Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Happy New Year !!






Wishing all of our blog readers, a very Happy New Year from Gayle and Larry Van Horn, Teak Publishing, Brasstown, North Carolina.

January Specials from DX Stamp & Supples




Dear Customer,
Hoping your holidays were grand and that all were good and wished for sunspots and better DX for the New Year and will receive them SOON! Santa's been busy, so be patient. Thanks to one and all for your business during 2015!! I'll need it again in 2016!
Below are specials for January 2016, you can start using them now.
If you need a current stamp list or supply list, I can mail or poorly email it to you.
NEWS: My XP computer of 7 YRS crashed early Dec. I now have a Windows 10 Lenovo. Not pleased with Windows 10, I think it's designed for the selfie generation with 1000's of apps geared for mostly worthless stuff...I sure miss the MS Works program for creating my price lists and similar things like the postage grids below...I don't know how they survived the change over!! but glad they did. Nothing on computer now to make something like them, except WordPad... Lucky that I had stamp and supply lists saved in Rich Text formats for some customers who couldn't open my converted Word doc. I was able to clean them up a bit...but they still look lousy. Anything I had converted to a Word doc. is garbled and that was most of the stuff transferred from old PC. And I will NOT pay $150 for MS Office, that's for sure. BUT, luckily my email program is as it was. My tnx to Punit in Bombay who reinstalled it in under 5 minutes!! It's a much quieter machine and I DO like the new flat, wide screen monitor...now I got more room on my desk for other junk!! HI!
MORE NEWS: Priority Mail rates increase January 20th. We will absorb this increase and our shipping charges WILL NOT increase.
IDEA:  BUY some discount postage and take advantage of that January special listed below!! CHECK OUT the Mega Euro. Airmail Envelope Deals!!!
 NEW RATES:
Germany increases on Jan. 1st to 0,90 euro up from 0,80 euro. Units have been updated and 0,10 makeups available soon at 20c. This new 0,90 rate will be valid for 3 years!
Belgium also increases, but since I'm supplying their "forever" stamp, no need to be concerned about it.
Estonia increases on Jan. 1st to 1,50 euro for 250g!! letter, up from 1,30 euro for 50g letter.  0,20 makeup available at 30c.
Canada increases mid January to $1.25 for 30g letter, up from $1.20. Units updated end of Dec. 5c makeups available.
Norway increases Jan. 1st to 18 kr, up from 16kr. Since we supply their world forever stamp, no problem here.
Denmark increases Jan. 1st to 30 kr!!!, up from 16,50kr. Will now offer their economy "B" rate of 19kr for the current price of $3.00. Their "A" rate of 30kr is
 offered at $5.00...the "B" rate still travels by air and might arrive a few days later than an "A" post mailing, so go with the "B" rate. 
India now Rs 27, up from Rs 25. First increase in a number of years.
If you hear of or notice any new rates, let me know.
An excellent, quick and easy resource for current international postage rates is http://www.k4hb.com/postage/ 
NEW PRICES:
IN STOCK AGAIN: Slovak Republic
STAMPS ON BACK ORDER: Algeria, Fiji, Thailand.
U.S. DISCOUNT POSTAGE DEALS!!
Save Big on your domestic mailings when you plaster
your envelope with colorful stamps.



49c Units

Forever

in 2 stamps

in 3 stamps

in 4 stamps

in 5 stamps

x 100

$46.50

$42.00

$41.00

$40.00

$39.00

x 200

$90.00

$82.00

$80.00

$78.00

$76.00

x 400

$176.00

$160.00

$154.00

$150.00

$145.00

(3 stamps mean 49c unit made with 3 stamps: 25c, 20c and 4c for example)

International Rate


$1.20 Units

Global forever

x 20

$23.00

x 100

$105.00

x 200

$200.00

x 500

$475.00


  
MORE U.S. POSTAGE for SALE! 
  $100 Grab Bag - $75        $300 Grab Bag - $210
$500 Grab Bag - $340      $1000 Grab Bag - $670!!
                                                                                              Values up to 30c in envelopes of 100 ea. I'll send a good mix.      
                                                                                                No charge for shipping US postage deals to US addresses.
ORDER NOW!
***SUPER  JANUARY  SPECIAL***
Buy 200 units of US Discount Postage, deduct $5.00
Buy 400 units of US Discount Postage, deduct $10.00
 JANUARY 2016  DX  STAMP  SPECIALS
2 Germany-$2.60    2 Russia-$2.60    3 Japan-$3.90  
2 France-$3.60      2 Spain-$3.40
10 Spain-$14.00    20 Spain-$24.00!!
    

 JANUARY 2016  DX  SUPPLY  SPECIALS
200/200 European Mailers and Returns -$40.00
200/200 Stateside Mailers and Returns - $19.00
2 Standard QSL Albums - $50.00

MEGA DEALS
400/400 European Air Mailers and Air Returns - $75.00
600/600 European Air Mailers and Air Returns - $100.00
  
Priority Mail Shipping Rates: Orders up to $40.00 add $9.00, orders from $41.00 to $100.00 add $15.00. orders from $101.00 to $150.00 add $20.00, orders over $150.00 add 15%. When ordering supplies and stamps, the stamps ride free, just use supply total to figure shipping costs. Shipments to Canada and overseas ship at a greater cost. (07/2015 modified)
Stamps Only Orders: Just add $1.00 postage and handling for posting to USA, add $2.00 for posting to Canada.
73, bill
William Plum
12 Glenn Road
Flemington, NJ 08822
908 788 1020

Monday, December 28, 2015

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins



Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2015 Dec 28 0317 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html#
#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 21 - 27 December 2015

Solar activity ranged from low to moderate levels (R1-Minor) with low activity observed on 25, 26, and 27 Dec, and moderate activity observed on 21, 22, 23, and 24 Dec. The majority of the flare
activity occurred from Regions 2472 and 2473. Region 2472 (N04, L=331, class/area Dai/170 on 23 Dec) produced an M2/Sf at 21/0103 UTC and an M1/1n at 21/1014 UTC before decaying. Region 2473 (S22,  L-331, class/area Fkc/590 on 26 Dec), the largest region on the disk, produced an M1/Sf at 22/0341 UTC, an M4/1f at 23/0040 UTC, and an M1 at 24/0212 UTC. Multiple eruptions were observed in coronagraph imagery, but all were directed off the east limb and none were geoeffective. 

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to high levels through the entire week 21 December - 27 December. 

Geomagnetic field activity reached G1 (Minor) to G2 (Moderate) storm levels early on 21 Dec due to effects from a CME that erupted on 16 Dec. G2 storm condtions were observed from 21/0000-0600 UTC, with G1 storm conditions occurring in the 21/0600-0900 UTC synoptic period. Solar wind parameters at the ACE spacecraft were enhanced with Bt reaching as high as 18 nT and prolonged periods of southward magnetic field (-Bz). An isolated period of active conditions was observed early on 22 Dec due to lingering CME effects. Active conditions occurred late on 23 Dec due to weak substorming. Quiet to unsettled conditions were observed on 24, 25, and 27 Dec. The geomagnetic field reached G1 (Minor) storm conditions late on 26 Dec (26/2100-2359 UTC) due to a negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 28 December - 23 January 2016

Solar activity is expected to be at low to moderate levels (R1-Minor) throughout the period. Moderate activity is likely through 03 Jan as Regions 2472 (N04, L=329) and 2473 (S22, L=332) rotate off the disk. Low activity levels are expected on 04-23 Jan with moderate activity possible on 15-23 Jan as Regions 2472 and 2473 rotate back onto the visible side of the disk. 

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at moderate to high levels on 28 Dec - 12 Jan in response to coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS) effects. Normal
to moderate levels are expected on 13-23 Jan. 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at active levels on 01, 03 Jan with G1 (Minor) storm conditions on 02 Jan due to a positive polarity CH HSS. G1 storm conditions are likely again on 06 Jan with active levels following on 07 Jan due to a positve polarity CH HSS. 10 and 11 Jan are likely to see G1 storm and active conditions, respectively due to a negative polarity CH HSS. Generally quiet to
unsettled conditions are expected from 13-23 Jan. 

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2015 Dec 28 0317 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
#
#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
#                Issued 2015-12-28
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2015 Dec 28     110          12          3
2015 Dec 29     110          10          3
2015 Dec 30     110          10          3
2015 Dec 31     115           8          3
2016 Jan 01     115          15          4
2016 Jan 02     115          25          5
2016 Jan 03     110          18          4
2016 Jan 04     105          12          3
2016 Jan 05     105           8          3
2016 Jan 06     105          20          5
2016 Jan 07     110          18          4
2016 Jan 08     110          12          4
2016 Jan 09     110          10          3
2016 Jan 10     110          20          5
2016 Jan 11     110          18          4
2016 Jan 12     110          10          3
2016 Jan 13     105           5          2
2016 Jan 14     105           5          2
2016 Jan 15     110           5          2
2016 Jan 16     115           5          2
2016 Jan 17     115           5          2
2016 Jan 18     115           5          2
2016 Jan 19     115           5          2
2016 Jan 20     115           5          2
2016 Jan 21     110          10          3
2016 Jan 22     110          15          3
2016 Jan 23     110          10          3
(NOAA)

Saturday, December 26, 2015

All India Radio slated for special programming December 27

AIR QSL (Gayle Van Horn Collection)
The broadcast to the Nation “Mann Ki Baat”  by Shri. Narendra Modi, Hon'ble Prime Minister of India will be broadcast Sunday 27 Dec 2015 at 0530-0600 UTC (1100-1130 am IST). It is the 15th edition of the program.
 
All stations of AIR will relay this program on MW/SW/FM
 
Look out on the following additional  frequencies also (which were heard last time)  
  
9870 Bengaluru
9940 Delhi
11850 Delhi?
17715 Delhi
 
(The above frequencies are off at this time normally)
  
The broadcast can be heard at the same time in the following website (and others)
 
 

Yours sincerely,
Jose Jacob, VU2JOS
National Institute of Amateur Radio
Hyderabad, India
 

Deewa Radio plans frequency change December 28


USA(non) Frequency changes of IBB:
Deewa Radio from Dec.28
0100-0400 NF  7470 KWT 250 kW / 070 deg to WeAs Pashto, ex  9765 KWT
0100-0400 NF  7530 IRA 250 kW / 334 deg to WeAs Pashto, ex 12025 KWT
0100-0400 NF  9765 IRA 250 kW / 340 deg to WeAs Pashto, ex 12005 IRA
(DX Bulgaria)

Additional Sunday programming

All times UTC

HOLLAND   Schedule of Free Radio Service Holland, Dec.27
0852-1200 on 7700 unknown transmitter to Eupore English
0852-1200 on 9300 unknown transmitter to Eupore English
1252-1600 on 7700 unknown transmitter to Eupore English
1252-1600 on 9300 unknown transmitter to Eupore English

ITALY   The next test broadcasts of Marconi Radio International will be:
0900-1300 on 11389.7 ???.03 kW / non-dir to WeEu En/Sp/It on December 27


VOA Radiogram Sunday programming



Hello friends,

This weekend's VOA Radiogram will be another all MFSK32 show to get us through the holidays.  It includes some interesting news about broadcasting.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 143, 27 December 2016, all in MFSK32:

 1:30  Program preview
 2:49  Russian cargo craft docks with ISS*
 6:01  Castro urges end of Martí broadcasts*
11:41  Afghan journalist heard on IS radio
17:20  Tiny FM transmitters for Syria*
24:25  Closing announcements*

* with image

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com .


VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz (Europe reception is possible)
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

** To the Americas, but Asia-Pacific and European reception is possible
***To the Americas, but European reception is possible

The Mighty KBC will transmit a minute of MFSK32 Sunday at 0158 UTC (Saturday 8:58 pm EST) on 7395 kHz, via Germany. The Radio Radio Romania International interval signal, ahead of its French broadcast at 0200 UTC, will be co-channel. Reports for this KBC reception to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .

Thanks for your reception reports last weekend. I will be answering reports this weekend. Enjoy the holidays!

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net


Sunday Euro relays

All times UTC

RGI on Sunday:
07.00 to 08.00 on 9485  
08.00 to 09.00 on 7265 
09.00 to 10.00 on 9485 
10.00 to 11.00 on 7310  via shortwaveservice.com
16.00 to 17.00 on 6005  via shortwaveservice.com
Internet repeats:
16.00 to 18.00 via  Coloradio.org + laut.fm/jukebox
All Reports welcome at:  radiogloria@aol.com
Radio Gloria International has a NEW Website: http://rgi.fmkompakt.de
 

Sunday HLR:
12.00 to 16.00 on 9485 kHz
Thank you!
 

 Radio Channel 292  Transmission schedules:

http://www.channel292.de/schedule-for-bookings/  New Up-dates!

 
Radio Mi Amigo Transmission schedules:

www.radiomiamigo.es/shortwave  New Up-dates!

 
Good Listening ! 
73s

Tom Taylor

December 27 Holiday Programming from 16 Gwendoline Street

December Holiday program schedule, 2015

Hi everyone and season’s greetings. Let’s hope 2016 is a better year for our small but colourful planet in a more than huge universe. Let’s hope we are not alone!
The Holiday broadcast from 16 Gwendoline Street is a follows, all times GMT/UTC.

All times UTC

27 December: 12:30 - 9510 kHz.
Streaming @ nexus.org/mp3
                   @ mp3.nexus.org/mp3/
                   @ egr/mp3

(Stephen Jones)

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Merry Christmas


Merry Christmas from Teak Publishing - to our readers across the globe




Afrikaans - 'n Geseende Kersfees en 'n voorspoedige Nuwejaar
Afrikaans - Een Plesierige Kerfees
Albanian -- Gezuar Krishtlindje
Arabic - I'd Miilad Said Oua Sana Saida
Armenian - Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Azeri - Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun
Basque - Zorionstsu Eguberri. Zoriontsu Urte Berri On
Bengali - Bodo Din Shubh Lamona
Bohemian - Vesele Vanoce
Breton - Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat
Bulgarian - Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo
Celtic - Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
Chinese -
     (Mandarin) Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan
     (Cantonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
     (Hong Kong) Kung Ho Hsin Hsi. Ching Chi Shen Tan
Cornish - Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth
Cree - Mitho Makosi Kesikansi
Croatian - Sretan Bozic
Czech - Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
Danish - Gladelig Jul
Dutch - Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar
English - Merry Christmas
Esperanto - Gajan Kristnaskon
Estonian - Roomsaid Joulu Puhi
Farsi - Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad
Finnish - Hyvaa joulua
French - Joyeux Noel
Frisian - Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier
German - Froehliche Weihnachten
Greek - Kala Christouyenna
Hawaiian - Mele Kalikimaka
Hebrew - Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova
Hindi - Bada Din Mubarak Ho
Hungarian - Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket
Icelandic - Gledileg Jol
Indonesian - Selamat Hari Natal
Iraqi - Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish - Nollaig Shona Dhuit
Italian - Buon Natale or Buone Feste Natalizie
Japanese - Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Kala - Khristougena kai Eftikhes to Neon Etos
Korean - Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Latvian - Priecigus Ziemas Svetkus un Laimigu Jauno Gadu
Lettish - Priecigus Ziemassvetkus
Lithuanian - Linksmu Kaledu
Manx - Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
Maori - Meri Kirihimete
Marathi - Shub Naya Varsh
Navajo - Merry Keshmish
Northern Sotho - Matlhatse le matlhogonolo mo ngwageng o moswa.
Norwegian - God Jul Og Godt Nytt Aar
Pennsylvania German - En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei
Yaahr
Papiamento - Bon Pasku i Felis Anja Nobo
Pig Latin - Errymay ristmaskay
Polish - Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
Portuguese - Feliz Natal (Used in Portugal, Brazil and several former Portuguese colonies)
Rapa-Nui - Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua
Romanian - Craciun Fericit
Russian - Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva i s Novim Godom
Samoan - La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Serbian - Hristos se rodi
Scottish - Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ur
Serbian - Hristos se rodi
Singhalese - Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa
Slavonic - Christos Razdajetsja! Slavite Jeho!
Slovak - Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok
Slovene - Vesele Bozicne. Screcno Novo Leto
Spanish - Feliz Navidad (Used in Spain as well as Mexico and most of Central and South America)
Swahili - Krismasi Njema
Swedish - God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt Ar
Tagalog - Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon
Tamil - Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal
Thai - Sawat Dee Wan Kritsamas
Turkish - Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian - Srozhdestvom Kristovym
Urdu - Bara Din Mubarak Ho
Vietnamese - Chung Mung Giang Sinh
Waray - Maupay nga Pasko ngan Mainuswagon nga Bag-o nga Tu-ig
Welsh - Nadolig Llawen
Zulu - Nginifisela inhlanhla ne mpumelelo e nyakeni

* The Radio Scene on the World’s Largest Coral Island: Christmas Island Radio


The encyclopedias inform us that the largest coral island in the world is Christmas Island; that is, the Christmas Island that is located in the Central Pacific.  This particular Christmas Island is the largest island in the scattered nation of Kiribati and it lies 1200 miles directly south of Hawaii.  
            The name for their national entity in their national Gilbertise language is spelled as Kiribati
K I R I B A T I, where the T & the I at the end of the word is pronounced as the standard letter S in English.  Likewise, Christmas is spelled K I R I T I M A T I, but it is pronounced as KIRISMAS, which is very close to the standard English pronunciation Christmas.
            This very large coral island has a total circumference of 100 miles, and on the map its shape is that of a convoluted square with a handle.  It is a low scrubby island and it is located 2,000 miles east from the capital city of their nation, Tarawa.  The entire nation of Kiribati is made up of 34 islands, atolls and reefs widely spread along the  equator.
            In the era before European exploration, this Christmas Island was uninhabited, though it was
visited occasionally by wandering seafarers in their early primitive seacraft.  The first European explorer to sight this island was the Spanish captain Hernando de Grijalva in 1537.  In 1777, the famous English explorer Captain James Cook visited the island on Christmas Eve, December 24, hence the name Christmas Island.
            During the era when the United Kingdom administered the island as part of the Gilbert & Ellice islands, both England and the United States claimed this territory.  However, when England granted independence  to Christmas Island on July 12, 1979, the American claim also lapsed.
            The first settlement on Christmas Island was established in 1882, with a few fishermen and plantation workers, though 23 years later, the island was abandoned when a drought killed off most of the coconut trees.  Seven years later, a second attempt at colonization took place when a group of settlers was brought in from other colonial islands.
            During World War 2, American and Australian forces occupied the island, and the Americans built up an infrastructure made up of accommodations, an airport with a long runway, dockage for shipping, a weather reporting station and recreational facilities.
            In 1957, the British began a series of nuclear tests in the area under the technical eponym Operation Grapple; and five years later, the Americans conducted a series of 36 similar nuclear tests, under their working designation, Operation Dominic. 
            These days, the island contains a total population of local residents numbering a little more than 5500 and  they utilize twin currencies, the Kiribati dollar and the Australian dollar.  The International Date Line actually splits the scattered islands into two different calendar days.  However, Christmas Island has adopted a strange time zone, UTC + 14 hours, and this provides them with the same working day as all the other islands in their scattered nation.
            General Douglas MacArthur was evacuated from the Philippines to Australia in March 1942 and quite quickly he ordered the development of an army radio communication network across the Pacific.  A radio communication station was installed on this Christmas Island and it was taken into service in July 1942 under the callsign WVHW.  This event occurred soon after the Americans began to swarm onto the island for the Pacific War. 
            Two years later, in June 1944, the first entertainment radio station on Christmas Island was inaugurated under the callsign WVUU with 75 watts on 1480 kHz   The callsign WVUU was previously in use a quarter century earlier for a communication transmitter on board the seafaring vessel “Kanakee”.  This AFRS, the American Forces Radio Service, entertainment station was installed by the American Air Force and it was heard occasionally in New Zealand and Australia.
            According to Theodore DeLay in his memorable volume on the history of AFRS radio, station WVUU was closed on February 1 of the following year, 1945.  However, the station was still listed in radio magazines in Australian and New Zealand for two years more, and it was shown as a member station of the AFRS Pacific Ocean Network.
            The next radio broadcasting station on Christmas Island was installed by the British during their nuclear tests in the area which ran from 1957 to 1964.  Volunteer members of the Royal Air Force installed a small mediumwave station on the island and we would presume that it was located within the buildings associated with the Cassidy Air Field near the main settlement areas on the western edge of the island.
            This British radio broadcasting station was on the air with 50 watts on 1450 kHz and it was listed in the WRTVHB in the early 1960s simply as BFBS, the British Forces Broadcasting Service.  This station was on the air with local programming, and it also carried relay programming from the BBC London, and also from BFBS in London. 
            The schedule of service from BFBS Christmas Island showed five hours daily, with twelve hours on Saturday and Sunday.  The station was closed in 1964 when the British forces departed after the conclusion of their series of nuclear tests.
            Probably the most exotic of all of the radio services on Christmas Island was the rebroadcast on mediumwave of a shortwave relay from Radio Kiribati on Betio Island, part of the national capital city atoll Tarawa some 2000 miles distant.  This relay service was first noted in 1980 and it was in use for a couple of years until a transmitter malfunction rendered the Christmas Island station inoperable. 
            This shortwave service was transmitted from Tarawa-Betio with a 1 kW communication transmitter on any of three different frequencies: 9825 kHz, 14802 kHz, or 16433 kHz.  It was in use for only two full years at the most, though it was shown as an entry in the WRTVHB for half a dozen more years. 
            We would presume that the mediumwave transmitter on Christmas Island, a 1 kW unit on 1115 kHz, was co-installed with the Telecom facility near the settlement of London, on the western coast of Christmas Island.  Apparently a projected move to 845 kHz was never implemented.
            The fourth radio broadcasting station on Christmas Island was constructed and installed by Australian personnel in late 1998.  Preliminary plans called for the station to be located quite close to the Telecom facility, but due to fears of mutual interference between the electronics in the two facilities, it was actually installed at another location, though still near to London.
            This new station was claimed by its founders as the first on the island.  It was the first privately operated station, though in actual reality, it  was their fourth radio broadcasting station.  It operated with 500 watts on 93.5 FM and it was on the air for six program hours daily.

            But unfortunately due to lack of funding, the station fell into disuse and it was taken over by the island government at the end of the following year, 1999.  Eight years later again, the station was re-opened under the national government, with a program feed from the distant national capital at Tarawa via satellite.  It is still on the  air to this day, with 500 watts on 93.5 FM. 
(AWR Wavescan/NWS 356)

Seasonal broadcast from FRS Holland


FRS' traditional Seasonal broadcast will be aired aired on Sunday December 27th.  

This year’s broadcast will see a different approach in contrast with previous editions. FRS-Holland will be airing two 3 hour blocks.

The first one will be between 08:52- 12:00 UTC/ 09:52- 13:00 CET followed by an afternoon slot between 12:52- 16:00 UTC/ 13:52- 17:00 CET. Frequencies remain unchanged: 7700 //9300 kHz. 

There might be an evening slot in favour of North American listeners, if so details will be announced as soon as possible!

Our seasonal programmes will be presented by Paul Graham, Jan van Dijk, Roger Davis, Dave Scott & Peter Verbruggen. The music of your life and more… We will ring out 2015 in a great way!

For more information go to: http://www.frsholland.nl/20-latest-news/93-frs-seasonal-broadcast-2015.html

Monday, December 21, 2015

Christmas Eve programming from Media Broadcast


On Dec 24, 2015 Media Broadcast will transmit a four hour long program on behalf of NDR (Norddeutsche Rundfunk) in Hamburg. The transmission is intended for sailors and Marine personnel on the high seas, who cannot celebrate Christmas with their family and relatives. Transmission times will be 19.00-21.00 hours UTC.

Below you'll find the complete frequency schedule for the transmissions.
Happy Tuning !!

1900-2100 UTC on 6185 kHz  towards CIRAF 27,80,36,81,11 NAU 125 kW
1900-2100 UTC on 9810 kHz towards CIRAF 41,49,54,79,58 MOS 100 kW
1900-2100 UTC on 9830 kHz towards CIRAF 57,53,48,79 ISS 250 kW
1900-2110 UTC on 9885 kHz towards CIRAF 48,53,41,79 NAU 125 kW
1900-2100 UTC on 11650 kHz towards CIRAF zones 13,46,15,66,52,57 ISS 250 kW

2100-2300 UTC on 6040 kHz towards CIRAF 27,80,36,81,11 NAU 125 kW
2100-2300 UTC on 9515 kHz towards CIRAF 48,53,41,79 NAU 125 kW
2100-2300 UTC on 9655 kHz towards CIRAF 13,46,15,66,52,57 ISS 250 kW
2100-2300 UTC on 9765 kHz towards CIRAF 41,49,54,79,58 MOS 100 kW

(Jan Oosterveen via shortwavesites list)

Christmas Programs Across the Globe



Special Christmas programs for our blog readers. Complete multilingual by-hour schedules are available in the new winter edition of International Shortwave Broadcast Guide. Station broadcasters from non-English speaking countries that offer English services, offer special seasonal programming. This a sampling of programming for listener's around the globe.

Radio Australia
Christmas downunder, means that Christmas and New Years will commence at the beginning of summer. Most of the country takes their holidays at this time, but look for features from programs that originate from Radio Australia or in co-productions with ABC News Radio.

BBC World Service
A favorite for Christmas programs, is the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, which traditionally air domestically on BBC's Radio 4 live at 1500 UTC on December 24, and repeats on Christmas Day at 1400 UTC on Radio 3. The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols also airs on the BBC World Service on or around Christmas Day, and on-demand following the Christmas Eve broadcast. This special favorite, is broadcast live from the candlelight service at King's College in Cambridge on Christmas Eve, and marks the beginning of Christmas. Scriptures and music from the chapel choir, who also lead the congregation in traditional Christmas carols. Another annual tradition is the Queen's Message to the Commonwealth. This brief five-minute message has been a long tradition of BBC's coverage. Previous years' editions have aired at 1505 UTC. The Queen's Message can be heard at various times around the world via the BBC, Canada's CBC, ABC and Radio New Zealand International.

China Radio International
Programming usually focuses on Christmas celebrations in Beijing and other cities. CRI programs that focus on Chinese celebrations. Last year's feature A Chinese Style Christmas was a favorite to listener's.

Radio New Zealand
Special programming from our Pacific friends is another favorite this time of the year. This year's programming will likely be a continuation of christian worship from Aotearoa, New Zealand, from a small Northland beach church. We hope they repeat last year's classic A Fragile Peace by Lindsay Wood- a story of the first Christmas in the WW I trenches in 1914.

Vatican Radio
Vatican Radio's English language broadcast for Africa continues on an hour earlier at 1730 UTC  usually on 9660 kHz. It is repeated at 2200 UTC on 9660 kHz and 11625 kHz.The same program can be heard the following morning at 0500 UTC on 7360 kHz, and at 0630 UTC, on 9660 kHz. Vatican Radio is a great place to hear special Christmas programming for live broadcast on Christmas Eve, and carried also on WEWN.

Radio Slovakia
Radio Slovakia may not broadcast on shortwave as in previous years, but you can listen to their live Internet stream at http:www.radiosi.eu. You can also click on "Shows" and get access to all the English language programs at RSI, mamy of which are available as a podcast or as a You Tube video.

Across the globe
Many local radio stations will be wall to wall with Christmas music, others will feature special programming. Scan around your local stations, as well as international and domestic broadcast around the world. Most radio stations have their own websites, which provie information about their programming, and audio links. Facebook has many station that maintain their own pages, and it is a great way to keep up to date with the stations. Often, the stations interact with listeners and post
the holiday program announcements. Twitter works in a similar way, and provides an opportunity to get a heads up for program specials and news.

Teak Publishing thanks Fred Waterer, The Shortwave Listener columnist at Spectrum Monitor e-magazine, for permission to use portions of his December column. We also thank the December issue of NASWA for additional information.
Gayle Van Horn

Radio Mi Amigo Newsletter December 2015

"Welcome to the Radio Mi Amigo International NEWSFLASH for December.
Weekday Schedule change
As you may be aware, our recent weekday broadcasts at 17.00 CET on 6005 kHz are being severely compromised by The Voice Of Iran. Therefore, we decided to change our weekday schedule from this week as follows:
Monday to Friday:
14.00 CET (13.00 UTC) on 6005 kHz and repeated:
19.00 CET (18.00 UTC) on 3985 kHz

FESTIVE TOP 5
How would you like your Festive Top 5 played on Radio Mi Amigo International this month?
Email:
paulnewman@radiomiamigointernational.com
and listen out on Sundays to Paul Newman's Radio Shack to hear it between 10.00 - 11.00, repeated 14.00 - 15.00 CET.
If your Top 5 is played, you'll receive some Radio Mi Amigo Christmas Goodies, but get in quick!

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE
Make a date with us over Christmas. We're going to broadcast special Festive programmes
(in addition to our normal run of schedule) on Thursday 24th and Friday 25th December from 10.00 -15.00 CET on 6005 & 7310 KHz.
On the same evenings between 20.00 - 01.00 CET we will be repeating these programmes from our 1485 KHz medium wave service based in Riga, Latvia, so yet another chance for a nice bit of Festive DX!
All programs will be simultaneously broadcast online in stereo.
Please see our Festive Schedule here:
www.radiomiamigointernational.com"
(Manuel Mendez/HCDX)

SAQ slated for Christmas Eve Broadcast

Radio Grimeton
December 24, 2015

It is now 10 years since our first Christmas Eve transmissions started.

There will be, as earlier, a transmission with the Alexanderson alternator on VLF 17.2 kHz CW from Grimeton Radio/SAQ in the very early morning on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24th 2015.

A message will be transmitted at 08:00 UTC. The transmitter will be tuned up from around 07:30 UTC.

There will be no activity on amateur radio frequencies with the call SK6SAQ this time because the radio room is redecorated and cannot be used.

QSL-reports on SAQ transmission are kindly received:

- E-mail to: info@alexander.n.se

- or via: SM bureau

- or direct by mail to: Alexander - Grimeton Veteranradios Vaenner

  Radiostationen Grimeton 72                    

  SE-432 98 GRIMETON

  S    W    E    D    E    N

Also read our web site: www.alexander.n.se

The radiostation will be open to visitors.

WELCOME!

Yours

SM6NM/Lars

(Lars Kalland, Sweden)

WeeklyPropagation Forecast Bulletins


Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2015 Dec 21 0423 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
#
#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 14 - 20 December 2015

Solar activity was at low levels. The period was dominated by low to mid-level C-class flare activity from a number of active regions, the largest of which was a C6/1f flare at 16/0903 UTC from Region
2468 (S15, L=128, class/area=Dao/120 on 10 Dec). Region 2468 was the most productive region on the visible disk throughout the summary period, however, an unnumbered region behind the northeast limb produced multiple mid-level C-class flares within quick succession and caused a slow increase in the background GOES-15 x-ray flux late in the period. 

Two asymmetrical full-halo coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed in SOHO/LASCO C2 coronagraph imagery on 16 Dec. The first CME was observed in C2 imagery beginning at 16/0924 UTC and was associated with the C6/1F flare mentioned above. The second CME, associated with a filament eruption, was first observed in coronagraph imagery at 16/1436 UTC. Both CMEs were determined to be Earth-directed and arrived at Earth late on 19 Dec. See the geomagnetic summary below for further information on this event. 

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels on 14 Dec and 19 Dec with moderate levels observed throughout the remainder of the period. 

Geomagnetic field activity reached active to G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm levels late on 14 Dec and early on 15 Dec due to the influence of a corotating interaction region followed by the onset of a
negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). Isolated active field conditions were observed early on 16 Dec and again late on 17 Dec due to weak substorming. The CMEs from 16 Dec presumably merged in the interplanetary medium and impacted the Earth at 19/1528 UTC. During the passage of the interplanetary shock, solar wind parameters aboard the ACE spacecraft became suddenly enhanced. Total field strength values initially increased from 5 nT to 17 nT and the Bz component went strongly southward shortly after the initial shock passage. The prolonged period of southward magnetic field (-Bz) associated with the passage of the 16 Dec CMEs caused periods of active conditions late on 19 Dec and active to G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storm levels on 20 Dec. G2 storm conditions
were observed between 20/0300-0600 UTC and 20/1500-2359 UTC. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 21 December - 16 January 2016

Solar activity is expected to be low throughout the period with a chance for M-class flares (R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) Radio Blackouts) on 21 Dec through 03 Jan to the increased flare activity from an
unnumbered region behind the east limb. 

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal levels on 21-27 Dec, moderate levels on 31 Dec-02 Jan, and 14-16 Jan. High flux levels are expected on 28-30
Dec and 03-13 Jan. 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at active to G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storm levels early on 21 Dec due to the waning effects of the 16 Dec coronal mass ejections. G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storms are likely on 02, 06, and 10 Jan due to the influence of recurrent coronal hole high speed streams. 

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2015 Dec 21 0423 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html#
#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
#                Issued 2015-12-21
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2015 Dec 21     120          35          6
2015 Dec 22     120          10          3
2015 Dec 23     115           5          2
2015 Dec 24     105           8          3
2015 Dec 25     100          12          3
2015 Dec 26      98          10          3
2015 Dec 27      98           5          2
2015 Dec 28      95           5          2
2015 Dec 29      95           5          2
2015 Dec 30      98           5          2
2015 Dec 31      98           5          2
2016 Jan 01     100          15          4
2016 Jan 02     100          20          5
2016 Jan 03     105          18          4
2016 Jan 04     110          10          4
2016 Jan 05     110           8          3
2016 Jan 06     110          20          5
2016 Jan 07     115          18          4
2016 Jan 08     115          12          4
2016 Jan 09     115          10          3
2016 Jan 10     120          20          5
2016 Jan 11     120          18          4
2016 Jan 12     120          10          3
2016 Jan 13     120           8          3
2016 Jan 14     118           5          2
2016 Jan 15     118           5          2
2016 Jan 16     115           5          2
(NOAA)

DX Stamp & Supplies December Specials

Dear Customers,
Below are specials for December 2015.
  
If you need a current stamp list or supply list, I can mail or email it to you.
NEWS: ***Stateside forever stamps: I have a few x 100 made with just Christmas forever stamps. If interested, email me first and I can put them aside for you.
IDEA:  100/100 European envelopes made up with a 50/50 airmail mailers and returns combo & a 50/50 plain mailers and returns combo for $22.00...That's a good mix. 
 NEW RATE:
NEW PRICES: Check out the new prices for Global forever stamps at a discount. $1.20 made up in 3 stamps is discontinued as my supply of higher values is depleted.
IN STOCK AGAIN: Russia, UAE
STAMPS ON BACK ORDER: Fiji and Slovak Rep.
U.S. DISCOUNT POSTAGE DEALS!!
Save Big on your domestic mailings when you plaster
your envelope with colorful stamps.



49c Units

Forever

in 2 stamps

in 3 stamps

in 4 stamps

in 5 stamps

x 100

$46.50

$42.00

$41.00

$40.00

$39.00

x 200

$90.00

$82.00

$80.00

$78.00

$76.00

x 400

$176.00

$160.00

$154.00

$150.00

$145.00

(3 stamps mean 49c unit made with 3 stamps: 25c, 20c and 4c for example)

International Rate










$1.20 Units

Global forever

x 20

$23.00

x 100

$105.00

x 200

$200.00

x 500

$475.00


  
MORE U.S. POSTAGE for SALE! 
  $100 Grab Bag - $75        $300 Grab Bag - $210
$500 Grab Bag - $340      $1000 Grab Bag - $670!!
                           Values up to 30c+ in envelopes of 100 ea. I'll send a good mix.      
                                No charge for shipping US postage deals to US addresses.
ORDER NOW!
***SUPER  DECEMBER  SPECIAL***
Buy 200 units of US Discount Postage, deduct $5.00
Buy 400 units of US Discount Postage, deduct $10.00
 DECEMBER 2015  DX  STAMP  SPECIALS
2 Germany-$2.60    2 Russia-$2.60    3 Japan-$3.90  
2 France-$3.60      2 Spain-$3.40
10 Spain-$14.00    20 Spain-$24.00!!
    
    
 DECEMBER 2015  DX  SUPPLY  SPECIALS
200/200 European Mailers and Returns -$40.00
200/200 Stateside Mailers and Returns - $19.00
2 Standard QSL Albums - $50.00
  
Priority Mail Shipping Rates: Orders up to $40.00 add $9.00, orders from $41.00 to $100.00 add $15.00. orders from $101.00 to $150.00 add $20.00, orders over $150.00 add 15%. When ordering supplies and stamps, the stamps ride free, just use supply total to figure shipping costs. Shipments to Canada and overseas ship at a greater cost. (07/2015 modified)
Stamps Only Orders: Just add $1.00 P&H for posting to USA, add $2.00 for posting to Canada.
73, bill
William Plum
12 Glenn Road
Flemington, NJ 08822
908 788 1020