at 1800. Mentions several phone numbers,1859 English announcement mentioning “Uganda”, 1900 vernacular news mentioning various African countries. African folkmusic at 1904 with singers, 1817 reports from various African countries, 1831 clear ID and more folkmusic, 1900 talks, static noise, 25432. (Liangas and Schulze)

7195.00, UBC Radio, Kampala, 2115-2210 and 0150-0230, Aug 21, English frequent canned ID by female: "This is UBC Radio", but else non-stop pop songs all night! On this frequency ex 4976, but occasional amateur radio interference calling "CQ DX", SINPO 43443. (Petersen)
(DX Window 409)

Libya back on shortwave

Earlier reports that LJBC Voice of Africa had terminated all shortwave services, appears to be incorrect. According to the latest DX Window, LJBC is currently operating on a full schedule via Sabrata.

All times UTC


Arabic
0400-0657 on 9870 SAB 500 kW / 130 deg to ECAf
0400-0657 on 9880 SAB 500 kW / 180 deg to NEAf
0700-0857 on 11630 SAB 500 kW / 130 deg to ECAf
0700-0857 on 11650 SAB 500 kW / 180 deg to NEAf
0900-1157 on 17735 SAB 500 kW / 180 deg to NEAf
0900-1157 on 17740 SAB 500 kW / 130 deg to ECAf
2000-2157 on 9880 SAB 500 kW / 230 deg to WNAf
2000-2157 on 11850 SAB 500 kW / 180 deg to NEAf

Swahili
1200-1357 on 17725 SAB 500 kW / 180 deg to NEAf
1200-1357 on 21695 SAB 500 kW / 130 deg to ECAf

English
1400-1557 on 17725 SAB 500 kW / 180 deg to NEAf
1400-1557 on 21695 SAB 500 kW / 130 deg to ECAf

French
1600-1657 on 15660 SAB 500 kW / 230 deg to WNAf
1600-1657 on 17725 SAB 500 kW / 180 deg to NEAf
1700-1757 on 11995 SAB 500 kW / 230 deg to WNAf
1700-1757 on 15215 SAB 500 kW / 180 deg to NEAf

Hausa
1800-1857 on 11995 SAB 500 kW / 230 deg to WNAf
1800-1857 on 15215 SAB 500 kW / 180 deg to NEAf
1900-1957 on 11600 SAB 500 kW / 180 deg to NEAf
1900-1957 on 11995 SAB 500 kW / 230 deg to WNAf
Start and end of each transmission varies between 3-5 min.
(DX Window 409)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2010 Aug 24 1921 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html



Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
16 - 22 August 2010

Solar activity was at low levels for 16 August with Region 1099 (N17, L=345, class/area Bxo/060 on 16 August) producing several B-class flares and a C1 flare. New Region 1100 (S24, L=202, class/area Axx/010 on 16 August) was numbered on 16 August and remained a
single spotted alpha magnetic configuration until it went spotless on 21 August. Solar activity was at very low levels for 17 August. Low levels returned on 18 August due to a long-duration (LDE) C4 flare at 18/0548Z from Region 1099. This event had an associated Type II radio sweep (estimated shock velocity of 545 km/s), a partial-halo CME at 18/0600Z observed by SOHO C3 imagery, and a weak enhancement (peak of 4.1 pfu) of the greater than 10 MeV proton flux observed on the GOES 13 spacecraft. Solar activity returned to very low conditions for 19 August for the remainder of the period.

The greater than 10 MeV protons at geosynchronous orbit were enhanced midday on 18 August in response to the LDE observed on the 18th. The enhancement reached a peak of 4.1 pfu at 18/1310Z.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at high levels on 16 August. Normal to moderate flux levels occurred during the rest of the period.

Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet levels for the summary period except for 16 and 18 August when activity was at quiet to unsettled conditions.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
25 August - 20 September 2010
Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels. Very low to low levels are expected on 31 August through the remainder of the forecast when Regions 1093 and 1099 return to the front of the solar disk.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels from 25 August to 12 September. Normal to moderate levels are expected for the remainder of the period (13-20 September).

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be unsettled to active condition for 25-26 August due to a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). Mostly unsettled levels are expected for 27-28 August, becoming quiet conditions on 29 August as the CH HSS subsides. Quiet levels should prevail for the remainder of the forecast period until 20 September when quiet to unsettled conditions are expected due to the recurrent CH HSS.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2010 Aug 24 1921 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
#
# 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2010 Aug 24
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2010 Aug 25 75 20 4
2010 Aug 26 75 15 3
2010 Aug 27 75 8 3
2010 Aug 28 74 8 3
2010 Aug 29 74 5 2
2010 Aug 30 73 5 2
2010 Aug 31 75 5 2
2010 Sep 01 80 5 2
2010 Sep 02 80 5 2
2010 Sep 03 85 5 2
2010 Sep 04 85 5 2
2010 Sep 05 85 5 2
2010 Sep 06 84 5 2
2010 Sep 07 84 5 2
2010 Sep 08 84 5 2
2010 Sep 09 82 5 2
2010 Sep 10 82 5 2
2010 Sep 11 82 5 2
2010 Sep 12 80 5 2
2010 Sep 13 80 5 2
2010 Sep 14 75 5 2
2010 Sep 15 75 5 2
2010 Sep 16 75 5 2
2010 Sep 17 75 5 2
2010 Sep 18 75 5 2
2010 Sep 19 75 8 3
2010 Sep 20 75 12 3
(NOAA)

Record number of Iranians visit Radio Farda website

More than a million people inside Iran circumvented aggressive censorship and logged on to RFE/RL’s Persian-language website in July through a proxy server, a system ensuring the anonymity of its users. It was the first time Radio Farda’s proxy server recorded a million visits since it was put in place in April 2009. In addition, the site received 40,000 visits on Sunday 15 August - a record high for a day without breaking news.

“The more Tehran starves Iranians of accurate news, the hungrier the people become for reliable information,” says Radio Farda Director Armand Mostofi. “These are the latest milestones for Radio Farda in a year of unprecedented growth, reflecting the commitment we made to step up our programming following the disputed presidential election.”

Since the post-election protests, Radio Farda has added two new live shows, including the enormously popular satire, Pas Farda (The Day After Tomorrow), which attracts a growing radio audience and generates hundreds of comments each weekday from its 8,500+ Facebook fans. The show’s host, Farshid Manafi, is a well-known Iranian personality who pushes the limits on critical satire. Four years ago, his lively programmes on state television and radio were shut down by censors, and he was fired.

Every Friday at 6pm Tehran time, a new live call-in program called The Sixth Hour takes questions and comments from dozens of listeners on hot-button topics such as capital punishment, the student protest movement, and the role of Persian-language media based outside of Iran.

In total (the proxy server plus regular web traffic), Radio Farda’s website drew more than 4.3 million visits last month. Users viewed nearly 13 million web pages and downloaded more than a million hours of audio programming.

“Without a doubt, the government will keep trying to jam our signals, disrupt our website, and harass our people,” says Armand Mostofi. “But our audience numbers prove that Iranians are yearning for reliable news, and we will continue finding ways of delivering it to them.”
(Source: RFE/RL/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Radio Farda on shortwave

July 26 2010 A10 summer schedule update
Effective to 30 October 2010
Radio Farda does not broadcast in English

Farsi
All times UTC / all broadcast targeted to the Middle East

0000-0030 on 7510
0030-0100 on 5860 7280 7510
0100-0130 on 5860 7280 7295 7510
0130-0230 on 5860 5970 7280 7295 7510 9805
0230-0300 on 5860 7280 7295 9805 15690
0300-0400 on 5860 5885 7280 9805 9840 15690
0400-0430 on 5860 5885 7280 11635 13810 13860 15690
0430-0500 on 5860 5885 7280 11635 13810 13860 15255 15690
0500-0530 on 5860 5885 11635 13810 13860 15255 15690
0530-0600 on 5885 7220 11635 13810 13860 15255 15690 21715
0600-0630 on 5885 7220 11635 13810 13860 15690 17810 17845 21715
0630-0800 on 5885 7220 11635 13860 15690 17810 17845 21715
0800-0830 on 5885 7220 13860 15690 17810 17845
0830-0930 on 5885 7220 13860 15690 17695 17810 17845
0930-1000 on 5885 13860 15610 15690 17695 17845
1000-1100 on 5885 7435 13860 15610 15690 17695 17845
1100-1130 on 5885 7435 13860 15610 15690 17695
1130-1200 on 5885 7435 13860 15690 17695
1200-1300 on 7435 13860 15690 17695 17755
1300-1330 on 7435 13860 15680 15690 17755
1330-1400 on 7435 13860 15680 15690 17695 17755
1400-1430 on 11520 13860 15680 17695
1430-1500 on 11520 13860 15650 15680 17695
1500-1530 on 11520 15650 15680 17695
1530-1600 on 11520 11615 15650 15680 17695
1600-1700 on 7580 9760 11520 15650 11615 15680
1700-1730 on 7580 9760 11520 11615 15680
1730-1800 on 5830 7580 9760
1800-1900 on 5830 7580
1900-2130 on 5830 7580 9505
2130-2200 on 7580
2200-2400 on 7595
(Ivo Ivanov/DX Mix News # 635 via Alokesh Gupta, India)

CRI to set up 61-language "converged" platform

Text of report in English by China Radio International (CRI) website on 25 August

China International Broadcasting Network (CIBN), run by the state-owned radio station China Radio International [CRI], has recently been approved for establishment by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television [SARFT]. This international new media broadcasting network will feature 61 languages and international characteristics.

CIBN is set to become a multilingual and multifunctional state-level broadcasting organization that caters to audiences from all over the world, thanks to the rapid development of the internet and mobile communication technology. The network will be based on CRI Online, the world’s largest multilingual website, run by China Radio International. It will be a convergence of a website, online broadcaster, network television and mobile service terminal, all of which are multilingual.

The network will cover a variety of online audio and visual programmes, mobile broadcasting television, internet protocol television, internet television and China Multimedia Mobile Broadcasting.

With the motto “Introduce China to the world, Introduce the world to China, Report everything in the world,” the network will provide all-round information on current events, politics, economy, culture, sports, tourism, society and Chinese learning to international audiences, thus serving as a platform linking China with the rest of the world.
(Source: CRIEnglish.com, Beijing, in English 25 Aug 10 via BBC Monitoring/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Monday, August 23, 2010

The Long and Interesting Story of All India Radio-Hyderabad, Part 2

In our program here in Wavescan two weeks ago, we presented the earlier part of the story of radio broadcasting in Hyderabad India. In this edition of Wavescan today, we conclude the story of
radio broadcasting in Hyderabad Deccan, and we present the story of All India Radio, mediumwave and
shortwave, and their three major locations. Again, we express appreciation to Jose Jacob VU2JOS at NIAR, the National Institute of Amateur Radio in Hyderabad, for much of the historical information in this interesting Station Profile.
It was on April 1, 1950, that the twelve year old mediumwave station known as Deccan Radio and which was on the air under the Indian callsign VUV, was taken over by the government of India and subsequently absorbed into the nationwide network of mediumwave stations operated by AIR, All India Radio. This was a 5 kW unit radiating on 730 kHz.
Seven years later, a new 5 kW transmitter was installed at what is known as the Low Power Transmitter Site at L.B. Nagar, some eleven KM from the main AIR studio building. The operating frequency for this new transmitter was adjusted from 730 kHz to 740 kHz.
Over the years, several different transmitters have been installed at LB Nagar. A 10 kW unit was installed in 1969 to carry the Yuva Vani, Youth Radio Service, on 1220 KHz, though this was replaced by a 20 kW unit some thirty years later.
The Hyderabad VB service, Vividh Bharati, was inaugurated on March 14, 1963 with a 1 kW Japanese NEC transmitter on 1170 kHz. However, this program service was transferred to FM in 2001 and the 1 kW transmitter was silenced.
Quite unexpectedly, there was a rash of protests at the closure of this mediumwave service, due to the fact that many of the country families did not own an FM radio receiver, and so the small mediumwave transmitter was re-activated in order to once again carry the VB service. The nationwide VB programming, Vividh Bharati, with its multitudinous cinema tunes, is very popular throughout India.
Soon afterwards, this 1 kW transmitter was placed in standby mode. Then, in the sequence of events, it was dismantled and moved to the High Power Transmitter Site at Hayat Nagar where work began for its installation as a standby unit. However, before the installation was completed, the transmitter was again removed and re-installed again at its former location for use on 1170 kHz in a new program service for country farmers under the slogan, Raithu Vani.
The High Power Transmitter Site is located at Hayat Nagar, some fifteen KM from the AIR city studios. The first transmitter here was a 50 kW Japanese NEC transmitter that was inaugurated in 1966 for use on 740 kHz. Some forty years later, this transmitter was removed and sold for scrap.
The two mediumwave transmitters rated at 100 kW each were installed at Hayat Nagar in 1998. These units were made by BEL in Bangalore, and the output is combined on a single channel, 738 kHz. The standby unit at Hayat Nagar is a 1 kW Japanese NEC transmitter that was previously on the air at Kozhikode in south India.
The studios and offices for AIR Hyderabad are located at Safiabad, and a relatively new tower here radiates the FM service at a power level of 10 kW.
The shortwave service of All India Radio at Hyderabad is on the air from the Low Power Transmitter Site at LB Nagar. The original 10 kW unit, an Australian made AWA BTH model, was inaugurated on July 16, 1958. This unit was in service for a period of thirty three years, and in 1994, a new 50 kW Indian made BEL transmitter was installed. The previous 10 kW transmitter was retained for standby usage for a number of years, but it was finally removed and sold for scrap three years ago.
There are occasions when AIR Hyderabad is on the air for extended hours in order to provide special coverage during cyclones and other regional emergencies. During those occasions, the two high powered mediumwave transmitters and the shortwave unit can be heard in parallel with programming directed to the afflicted areas.
Currently, AIR Hyderabad is on the air mediumwave with two units at 100 kW located at Hyat Nagar.
At LB Nagar, there are actually two transmitter sites. The older site operated two mediumwave transmitters and the shortwave unit. The attached newer site houses the 1 kW mediumwave standby transmitter, and also transmitters for the FM service.
In earlier times, AIR Hyderabad was noted as a very reliable verifier, and the Indianapolis collection holds more than a dozen of their cards, mostly an ornate text card in various styles. These days though, reception reports for Hyderabad need to be addressed to the main offices in Delhi, from which attractive color cards are issued.
(AWR Wavescan NWS78 via Adrian Peterson)