australian dx news - copyright ardxc inc

October 2019 - Australian DX News - 1

255003-04913 Print Post Approved Registration No. A0011728G Edition No. 629 – October 2019 ISSN 0810-9826 ARDXC Inc. ABN: 83 818 568 199

Australian DX News Monthly Publication of the Australian Radio DX Club Inc. - Australia’s Premier DXing Organisation since 1965


ARDXC Officials and Addresses Committee Officers: Tony Magon (President), Robert Fitzgerald (Vice-President), John Wright (Secretary), Geoffrey Wright (Treasurer) Ordinary Committee Members: David Brown, John Sanderson, Dennis Allen, Denis Smithson. Correspondence for Committee: John Wright, 71 Hilton Ave, Roselands NSW 2196. Annual Membership Fees (from 1/7/2013): All prices quoted in Australian dollars and include GST. Australia $62 (Student under 18yo $31); NZ, Pacific & Asia $84; Rest of the World $98; Family Membership $10 Email only membership $20 Australia (or US $20 overseas) Email + Hard Copy Membership $70 Australia Sample copies of the ADXN are available for $5 (or equivalent) from John Wright, 71 Hilton Avenue, Roselands, NSW, 2196. Email inquiries can be directed to [email protected]

Editorial Deadlines & Addresses

Next deadlines: November 2019 (Issue 630): Friday 1 November 2019 December 2019 (Issue 631): Friday 29 November 2019 SW Trail, On Air and Editorial Craig Seager, 12 Pellion Place, Windradyne, NSW, 2795 (email: [email protected]) Broadcast Band/FM/The Listening Post John Wright, 71 Hilton Ave, Roselands NSW 2196. (email: [email protected]) Utility John Volpato, PO Box 247, Deakin West, ACT 2600. (email: [email protected]) Amateur Bob Ronai, (email: [email protected])

News from Club HQ (with John Wright) Welcome to the October 2019 ADXN. We welcome Martin Steiner from Denmark Western Australia member 2831. Martin listened to radio 4KZ on 5055 and thanks to Al Kirton Martin has joined us. Martin uses the ICOM R75 which is a great set. Welcome to the club Martin and you’re welcome to contribute!-JW. Sydney AGM Saturday 5th October at the hall in a community, 12 Avoca St, Ropers Crossing, in western Sydney. Will start the AGM proceedings at 12.30pm, followed by a club sponsored lunch as we do this every year free. Many thanks to Denis Smithson for his assistance. The hall we have hired is part of the community where Denis lives so we got the hall for $50-00 which is a bargain. Now the demise of cash or cheques, yes Denis has had to put this on his account, so when Denis gets the bill, we will reimburse Denis. I have one box of books, also spare parts box and a box of valves including 4 X 6146 valves. All for a very easy price FREE however, hopefully these will be shared out as was from a deceased estate VK2 and I was given these parts. I might even find in the shed a few bits and pieces to add to the pile. All welcome, need to know more call 0416 766 490.

Brisbane Branch Meeting Saturday 14th September, at John and Collen’s house. Those present were Ron and Hazel Everingham, Martin and Ann Hadlow, John and Colleen, Chris and Lyn Martin, Surprise attack was myself, John Wright and ole mate from work, Ian Pottinger (guest). Discussion on aerials for broadcast band Dxing, also lack of sunspots, but next year Feb/March due to start the cycle. We had a BBQ which normally the Smith’s sponsor, however the secretary appropriated the money for the sausages. Yes, Kevin Steele from your favourite Many butcher shop. We have a bit of information in listening post, Broadcast band and FM and trail, so that’s good. Unique Radio Now on air again Monday night’s 5045 kHz 1000 UTC World at your fingertips. Reports to me (Johno) for the px. A Special QSL card exists for correct reports. Radio 4KZ thinking about going to 2485 kHz, 200 watts or so…….MAY okay? Awaiting Al to go forward.

JW Azores Amateur Radio Operators Ready for Hurricane Lorenzo An Amateur Radio emergency network has activated as Hurricane Lorenzo approaches the Azores — an autonomous region of Portugal in the Atlantic. Amateur Radio volunteers will work with the government and emergency response teams, using VHF and UHF repeaters, HF, and Amateur Radio satellite. A request has been issued for stations to yield to any emergency traffic coming in and out of the Azores (CU, CQ8, CR8, CS8 and CT8 prefixes). The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in the US reports that a hurricane warning is in effect for Flores, Corvo, Faial, Pico, Sao Jorge, Graciosa, and Terceira islands. Lorenzo, a Category 2 storm, is maintaining its strength as it heads toward the Azores, where it is expected to bring hurricane conditions to some areas early on Wednesday. Lorenzo at one point was a Category 5 storm, the first ever recorded as far north and east in the Atlantic. As of 1800 UTC, Hurricane Lorenzo was some 385 miles southwest of Flores with maximum sustained winds of 100 MPH, moving to the northeast at 25 MPH. Radio amateurs have established HF inter-island links on 80, 40, and 20 meters — 3,760, 3,770, and 3,750 MHz; 7,110, 7,100, and 7,060 MHz; and 14,300, 14,310, and 14,320.00 MHz. The 20-meter frequencies are designated for communications with stations outside of the Azores. Over the weekend, AMSAT-NA received a request from radio amateurs involved with emergency communications in the Azores to forgo AO-92 L/v operation of the satellite this week. They asked that AO-92 remain in U/v to handle potential emergency traffic, with passes covering the Azores and Portugal the most critical. Lorenzo is not predicted to make a direct hit on the Azores. The NHC says that Lorenzo is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 1 to 2 inches over the western Azores and up to 1 inch over the central Azores today and Wednesday. “Swells generated by Lorenzo have spread across much of the North Atlantic basin, and are affecting the east coast of the United States, Atlantic Canada, the Bahamas, portions of the Greater and Lesser Antilles, and portions the coast of Europe,” the NHC said. — Thanks to Carlos Nora, CT1END, via Southgate Amateur Radio News, the Hurricane Watch Net, and AMSAT-NA (ARRL)

Front Cover: Vintage set and loop, as displayed at the recent Historical Radio Society of Australia convention, in Canberra (Photo: Craig Seager)

mailto:[email protected]



Shortwave Trail Our monthly roundup of members’ loggings edited by Craig Seager

Editorial Address 12 Pellion Pl., Windradyne NSW 2795 E-mail [email protected] 3325 V.O.Indonesia, Palangkaraya. Good w/opening

anncts. in EE, including frequency 1300. Nx, 1/10

(Seager)

3325 NBC Bougainville. Decent early signal from 0820

t/in with NBC National news px (relay ex TV?) with

PNG and regional news, frequent ad breaks.

Same px heard on stronger Madang on 3260

through to 0855 tune-out. Heard again later in the

evening with mx px 1240. 14/9 (Francis)

3945 RN2. "Die in Your Arms Tonight" by Cutting Crew

to close program (& pretty much defined the condx

on 25M, too)..closing chat, sked/QRG, nice

singing "RN2" jingle (x2)..1226-31* 21/9..Aoki has

'em @ 1400*, but EiBi shows 1231*. (Sheedy*)

3980 Echo of Hope, Hwaseong. In the clear 1240, KK

talks, good 1/10 (Seager)

4750 Bangladesh Betar, Shavar. Time pips for 1315

and the start of the Nepali service…..I think! The

audio was so distorted that it could well have been

any Sth Asian language! Fairly strong carrier, but

some background co-channel QRM from RRI-

Makassar and CNR 1-Hailar. 19/9. (Wagner)

4800 AIR, Hyderabad. Hindi service at 1305, fir signal

but under the stronger co-channel CNR 1-

Golmud. 19/9. (Wagner)

4810 AIR, Bhopal. Pleasant Hindi programming at

1323, very good signal, 19/9. (Wagner)

4885 R.Clube do Para, Belém. Very strong marker

station PP 0708 then mx px 12/9 again 15/9 0650

f/in local noticias. (Smith)

4920 AIR, Chennai. Hindi music program at 1330, fair

signal under the stronger co-channel PBS Xizang-

Lhasa in Tibetan. 19/9. (Wagner)

4940 Voice of The Strait, Fuzhou. Good reception

here at 0954 with a s/off in EE, then into CC at

0955 on 15/9 (Allen).

5020 SIBC, Honiara. Listening to local music at 0732

when the stations suddenly disappeared from the

air. Reappeared about 4 min later. A good signal

prior to and after the absence. 9/9. (Wagner)

5025 Radio Rebelde, Cuba. SS, lots of ID’s 0645 13/9

super strong. Again 0610 15/9 big level (Smith)

5040 R.Habana. 28/9 at 0518, RHC English is

S9+10/20 but undermodulated; 6000 is off, 6165

JBA if on, and 6100 very strong and also

undermodulated. Something`s always wrong at

RHC (Hauser*)

5045U Unique Radio, Gunnedah 0625. Good signal

16/9 then by 0905 had Indonesian fishing boats on

this freq. (Smith).

5055 Radio 4KZ, Innisfail. 0626 Tully car care of tyres

add, then a surprise with an add for AM loop

antennae’s for better reception! Cost 49-50 go to

www.nq.com.au 0627. Big level (Smith).

5129.976WBCQ. 27/9 at 0230, WBCQ now off-frequency-

minus, but closer after quite a spell circa 5130.38v.

Can`t read the programming, but scheduled UT

Fridays 0200-0300 is Radio for Peace

International, i.e. in French; a new tongue for

WBCQ? (Hauser*)

5800 WRMI, Okeechobee. Very poor in EE at 0811 on

2/9 (Adams).

5925 CNR5, Beijing. Heard at 1012, 15/9, with a CC

talk with music breaks. Good signal with only slight

noise and fading (Allen). ⧫1057 2/9 in Chinese.

Poor, unreadable (Emmanuel).

5952.47 R.Pio Doce. 29/9 at 0054, VP split-channel carrier

must be Radio Pio Doce, from the Twentieth

Century, rarely active? or heard, now with het

against WRMI 5950, and amid its splash which is

inescapable. Aoki/NDXC shows span of RPXII is

10-01 UT which explains why I am no longer

hearing it a few minutes later (Hauser*)

5955 CRI, Beijing. 1155 29/8 in English. Poor, fading,

sometimes recognisable (Emmanuel).

5970 WEWN, Vandiver. Spanish to LAm at 0645, good

on 2/9 (Adams).

5980 R.Martí, Greenville. Good in SS to Cuba on 2/9

at 0702 (Adams).

5980 Shiokaze/Sea Breeze. Well under the NK pulse

jammer this morning 1300+ 9/10 (jammer on by

1242 @ least), with //6070 in the clear. (Sheedy*)

5995 RTM, Bamako. Wow, huge sigs LP, 0630 ID in

French as “La Voz de Nacional”, then into Coral

type mx then around 0640 Timbuktu mentioned

and more great music 15/9 (Wright).

6040 Radio Romania International. In EE on 15/9 from

0040 w/px “DX Mailbag”, but from 1140 on 15320

was w/px Listeners Letter Mailbag (Pankov*).

6065 RNZI, Rangitaiki. 1055 1/9 in English. Poor,

readable (Emmanuel).

6070 CFRX, Toronto. A weak signal in the late

afternoon noise but still doing very well for its 900w

into SE Australia at 0745 with a discussion

program. 22/9 (Wagner)

6080 VoA via Pinheira. English to CAf on 2/9, good at

0651 (Adams).

6100 R.Havana. EE ID 0600 ID “Radio Havana, Cuba”

then EE News. Very strong/clear

//6160//6060.13/9 (Wright)

6140 RTI. Amoy programme with DJ chat, in-studio pop

group + EZL tunes, 3+1 pips @ 1300*, with

instrumental/Amoy voice over to open @

1200..*1200+, 1242-1300* 21,23/9. Don't


remember hearing an RTI broadcast in any CH

lang. without jamming before..or am I just out of

touch? (Sheedy*)

6180 Radio Romania Actualiti. 1st home service in

Romanian on 21/9 at 0428 w/hit of Tina Turner

“(It’s Simply the) Best”//of near 19 MW transmitters

(Pankov*).

6180.025 RNA. 29/9 at 0058, S9+10 of music, 0059

Brazuguese announcement about ``música

popular brasileira`` (MPB), the talk audio

somewhat suptorted, as RNA is here instead of no

signal on 11780 (Hauser*)

6185 China Huyai Bc Corp. 1106 2/9 in Chinese,

Amoy. Poor, recognisable (Emmanuel).

6230 VMW/CNR1 (jammer). What a jolly mix today

10/9 @ 1235+ with no sign of VoH target even

'way in the background. (Sheedy*)

7220 Unid. Noisy reception of a CC talk at 1020 on

15/9. A steady signal with varying noise (Allen).

7225 KBS World Radio, Kimjae. Very good reception

of cheerful KK discussion at 1024 on 15/9. A

steady signal with practically no noise and fading

(Allen).

7250 Vatican R., SM Galeria. S/on 0710 in Romanian

to liturgical service for EEu (Sundays only), good

signal, 22/9 (Wagner)

7254.95 VoNigeria, Abuja. Service to WAf in Fulfulde at

0703, fair to good signal, 22/9 (Wagner)

7255 V.O.Nigeria. Another almost perfect signal 0616

15/9 with Hausa (Wright).

7300 R.Taiwan Int., Tamsui District. 1056 1/9 in.

Chinese. Poor signal to nothing (Emmanuel).

7345 Thazin Radio, Naypyidaw. 1055 16/9, fades poor

to nothing (Emmanuel).

7410 FEBC, Bocaue. A fair strength signal with slight

fading and noise. Heard with a Cambodian talk at

1113 on 20/9 (Allen).

7415 R.Ndarason Int’l, Ascension. News and anncts

in the Kanuri language to WAf at 0650 to s/off

0659. Fair to poor signal, 22/9. (Wagner)

7425 R.Saudi Int’l, Riyadh. Somewhat unusual

propagation on 24/9 with this being the only station

holding up on the 41mb at 2345. Qur’an

programming and a weak signal. (Wagner)

7460 SOH, Miaoli. 1059 16/9 in Chinese. Miaoli. Great

signal. Off at 1100 (Emmanuel).

7470 CNR1 (jammer)/VOA (Udon Thani) VOA's 11-13

CH programme beating the jammer this morning

@ 1229+ 10/9. (Sheedy*)

7470 YHWH (religious pirate). On a little later than usual

0433-48 10/9 [off by 0455 recheck] & still plagued

by serious QSB. (Sheedy*)

7470 VOA, Udon Thani. 1102 16/9 in Chinese. Good

signal (Emmanuel).

7505.002WRNO. 29/9 at 0111, on again after missing a

week or two? with gospel rock, S9+30 and almost

on-frequency (Hauser*)

9155 SOH, Miaoli. 0955 1/9 in Chinese. Weak, mostly

readable (Emmanuel).

9180 SOH, Miaoli. 1120 18/9 in Chinese. Poor signal,

marred by major howling QRM (Emmanuel)

9275 FEBC Radio, Bocaue. 1128 5/9, Chinese.

(Emmanuel)

9330 WBCQ, Monticello ME. Old Jazz, dated pops

programming and ID at 0000. Full ID at 0005 then

s/off. I was expecting Overcomer Ministry at this

time but no sign of that raspy old voice. Fair to

poor signal; probably not at the full 500kW yet?

25/9. (Wagner)

9390 R.Thailand. 26/9 at 1418, VP talk in presumed

English as scheduled 1400-1430, also other

languages since 1200. In the MARE Tipsheet, Ken

Zichi and Gary Vance report an unmod carrier on

9389, out of 9395 WRMI? Or an artefact. Never

noticed here (Hauser*)

9400 FEBC Radio, Iba. 1128 5/9 in Chinese. Ok signal

(Emmanuel).

9410 BBC, Dhabayya. Arabic go EAf at 0310, weak

signal at first, but improved by 0345, 13/9.

(Wagner)

9420 Elliniki Radiofonika, Avlis. Just audible in Gk at

0525 on 20/9 (Allen).

9425 R.Taiwan Int., Paochung. 1121 18/9 in

Vietnamese. Weak, major QRM from CRI 9420,

recognisable (Emmanuel).

9440 BBC, Al Seela. English WS to ME and CAs at

0305, good signal, 13/9. (Wagner)

9460 VOA, Tinang. 1110 10/9 in Chinese. OK signal.

(Emmanuel)

9470 CNR1 (jammer)/RTI. Trading places atop the

freq. on 10/9 & 12/9 @ 1232-39. (Sheedy*)

9490 R.Japan, Nauen. Japanese to ME at s/on 0300,

fair signal, 13/9. (Wagner)

9515 VoT, Emirler. English to NAm at 0120, fair signal,

13/9. (Wagner)

9525 Dengê Welat, Issoudun. Kurdish to ME at 0315,

fair signal, 13/9. (Wagner)

9535 RHC, Bejucal. Spanish to CAm on 24/9, fair at

0443 (Adams).

9535 R.Habana, Bejucal. Discussions in Spanish at

0235, music programming at 0327, weak signal at

first but improved later, 13/9. (Wagner)

9545 SIBC, Honiara. Pop songs (such as Love Me

Anyway by Pink) and community anncts with

frequent mentions of Honiara and the islands at

0235. A very weak signal at first but gradually

improved to a fair level around 0340. SIBC hasn’t

been making it to Mount Evelyn in recent times, so

nice to hear it again. 13/9. (Wagner)

9570 CRI, Cërrik. Mandarin at ENAm at 0225, fair

signal right up to past 0355, 13/9. (Wagner)

9630 CNR 1, Golmud. Barely audible in CC on 24/9 at

0236 (Adams).

9630 China Nat. Radio. 17th px in Kazak (they spell

“Kazak” and not “Kazakh””) on 22/9 at *1220-

1244* featuring 12 min’s pxs w/EE & RR language


lessons, translated in Kazak (Pankov).

9635 VoV, Son Tay. Vietnamese news at 0010, weak

signal, 25/9. (Wagner)

9650 Voice of Korea, Kujang. 1205 21/9 in. Japanese.

Kujang. Patriotic songs. OK signal. 2/9 1159 poor

signal, down in the mud (Emmanuel).

9660 R.Taiwan Int, Kouhu. 1024 1/9 in Chinese. OK

signal. (Emmanuel)

9690 REE, Noblejas. Only fair in SS to NAm at 0133 on

24/9 (Adams).

9695 SLBC, Trincomalee. S/on 1114 in Hindi to SAs,

talks and some pleasant music. NF (ex 9720) and

a very good signal. Sudden unannounced s/off

mid-song at 1158. 28/9 (Wagner)

9700 R.Veritas Asia, SM Galeria. The Kachin

language service to SEAs at 0013, noted to s/off

0027, fair to poor signal. Kachin is spoken by

around 900,000 people in the Kachin State of

northern Myanmar and Yunnan Province, China.

25/9. (Wagner)

9735 R.Taiwan Int., Paochung. 1030 1/9 in

Cantonese. There, but major CNR1 jamming kills

(Emmanuel).

9775 CLANDESTINE Radio Ndarason International,

Woofferton (presumed). 1836-1859* 17/9,

announcer speaking in the listed Kanuri language.

Brief segments of tribal vocals and drums music

between further talks. Closed at 1855 with a vocal

selection that continued until the carrier was

terminated. Poor. (D’Angelo*)

9790 CRI, Quivican. English to WNAm at 0325, weak


9810 AWR, Trincomalee. Thai service to SEAs at 0017

until s/off 0030, fair signal, 25/9. (Wagner)

9830 BBC, Kostinbrod. S/on 0330 in Farsi to Iran,

good signal, 13/9. (Wagner)

9840 RFI, Issoudun. Hausa to WAf on 23/9. Very good

at 0605 (Adams).

9840 Voice of Vietnam, Hanoi. 1013 2/9 in English.

Poor, recognisable, unreadable (Emmanuel).

9860 R.Japan via Santa Maria di Galeria. Very good

reception of an EE transmission with “Let’s learn

Japanese” at 0525 on 20/9 (Allen).

9865 AIR, Bengaluru. Hindi (Vividh Bharati service) to

SAs at 0220, a weak signal first but improved by

0345, 13/9. (Wagner). ⧫1141 29/8 in Hindi

(Emmanuel).

9890 BBC via Dhabbaya. Hindi to SAs on 24/9, fair at

0120 (Adams).

9900 VoIRI, Zahedan. The Arabic “Al-Quds” TV relay

programming at 0347. A strong carrier but the

audio level was down (as it often is!), 13/9.

(Wagner)

9930 Unidentified. Good reception of a CC talk before

shut-down after time pips and an ID that I couldn’t

identify at 1100,15/9, and not heard since! No sign

of T8WH tonight (Allen).

9955 WRMI, Okeechobee FL. The “Frecuencia al Día”

DX and radio hobby program on Fridays with Dino

Bloise and friends, in Spanish at 0350. A weak

signal and WRMI s/off at 0400. 13/9. (Wagner). ⧫

Wed 25/9 at 2058, WRMI with IS & ID loop, 2100

opening RFPI in French; since I am not familiar

with exactly how they begin, can`t be sure whether

it`s upcut like ex-WORLD OF RADIO always was

for weeks at this time; for the third week RFPI, and

finally that shows on the skedgrid. BTW, I see that

WRMI now shows both XMTR 4 and 10 on 9955

at 160 degrees, but no transmissions at all from

#4, so a backup? (Hauser*)

11530 Denge Welat/Voice of Homeland (Kurdistan).

on 2/9 was confirmed w/px in Turkish (not in

Kurdish) at 0500-0645 & 1800-1945 (also in

Turkish at 0300-0445 on 9525 kHz) (Pankov*).

11565 All India Radio. In RR on 17/9 w/test bc here

instead of traditional 11560 at *1615-1715*

(Pankov*).

11635 CRI, Beijing. 0956 5/9 in English. Just there.

Fades poor to nothing, recognisable (Emmanuel).

11665 Wai FM (via RTM, Kajang). Very nice to catch

decent audio from Wai FM 1244+ 10/9, (they've

been sunk in the "Slough of Despond/Poor

Propagation" for several weeks). (Sheedy*)

11700 RHC, Quivican. Spanish to SAm on 11/9, poor at

0127 (Adams).

11705 RFA via Umm al-Rimam. Tibetan to FE at 0145,

poor under CNR 1 Jamming on 11/9 (Adams).

11730 NHK via Issoudun. Poor in FF to Waf at 0541,

23/9 (Adams).

11740 NHK. Fair in Thai 1242+ 10/9 with usual CNR1

apparently not on. (Sheedy*). ⧫1058 5/9 in

Burmese. Poor, recognisable (Emmanuel)

11750 CNR 1, Shijiazhuang. Poor in CC at 0147 on 11/9

(Adams).

11770 CRI, Kashi. Poor in EE to SAs at 0122, under the

much stronger CRI, Nanning in CC to SEA on 11/9

(Adams).

11770 Voice of Nigeria, Abuja. 2016-2058* 18/9,

discussion in the listed Hausa language (seemed

to be some sort of public affairs program). Bottom

of the hour mainly music with some short talks by

various announcers. Close-down with a National

Anthem. Good signal. (D’Angelo*)

11775 CRI via Cërrik. Very good in AA to NAf on 23/9 at

0538 (Adams).

11795 BBC via Yerevan Very poor in EE to SAs at *0200

due to splash from CNR, Beijing in CC on 11/9

(Adams).

11810 KBS, Kimjae. Spanish service to SAm at 0120,

very good swamping CNR 8, Beijing in Mongolian

on 11/9 (Adams).

11815 R.Brasil Central. Faded in at 0559 in PP on 23/9,

fair at 0613 (Adams).

11825 BBC via Tinang. Good in EE to Indonesia at 2350

on 24/9 (Adams).

11825 VOA, Tinang. 1106 5/9 in Chinese. OK signal,


readable (Emmanuel)

11860 Xizang PBS, Lhasa. Only fair in CC at 23/9 at

0551 (Adams).

11865 Voice of Korea, Kujang. 0836 on 4/9 in

Japanese. Poor, recognisable patriotic songs

(Emmanuel).

11880 AWR via Moosbrunn. Arabic to NAf at 0608, very

good on 23/9 (Adams).

11880 CRI. 26/9 at 1415, CRI Plus English relay is S9+10

but modulation somewhat suppressed + distorted

= suptorted. Something`s always wrong at

RadioCuba (Hauser*)

11885 Xinjiang PBS, Urumqi. Uyghur service at 0115,

very weak signal on 11/9 (Adams).

11915 CNR 2, Baoji-Sifangshan. Poor in CC on 11/9 at

0110 (Adams).

11935 CRI, Shijiazhuang. 1110 5/9 in Russian. Fading

poor, sometimes readable (Emmanuel).

11945 CRI, Kunming. Amoy service to SEA on 11/9,

good at 0116 (Adams).

11990 Radio Taiwan Int. in GG direct from Tansui w/test

transmissions on 21 & 22/9 at *1700-1800* in

really feat. A px w/duration of 29 min’s which was

aired 5 times: from 1700, from 1731 on 11990,

from 1800 & from 1832 on 9540, and via Sofia on

5900 from 1900 (Pankov*).

12019 Voice of Vietnam, Sontay. Good on 24/9 in EE to

Indonesia at 2355 (Adams).

12025 Beyond Reach Australia, Kununurra. Burmese

service on 11/9, good at 0035 (Adams).

12030 Radio Exterior de España (REE). In RR on 30/8

at 1700-1730 w the story of the evergreen song

“Granada”(Pankov*).

12030 REE. 25/9 at 1820, after two days of dead air, REE

has awakened to modulate the ME beam with silly

ballgame (Hauser*)

12035 Deewa Radio via Umm al-Rimam. Only fair in

Pashto to Afghanistan at 0210, 11/9 (Adams).

12050 CLANDESTINE Radio Ndarason International,

Woofferton. 1902-1928 17/9, in the clear at tune

in with discussion sin the Kanuri language with

occasional tribal vocals and instrumental mx.

Eventually began mixing with presumed WEWN

which later I determined was in the Spanish

language. It was nice while it lasted! Fair to good

at tune in but slowly deteriorating. (D’Angelo*)

12055 FEBC, Bocaue. Wa service to SEA at 0046. Good

on 11/9 (Adams).

12070 VoA via Santa Maria di Galeria. Good in Hausa

to WAf at 0706 on 2/9 (Adams).

12070 FEBC, Iba. Very good in CC to FE at 0049 on 11/9

(Adams).

12110 VoA via Tinang. Burmese to SEA at 0003, very

good on 24/9 (Adams).

12190 SOH, Miaoli. 0838 4/9 in Chinese. Poor signal,

fading recognisable (Emmanuel).

13580 BBC via Dhabbaya. Poor and noisy in EE to EAf

on 24/9 at 0520 (Adams).

13580 BBC, Al Seela. English WS to ME at 0405, fair

signal. Scheduled to change to Dhabayya at 0500

for the beam to EAf, and signal at that time was

about the same strength. 19/9. (Wagner)

13610 CNR 1, Nanning. Very good in Chinese at 0009

on 24/9 (Adams).

13630 VoA via Udon Thani. Poor in Tibetan under CNR

1 jammer at 0013 on 24/9 (Adams).

13635 Voice of Turkey, Emirler. Poor in Turkish to EU

at 0732, 2/9 (Adams).

13645 CRI, Xian. S/on 0600 in English to SEAs, fair


13650 VoK, Kujang. English to SEAs at s/on 0500 to

s/off 0557. The Mandarin service followed at 0600.

Poor signal, 13/9. (Wagner)

13650 BBC via Dhabbaya. Urdu service at 0720 on 2/9

(Adams).

13665 VoIRI, Sirjan. Swahili to EAf at 0505. A weak

signal and // 13635 also via Sirjan but the signal

there was just as weak. Monitored on-and-off

through to eventual s/off 0551 on 13/9. (Wagner)

13695 VoIRI, Sirjan. The 30-min Hebrew service to ME

at s/on 0420, fair to poor signal. Runs // 13740 also

from Sirjan where the signal was much stronger.

This was surprising considering they are both

listed as 500 kW and there is only a small

difference in beam heading (13695 is 282? and

13740 is 293?), 19/9. (Wagner)

13695 RFI, Issoudun. French to WAf on 2/9. Only fair at

0735 (Adams).

13695 AIR, Bengaluru. Tamil service to SEA on 24/9,

very good at 0015 (Adams).

13710 CRI via Cërrik. Good in EE to Eu at 0737 on 2/9

(Adams).

13710 Broadcasting Service Kingdom of Saudi

Arabia, Riyadh. 1710-1745 17/9, announcer with

Arabic language talk (introducing the next

program segment?) followed by recitations from

the Holy Quran. Very good signal. (D’Angelo*)

13730 VOIRI, Zahedan. Only fair in Arabic to ME on 24/9

at 0537 (Adams). ⧫Arabic to ME at 0510, fair to

weak signal, 13/9. (Wagner)

13750 RRI, Tiganesti. French to CAf 0510, weak signal,

19/9. (Wagner). ⧫Poor in FF to CAf at 0525 on

24/9 (Adams).

13760 VoK, Kujang. English to SAm 0425, changing to

Spanish at 0500, fair to poor signal, 19/9.

(Wagner)

13765 VoT, Emirler. Hausa service to Nigeria at 0520,

fair signal, 13/9. (Wagner). ⧫Hausa service to

Nigeria at 0535, poor on 24/9 (Adams).

13770 CRI, Xianyang. Good in Vietnamese to SEA on

24/9 at 0023 (Adams).

13780 R.Saudi, Riyadh. Arabic to ME at 0525, fair to

poor signal, 13/9. (Wagner)

13785 VoIRI, Sirjan. Turkish to ME s/on 0420 and noted

to past 0530, good signal, 19/9. (Wagner)

13800 Radio Free Asia via Kuwait. Heard at 1050 on


20/9 with a Tibetan translation of an EE news

report (Allen).

13825 BBC, Tashkent is listed here between 0300-0500

in Farsi to Iran. However, all I hear is CNR 1’s

DRM hash. A quick trip around the KiwiSDRs in

the ME, Eu and As revealed that there was either

no signal at all on this freq in this time period or

there was CNR DRM signal. So, perhaps BBC has

moved? However, it is still registered here in

HFCC as of 19/9. (Wagner)

13835 Radio Free Asia via Dushanbe. Strong, clear

reception of a s/on in Tibetan at 1100 on 20/9

(Allen).

13840 R.Japan, Talata-Volonondry. French to CAf at

0535, good signal, 13/9. (Wagner)

13840 Manara Radio International via Issoudun.

Hausa to WAf at 0726, poor on 2/9 (Adams).

13840 NHK via Talata-Volonondry. French to CAf at

0531, poor on 24/9 (Adams).

13840 RNZI, Rangitaiki. English to Oc 0350 to s/off 0458

with ID and freq annct change to 9700, 19/9.

(Wagner)

13860 R.Farda, Ban Dung. Farsi to Iran at 0501 to past

0640, poor signal with deep fades at first but

improved somewhat by 0600, 19/9. (Wagner)

15310 BBC via Al Seela. Good in Urdu to Pakistan at

0724 on 2/9 (Adams).

15390 CNR 13, Lingshi. Uyghur service at 0029, fair on

24/9 (Adams).

15435 FEBC, Bocaue. The Tai Nüa service to SEAs at

0048 to s/off 0100. Fair to poor signal. Tai Nüa

(a.k.a Tai Nuea and Dihong Dai) is spoken by the

Dai people of southwest Yunnan Province and the

Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture of China, as well

as in northern Myanmar. 25/9. (Wagner)

15640 FEBC, Bocaue. The Mro service to SEAs

between 0030 and 0045, fair signal. Then the

language changes to Kachin at 0045 until s/off

0100. The Mro language (a.k.a. Khami and Mro

Chin) is spoken by people in villages and towns of

the Chin and Rakine States of Western Myanmar.

25/9. (Wagner). ⧫Chin Mro service to SEA on 4/9,

very good at 0035 (Adams).

15670 Radio France International, Issoudun. 1619-

1643 17/9, announcer spoke in the Hausa

language with very brief musical interludes

between items. Generally poor with some fair

peaks. (D’Angelo*)

15700 RFA via Tinian. Very good in Burmese to SEA on

24/9 at 0037 (Adams).

15720 Radio Free Asia via Dushanbe. Heard at 0615,

20/9, with a Tibetan talk. A steady signal with

some slight noise (Allen).

15750 Mashaal Radio via Udon Thani. Weak and noisy

reception of a Pashto song and anns at 0619 on

20/9 (Allen).

17560 VOA via Tinang. Chinese to FE on 24/9. Poor

under CNR 1 jammer at 0040 (Adams).

17650 KSDA, Agat. AWR programming in Mandarin at

0032, fair signal, 25/9. (Wagner). Very good in

Chinese to FE at 0045 on 24/9 (Adams).

17710 CRI, Beijing. 0559 5/9, English. Good signal,

QRN below degrades (Emmanuel).

17730 BSKSA, Riyadh. 0730 9/9 in. Arabic. Poor,

recognisable (Emmanuel).

Contributors: Dan Sheedy, Moonlight Beach, CA, USA (PL380/6m X wire) Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria (Sony ICF2001D, 6 meters

wire antenna on 8th floor in Sofia).

John Adams, Port Douglas Far North Queensland

(Sangean ATS-909X, 7 Metre Reel Antenna)

Rob Wagner, VK3BVW, Mount Evelyn, VIC (Yaesu FTDX

3000, Kenwood TS2000, Yaesu FRG100, Kenwood R5000,

Tecsun PL-680, Horizontal Sky Loop, Double Bazooka

antennas for 80, 40 and 20 metres, Par EF-SWL End Fed

antenna, BHI NEIM1031 Digital Noise Eliminating Module,

MFJ-1026 Noise Cancelling Module, ATU).

Rich D'Angelo, Wyomissing, PA, U.S.A. (Ten-Tec RX-340,

Drake R-8B, Eton E1, Eton E5, Alpha Delta DX Sloper, RF

Systems Mini-Windom, Datong FL3, JPS ANC-4)

Bob Emanuel, Blackheath NSW, VK2FRMA (Icom 7300

fed by Emtron 8.5m vertical, Icom R 8500 fed by Sony Active

antenna).

Dennis Allen, Milperra NSW (Icom R75, Realistic DX160,

Longwires)

Matt Francis, Paddington, NSW (Tecsun 880, external

wire)

Glenn Hauser, Enid OK USA (JRC NRD-545 with

Wellbrook ALA-330S; Icom R-75, Tecsun PL-880, Radio

Shack DX-398, Grundig Yacht Boy 400, with random wires;

Grundig G8)

Craig Seager, VK2HBT, Bathurst NSW (Perseus SDR, JRC

NRD-545, Airspy HF+, DX Engineering Preamp, Wellbrook

feeder isolator, Icom IC-756 Pro, Loop Skywire, Home-

made Loop with LZ1AQ amplifier, Wellbrook ALA1530-

LNPro)

DXPedition Items

John Wright, Pimpama QLD (ICOM R75 and 500 metre

Beveridge 62 degrees)

John Smith, Pimpana QLD (Palstar and 500 meter

Beveridge 62 degrees).

* Denotes listener outside of Australia

Digital mode

Editor’s hot pick (CS) €


On Air

The Latest News from the Shortwave Bands edited by Craig Seager Editorial Address 12 Pellion Pl., Windradyne NSW 2795 E-mail [email protected]

AFGHANISTAN. Weak/fair signal of Radio Afghanistan Ext.Sce, September 13 1530-1616 6100 YAK 100 kW / 125 deg to SoAs English/Urdu and off air: 1616-1730 6100 YAK 100 kW / 125 deg to SoAs Ur/Ara/Rus are not on air https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2019/09/weakfair-signal-of-radio-afghanistan.html (Ivo Ivanov, SWLDXBulgaria News September 13-14, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

BHUTAN. 6035, BBS, 1133+, Sept 17. The Rolling Stones - "Miss You" and then playing mostly R&B songs (Boyz II Men - "Misty Blue," etc.); after 1140, mixing with FM99 (PBS Yunnan); later noted 1158* cut off. Any reception here in which I can ID some of the songs, I consider good reception! 6035, BBS, 1049-1140, Sept 18. Recently with unusually good reception; pop songs; news in English, but unreadable (1101-1109), with musical bridges of their often heard theme music; more pop songs (Elvis Presley - "Can't Help Falling In Love," Beatles - "Hey Jude," etc.); heard at a level making IDs easy; nice listening until QRM started at *1140, with the start up of FM99 relay, via PBS Yunnan. My audio of the Beatles song at http://bit.ly/2mosQix Certainly, this reception was one of their best! (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA, Etón E1, antenna: 100' long wire, WOR iog via DXLD)

DENMARK In a completely unexpected move the Danish authorities has withdrawn the permission to use out of band frequencies (on a non interference basis) for World Music Radio (WMR). This means that WMR will be ceasing operations on 5840 and 15805 kHz tomorrow Sunday September 15th 2009 at 2200 UTC. WMR may return to shortwave – using frequencies inside the official SW bands – but this may take several months. Meanwhile WMR continues being available via internet streaming at www.wmr.dk – and hopefully also soon on medium wave 927 kHz in Copenhagen. Reception reports may be sent to [email protected] - or to World Music Radio, PO Box 112, DK-8960 Randers SØ, Denmark

(please enclose return postage). Best 73s Stig Hartvig Nielsen, www.wmr.dk

ECUADOR.

6050, HCJB, Pichincha, 0348-0500*, 14-09, Saturday’s German program, female, male, comments, at 0400 time signals and program in Spanish, religious and cultural comments, Andean music and other songs in Spanish, “Asi termina el programa de hoy, agredeciéndoles...”, anthem and close at 0500. 0400-0458 strong QRM from Algeria on the same frequency. 214321 [sic] (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Logs in Friol, Tecsun S-8800, cable antenna, 8 meters, WOR iog via DXLD)

JAPAN Radio NIKKEI returned to the normal operation. Radio NIKKEI announced that their 1st program returned to the normal operation (50 kW) on September 18. Due to the damage at Nagara transmitter site (Chiba prefecture) by Typhoon No. 15, 1st program on 6055 kHz has been transmit with reduced power between September 10-18. (Takahito Akabayashi, Tokyo, Japan; wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Sept 26)

OMAN Radio Sultanate of Oman is again on air, September 30 from 1359 on 9620 to WeEu, but in Arabic, instead of English 14-15UT (Ivo Ivanov, HCDX)

UNITED STATES. According to a programme schedule of 1 September 2019, KVOH (17775 kHz) now has the following schedule: 1400-1905 Monday 1400-2100 Tuesday 1400-1900 Wednesday 1400-2100 Thursday 1400-1900 Friday 1500-2000 Saturday The Saturday programmes are in English, all other programmes are in Spanish. http://www.voiceofhope.com/schedule/kvoh_program_grid.pdf

https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2019/09/weakfair-signal-of-radio-afghanistan.html

https://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.com/2019/09/weakfair-signal-of-radio-afghanistan.html

http://bit.ly/2mosQix

www.wmr.dk

http://www.voiceofhope.com/schedule/kvoh_program_grid.pdf

http://www.voiceofhope.com/schedule/kvoh_program_grid.pdf


(via Dr Hansjoerg Biener 12 September 2019, DXLD) Really, the s/on/off times vary (gh):

VANUATU With the support of the Government of Vanuatu, the Vanuatu Broadcasting & Television Corporation (VBTC) has begun work this month on a 942 million vatu (US$8.1m) infrastructure upgrade to improve radio and free-to-air television service throughout Vanuatu. The first phase involves the design, installation and commissioning of a new shortwave (HF) and medium wave (MF) service for Radio Vanuatu, the country’s public radio service. Costing for phase one will be in excess of 242 million vatu (US$2.2m) and is funded by the Government of Vanuatu. Following the improvements to shortwave and medium wave services, VBTC will also undertake technical work to strengthen the coverage and reliability of its FM services. A 10kW MF Nautel transmitter imported out of Canada and a 10kw HF transmitter manufactured by Hanjin Electronics of South Korea will be installed at VBTC’s major public service transmission site at Emten Lagoon on Efate. Both transmitters will be commissioned before the end of 2019. The second phase, beginning early 2020, will reopen Radio Vanuatu’s medium wave radio transmission facilities at St Michelle in Luganville on the island of Santo. This will provide AM service to provinces in the top half of Vanuatu at a cost in excess of 300 million vatu (US$2.5m). The third phase will expand the national television free-to-air service, Television Blong Vanuatu, along with a new digital television service. This final phase will cost an estimated 400 million vatu (US$3.5m). Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas launched the capital development upgrade at a special function attended by cabinet ministers, senior members of the public service, members of the diplomatic corps and members of Vanuatu’s business and non-profit communities on Friday September 20 in Port Vila before he departed the country to attend the UN General Assembly in New York. In his address, the Prime Minister spoke at length about the importance to Vanuatu of having a strong national public radio and television broadcasting service and announced assistance from Vanuatu’s development partners to help achieve this objective. The Government of Australia funded the scoping study for the radio upgrade project and is providing funding support to implement the strategic reform programme of VBTC which the Prime Minister said is making good progress. “I’m also happy to announce that the New Zealand Government is keen to support the second stage of the Radio Vanuatu technical infrastructure upgrade while China

is considering my request to support the upgrade of Television Blong Vanuatu’s technical infrastructure.” Meanwhile Kordia New Zealand Limited has been awarded the contract to project manage, design, install and commission the new radio transmission facilities beginning with the facilities at Emten Lagoon outside Port Vila. VBTC Chief Executive Officer, Francis Herman said that “Kordia has extensive experience in the broadcasting and telecommunications industry in the Pacific, and recently completed a major project in Samoa for State-owned Radio 2AP funded by the Australian Government”. “We’ve worked hard with Kordia and a number of other technical experts to investigate the most efficient and sustainable transmission solution for Vanuatu taking into account the inclement weather, and the need to keep operating costs affordable.” The shortwave service, which will be commissioned before the end of this year, will provide national radio coverage to the 82 islands spread spanning 1,300 kilometres between the most northern and southern islands. “Our role as Vanuatu’s national broadcasting service is centered on helping create an informed public opinion so our people can contribute more effectively to national development”, Herman added. “VBTC has struggled to remain relevant over the past decade because its technical infrastructure was obsolete and badly neglected making it challenging for us to provide an efficient, reliable, and responsive national radio and television service.” Alongside the infrastructure upgrade, is an extensive programme to strengthen the technical capacity of Vanuatu’s broadcast technicians along with a long-term maintenance regime to expand the life of the equipment. September 23, 2019 (SWLing Post via Chris Rogers)

NEW HISTORY MATERIAL AT

<www.ontheshortwaves.com> Update, September 1, 2019 -- We have

posted two new groups of trinkets. Trinkets-X, under "DX

History/Equipment & Advertising," contains three items: an Atwater-Kent

receiver escutcheon; a Collins Radio Co. 50-year medal; and a medal

issued to promote the Panasonic RF-5000 receiver ("The Best Portable in

the World," it says). We have already posted several Radio Free Europe-

Crusade for freedom pins <

http://www.ontheshortwaves.com/Stations/RFE_pins.pdf> In Trinkets-XI

(under "DX History/Stations") we have posted two more: a Radio Free

Europe-Radio Liberty pin, and another "Newspaper Boys'-Crusade for

Freedom" pin, together with the cardboard carrier to which it was originally

attached.

<www.ontheshortwaves.com> Update, September 8, 2019 -- Aside from

www.ontheshortwaves.com


http://www.ontheshortwaves.com/


their value as confirmation of one's reception, QSLs often tell a story about

the staion and the times. This is especially true of the very old QSLs that

we have posted in our new section under "Specialized Resources." "The

Early DX of David F. Thomas" presents selected QSLs from the collection

of a long time Ohio DXer who entered the hobby just four years after the

famous KDKA broadcast. He tuned the standard broadcast band with an

Atwater Kent receiver, eventually branching out to shortwave as well

(KDKA was also the first shortwave broadcaster, having started regular

shortwave transmissions in 1923). Dave's BCB QSLs from the 1920s

reflect the varied station ownership of the time, and provide a window into

many interesting details of station operation. We hope to post more of

Dave's QSLs in the future. Thanks to Dave's son, Paul, for making them

available. -- And Adrian Peterson brings us three new stories from radio's

early history: "Titanic Wireless Cabin" (Wavescan N546, August 11, 2019);

"The Early Wireless Scene in South American Uruguay-1" (Wavescan

N547, August 18, 2019); and "Australian Shortwave Callsign VLR-1"

(Wavescan N547, August 18, 2019). -- And finally, on the "Specialized

Resources" Colin Miller page, a new recording of the Voice of Nigeria, from

the 1970s.

<www.ontheshortwaves.com> Update, September 15, 2019 -- We have

added a new section, "Clandestine, Opposition and Target Broadcasts,"

under "Shortwave Broadcast" in "The CPRV Gallery." This time we have

posted QSLs from Europe and Africa. These are mostly from my own

collection, but we welcome submissions from others.

<www.ontheshortwaves.com> Update, September 22, 2019 -- Under

"CPRV/The CPRV Gallery," we have added a group of QSLs from the

Americas in the new "Clandestine, Opposition and Target Broadcasts"

section. -- And under "DX History/Stations," we have added a short last-

page addendum to the article, "Barbados Shortwave Redux."

(Jerry Berg)

AMATEUR NEWS

Tokelau Islands DXpedition

Just a reminder that a large inter-national team of operators

will be active as ZK3A from the Tokelau Islands (OC-048)

between now and October 11th.

Activity will be on 160-6 meters using CW, SSB, the Digital

modes (RTTY, PSK31 and FT8) and EME (6m). QSL via

YT1AD direct, OQRS (direct or Bureau) or LoTW (uploaded

6 months after DXpedition).

For more details and updates, see: https://tokelau2019.com

ADDED UPDATES:

On September 25th, it was announced that the advance

(setup) team (Adrian/KO8SCA, Robert/N7QT &

Dusko/ZL3WW) have been active on 20m band so far. They

will have limited time on the air during the daylight hours, as

they are still setting up antennas etc. The rest of team will

be arriving on the 1st October.

On September 26th, it was announced that the Ukrainian

team (UR9QQ, US0KW, UR0MC, UT5UY, UT8IO) for the

ZK3A DXpedition are on their way to the island! Also

announced: The ZK3A DXpedition 2019 from Tokelau

Islands has been approved by the ARRL Award Branch for

DXCC credit.

(Southgate ARC)

Australian Foundation Amateur Radio Licence Changes

Australian Foundation holders are now permitted to build

transmitters and let unlicenced people use their station. WIA

hope the problematic 7 character callsign issue will be

addressed later

WIA News reports:

On the 21st of September, the Australian Communications

and Media Authority arranged for the world to come to an

end.

Or, perhaps they arranged for the world to have a new

beginning.

The A C M A has published changes to the Amateur licence

conditions, set out in its “Omnibus Amendment Instrument

2019”, Number 1. The changes have been in effect from 21

September.

In summary, the chief changes are as follows:

All restrictions on emission modes have been removed for

all licensees;

Restrictions on permitted transmission bandwidths have

been removed for all licensees across all bands allowed for

each grade pf licence, with the exception of the 2200 metre

and 630 metre bands, which only Advanced licensees can

use;

The impact of these two changes is that – from now on – all

licensees are now able use any transmission mode –

including those not yet invented – provided the transmission

remains wholly within the band being used!

However, the A C M A has seen fit to retain the three-tier

licensing structure of Foundation, Standard and Advanced.

There are no changes to the bands permitted for each

licence grade and the power limits have been retained: 10

watts for Foundation, 100 watts for Standard and 400 watts

for Advanced.

But – and this is a big but – all the contentious restrictions

on Foundation licensees that have long been viewed as a

general hindrance to precious new entrants to the world of

amateur radio, have been removed.

Foundation operators can now build and use their own

transmitters and transceivers, they can operate their rig

using computer control and automatic mode (think – WSPR)

and explore the wonderful world of digital modes – even

more so once the 7-character callsign issue is addressed

(more on which, later). Further, still – Foundation operators

can allow unlicensed buddies to use their station; one

presumes while the licensee is present in the shack.

Among other details, further geographic restrictions on the

use of the 3.6 GHz band have been advised, to the chagrin

of microwave operators across the land.




As callsigns are not part of amateur licence conditions –

even though we all have to have one – the unfortunate issue

that some digital transmission modes cannot accommodate

the 7-character Foundation callsigns will need to be

addressed later in the course of the ACMA’s Five-year

workplan – hopefully, sooner rather than later.

Undeterred, the DMR network has quickly responded to

enable Foundation operators to get their ID, and FT8 has

been getting a hammering on various bands from the day

the ACMA announcement hit its website.

The matter of access to the 5.3 MHz band for Advanced

licensees will be the subject of a discussion paper to be

released shortly.

All that work, since 2014, on gaining improved licence

conditions has come to fruition. But, like the Curate’s egg –

it’s good in parts. And like that Year 7 report card says –

more work needed.

(Roger Harrison, WIA News)

Editor: John Wright E-mail: [email protected] The Listening Post is all about you, past future and present tense. Members are interested in reading about how you started in the hobby, and what you have been doing radio-wise recently. But we also want to hear about the person lurking behind the dials, so feel free to slip in a bit of more general life-based discussion. Too, this is the place to discuss any and all topics of current interest to radio hobbyists, but let’s keep it light and respectful.

John Wright Roselands NSW (ICOM R75 and 500

metres long wire 62 degrees Pimpama sugar cane fields)

.

Yes, great to catch up with John Smith and Chris Martin and

also the Brisbane branch meeting Well conditions weren’t

the best as no sunspots only a mad horse and a mad cow

to further annoy us. Mostly though we were on the broadcast

band. Remember to try some sort of experimentation, well

we had a go.

Reports to Cuba 6100 0600, Mali 5995 0630..hopefully get

a couple more QSL’s.

Hopefully more next month-JW

Dennis Allen, Milperra

Despite all my recent good intentions, I’m still not spending

much time at the radio which means still no reports out and

no QSL’s in! I think I will have to change my approach

somewhat and try reporting some of the foreign language

propaganda broadcasts. Not only that, when the new

transmission period begins shortly I will make a list of all the

English transmission frequencies and times, and then attack

them one by one!

On a brighter note, I have finally managed to construct a

radio receiver that works, although it does require a few

minor adjustments. Still, I’m pretty pleased with it and there

are a lot more sad things to worry about. What about poor

old Craig last month – I hope you put in a compensation

claim against the Department of Home Affairs , mate!

Anyway, that’s enough from me for a while so until the next

time, 73’s everybody.

(JW) ᴥ

Broadcast Band & FM News Editor: John Wright E-mail: [email protected] Postal contributions to John Wright, 71 Hilton Avenue, Roselands 2196 N.S.W.

We start off with some FM material from the legend of Broken Hill, Graham Dawe. Pure Country 87.6 FM is now off air as of 2 August due to financial constraints. The station was first on air 22 January 2015 and played its last tune on 1 August 2019. Also, if you have pots of money the City Council of Broken Hill is looking at someone else to take over the airport kiosk, for a fee of $150-00 a week. So, if you’re looking to invest move to Broken Hill. (my idea of country airports is that are a money burning machine, especially with a handful of flights each week, max capacity of the SAAB 340 is 34 seats. You would be lucky to get $500-00 in the till for 7 days-ed) Graham further reports that the splatter from the now ex 87.6 station has now disappeared and that conditions from the Lawton St DX site is still way below the normal. Graham also mentions he plotted the whole of the DAB + band whilst in Adelaide having his ticker looked at. Graham also has had a running battle with the cockatoos, 38 of them the other morning on the long wire. For Al Kirton Radio 4KZ 5055 after dark you have a signal S9+10dB over.


Cheers Graham. John Wright from Pimpama, near Jacobs Well, QLD using an ICOM R75 and a long wire 500 metres at 62 degrees. This the first night had an 600 ohm resister at the far end to match but this was soon taken off. The difference not much as conditions got worse for listen in the next 4 sessions. Also had John Smith and Chris Martin listening. We were in a farm, sugar cane and cattle, with one mad white horse, 6 Kangaroos and a cow with one horn in the air and one facing downwards, and it was mad as well. Also, a disused grass airfield about 880 metres long but only about 5 to 6 metres wide (enough for a nine seat Chieftain could get in/out i.e., Lord Howe Island is the same length but sealed). So, the trail I composed was 558 Suva Fiji over 4GY 12/9 0830 with island Fijian

singing then dropped under for about 3 minutes

then up again over 4GY.

1035 2ZB Wellington New Zealand well up in level S9+

0625 13/9 national px.

1050 Unid yank. YTalk show 0805 12/9

1070 KNX, Los Angeles 0745 News talk good easy

listening 13/9

1100 KFAX San Francisco with ID but into Destined for

Victory px talking about friendships with God

0800-0812 13/9 poor level.

1390 Unid Church singing in EE presumed a yank 0803

15/9

1440 Radio Kiribati! Thanks to Chris Martin who heard

this then said casually Kiribati is on 1440…WHAT!

So tuned into Island signing 15/9 good level up

over Canberra SBS 0712 church mx

announcement 0715, ID something like this

“bwaanan Kiribati”, John Smith hit the internet but

the relay stream nothing like what was played.

Stayed till 0725 then faded under the SBS

Canberra forever.

1500 Radio Santa Rosa Peru. Well this was a shock.

Gave ID 0700 in SS thought I had hearing gone

mad. ID on the hour followed by News top story

was about complaints made about a prosecutor

Domingo Perez and judge Cahilo Wellfore, my

Spanish not too good fading down 0705, up came

from a pile were KTSP then XEDF at 0745 with the

Mexican talking about the cost of living this stayed

till about 0757 when started to fade down and

KTSP came up with ID News on the hour 0800

12/9.

1503 RNZ Hawkes Bay with rugby union game trying to

make a mess of 1500 KHz but separated 12/9

0756, easy now Bathurst gone to FM.

1570 XERG Monterey Mexico. SS 0753 mx/ballads

13/9 fair up on fades.

1620 Rete Italia Capalaba now Italian px’s 400 w now

the aerial is fixed up however Rete Toowoomba

supposed to be now off air heard with carrier 16/9

when in Toowoomba!

1656 Radio Vision Bundaberg QLD 0910

//1638//1647//1656// fair signal for 400w 12/9.

1665 Radio Rhythm now here Brisbane was ex 1053

12/9 0300 plays Indian mx,

1674 Radio Haanji location web site gives only Sydney

Melbourne so the question for all of you is where

is this located. Now it’s not Yatala the ACMA data

base I believe is totally wrong.

Reports to: Suva 558 0830, Radio Santa Rosa Lima 1500 0700, XEDF Radio Formula 1500 0745, Radio Kiribati 1440 0712, Vision Bundaberg 1656 0830 QSLs I am hoping or rather I live in hope. Johno Chris Martin, Beechmont Qld. Been eventful month passed with conditions being mostly appalling for MF DX However in the last few days signals have been coming thru exceptionally. Have logged WBZ on 1030 which hasn’t been heard here for over a decade. Boston is a long way from here! It’s interesting to postulate how this signal arrives here seeing its DAN pattern (U3) pushes Nth/Sth to protect KTWO. See ‘Radio Locator’ Others also logged :WABC out in the open with no KOB QRM, WSCR,WHO, KXEL,WOKB,WHAS. Mid month had a few nights in the Pimpama cane fields with 500 M antenna but cx abysmal though Johno logged KSTP St Paul. Also Smithy’s EWE worked a treat bearing 53 deg mag. The best catches come in early at sunset skip time. Trail 580 0729 KMJ Fresno giving national weather

forecast. Strong.

590 0755 KSSK Honolulu big signal with ads for

Honolulu

621 0727 Tuvalu w/Rock n Roll & RMB tracks

dominates.

640 0739 KFI Los Angeles w/C2C

670 0758 WSCR Chicago over KBOI w/ “Score –

Sports 670”

770 0727 WABC New York out on its own no KOB. S7

on 27/9.

780 1006 WBBM Chicago mixing w/KOH.

840 0750 WHAS Louisville on C2C over the

Californian on relig.

850 0750 KOA Denver on C2C. George Noory. Fair

sig.

1030 0719 WBZ Boston long conversation about

Trump impeachment enquiry. Call given at 0723.

KTWO then comes up with George Noory talking

about Area 51 and UFO’s soon faded for WBZ to

be dominant again. Heard this sig for 30 min with

numerous ID’s WBZ. S9 on25/9.

1040 0932 WHO Des Moines giving national weather


and mid-west forecast.

1060 0931 KYW Philadelphia on top w/news over Mex

& Canada.

1070 0729 KNX Los Angeles spot for YMCA. ‘Call your

local Y for programs’

1100 0747 KFAX San Francisco on relig. preacher.

Other Yank under. Big signal.

1410 0955 CFTE Vancouver dominant with Bloomberg

Radio.

1540 0715 KXEL Waterloo over KMPC w/ religious-

Overcomer ??

1650 1057 XEARZ Mexico DF with Mex anthem. Fair

sig.

1680 0943 WOKB Winter Garden, Gospel Mx and

WOKB call. domin

Makes me want to cry! I missed by a week the good conditions.-ed JW Please SEND SPARE CASH TO MY GO FUND ME PAGE OF DX! (ONLY JOKING) ED JW! Phil Brennan, Darwin (Another nice list! -ed) JW 576 Philippines Bombo Radyo, Davao in Tagalog,

PHL, 0950, 01/09.

693 JOBB (NHK2) Tokyo in JJ. Never heard before

here as Kununurra "local" always beats it. 1255,

14/09.

729 RRI Nabire in INS, 1005, 11/09.

765 CNR5 Fuzhou in CC 1310, 14/09.

828 JOBB (NHK2) Osaka in JJ. 1328, 14/09.

837 V.O. Zhonghau (CNR-5-Qunangzhou)

Sports/news in CC 1222, 11/09.

1040 KLHT, Honolulu, religious in EE. 2334, 30/08.

1080 CRI Kunming in Thai. 1421, 21/09.

1170 KBS World Radio, Gimje, in JJ. 1240, 11/09.

1053 CBC, Chubu-Nippon Hoso in JJ, Nagoya. 1427,

30/08.

Thanks Phil nice getting JOBB-JW.

Clippings Radio Related Stories from the World Press

Edited by Craig Seager Editorial Address 12 Pellion Pl., Windradyne NSW 2795 E-mail [email protected] BBC's Secret World War Two Activities Revealed A new archive has revealed the BBC's role in secret activities during World War Two, including sending coded

messages to European resistance groups.

Documents and interviews, released by BBC History, include plans to replace Big Ben's chimes with a recorded version in the event of an air attack. This would ensure the Germans did not know their planes were over Westminster. BBC programmers would also play music to contact Polish freedom fighters. Using the codename "Peter Peterkin", a government representative would provide staff with a particular piece that would be broadcast following the Polish news service. Historian David Hendy said: "The bulletins broadcast to Poland would be deliberately short by a minute or so and then a secret messenger from the exiled Polish government would deliver a record to be played.

"The choice of music would send the message to fighters." Alec Sutherland, the man who oversaw the use of music at the end of news bulletins, said it was his job to make sure producers played the right record, even if it was scratched. "They would see one which they thought would make a better broadcast and the wrong bridge would get blown up in Poland." The coded messages to the French resistance in news


bulletins were less opaque and consisted of a few phrases dropped into a programme script or foreign language news bulletin. On the night of 5 June 1944, the eve of D-Day, the phrase "Berce mon coeur d'une langueur monotone" or "cradle my heart with a monotonous languor" signalled the invasion was about to begin. BBC transmitters at Alexandra Palace in north London were also used as part of an RAF operation to distort the navigating system of Luftwaffe bombers, so that they were misled about direction and range. Other items in the archive include several contemporaneous eye witness accounts of bombing raids of Broadcasting House in 1940 and BBC newsreader John Snagge's account of the hours leading up to his first broadcast about the D-Day landings when he was kept under armed guard to stop the news leaking out. The full oral history collection, The BBC and World War Two: 100 Voices that made the BBC, is available online at https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/100-voices/ww2 (BBC)

Why Does the Sun Get Sunspots? Scientists May Finally Know By Ashley Strickland, CNN The sun may be the focal point of our solar system, but astronomers are still trying to understand some strange processes that unfold on the star, including sunspots. Sunspots show up like dark spots on the sun's surface. And every 11 years, the number of sunspots peaks. New research, rooted in fusion energy research, suggests that some of the sun's unusual features that are visible to us through telescopes actually happen in a thin layer located under the sun's surface. A study using this new model was published Thursday in the journal Physics of Plasmas. This layer is made up of plasma, or free-floating electrons, and magnetic flux -- the measurement of a magnetic field force in a specific area. These things flow at different speeds, which creates magnetic twists. This behaviour is not unlike what happens in a fusion reactor. "Every 11 years, the sun grows this layer until it's too big to be stable, and then it sloughs off," said Thomas Jarboe, study author and a University of Washington professor of aeronautics and astronautics. This causes the magnetic field to flip and causes the exposed layer of plasma to move in a different direction. Sunspots appear like dark markings on the surface of the sun. Sunspots appear like dark markings on the surface of the

sun. When the flows reach the same speed, more sunspots are observed. When the flows are at different speeds, fewer sunspots are seen. Researchers believe this is what has happened during times when fewer sunspots were observed, called the "Maunder Minimum." "If the two hemispheres rotate at different speeds, then the sunspots near the equator won't match up, and the whole thing will die," Jarboe said. Scientists previously had a different understanding of how sunspots originated. "Scientists had thought that a sunspot was generated down at 30% of the depth of the sun and then came up in a twisted rope of plasma that pops out," Jarboe said. In this new model, the researchers suggest that the sunspots form within "supergranules" dotting the thin layer. The thin layer is estimated to be between 100 to 300 miles thick, which is thin when compared with the sun's 864,240-mile diameter. "The sunspot is an amazing thing. There's nothing there, and then all of a sudden, you see it in a flash," Jarboe said. Jarboe used a spheromak reactor to model sunspot behaviour, which is a sphere containing electron plasma that can arrange itself into patterns. Previous observations of the sun have suggested similar activity happens there. Jarboe believes his theory can also explain the sun's magnetic structure. "For 100 years, people have been researching this," Jarboe said. "Many of the features we're seeing are below the resolution of the models, so we can only find them in calculations. My hope is that scientists will look at their data in a new light and the researchers who worked their whole lives to gather that data will have a new tool to understand what it all means." (CNN)

Utility DX Report Editor: John Volpato E-mail: [email protected] https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8q_xuyF7YdbF8jCSdyjmsQ Welcome to the Utility column for October. Contributions this month from Phil Brennan (including some INCREDIBLE Navtex logs), Eddy Waters and Dan Sheedy as well yours truly. Philip Brennan QTH: Darwin, Northern Territory Australia Receiver: Afedri SDR rev.6, SDR Console v.3.13 Antenna: Welbrook ALA 1530 LNPro (12m) Software: YaND v.7.0 YYYYMMDD HHMM KHz ID CALL STATION, COUNTRY DIST (Km) ----------------------------------------------------------------

https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/100-voices/ww2


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8q_xuyF7YdbF8jCSdyjmsQ


20190831 1028 518 $12O NMO Honolulu ,HWA 8613 20190831 1036 518 $11P XSX Keelung,TWN 4288 20190831 1112 518 $11T 9WW21 Miri R, Sarawak, MLA 2637 20190831 1235 518 $12C NMC San Francisco (Point Reyes),USA 12295 (WOW ed) 20190831 1251 518 $11F HAS Bangkok (Nonthaburi),THA 4426 20190831 1300 518 $11G JNB Naha ,JPN 4300 20190831 1311 518 $11H JNR Moji,JPN 5146 20190831 1317 518 $11J DZS Manila,PHL 3189 20190831 1327 518 $11I JGC Yokohama ,JPN 5400 20190831 1332 518 $11J DZS Manila,PHL 3189 20190831 1337 518 $11J JNL Otaru ,JPN 6270 20190831 1340 518 $11K JNX Kushiro ,JPN 6313 20190831 1400 518 $11M XSI Sanya,CHN 4136 20190831 1409 518 $11N XSQ Guangzhou,CHN 4384 20190831 1440 518 $11Q XSG Shanghai ,CHN 4941 20190831 1450 518 $11R XSZ Dalian ,CHN 5785 20190831 1500 518 $11S 9WH21 Sandakan,MLA 2483 20190831 1540 518 $11W HL? Pyongsan,KOR 5334 20190831 1551 518 $11X XVS Ho Chi Minh-Ville ,VTN 3715 20190831 1601 518 $13A UIK Vladivostok,RSE 6206 20190831 1640 518 $11E PKX Jakarta ,INS 2726 20190831 1750 518 $11L VRX Hong Kong ,CHN 4256 20190816 1607 518 $09B A9M Bahrein,BHR 9705 4996.00 MOSCOW RUS MORSE CW RWM TIME

SIGNAL 1455 September 10, 2019 (EW)

5023.50 MOSCOW RUS T600 RTTY IDLE 1655

September 10, 2019(EW)

5038.00 VLADIVOSTOK RUS AT 3004D USB RJS 12

CHANNEL VOCODER ALL CHANNELS

ENCRYPTED PILOT TONE AT 3300HZ 1112


5058.50 SIMONSTOWN AFS GRINTEK USB TESTING

MODE 1452 THEN VERY LONG MESSAGES

FOR ONE HOUR September 10, 2019(EW)

5064.80 LUMUT MAL MORSE CW 9MB 9MB JULL JULL

ETC 1223 September 3, 2019(EW)

5072.00 UNID MORSE CW ENCRYPTION 1413


5079.00 BEIJING CHN 4+4 LSB SIGNAL TOO POOR TO

DECODE 1028 September 18, 2019 (EW)

5089.00 MOSCOW RUS AQUARIUS 200 RTTY

ENCRYPTION 1737 September 10, 2019 (EW)

5119.00 TAIPEI TWN USB VOICE TRAFFIC 1328

September 5, 2019 (EW)

5131.00 BEIJING CHN SELCALL USB SELCALL

SYSTEM 4 PEAKS 400HZ APART 1040 August

30, 2019 (EW)

5132.00 BEIJING CHN ALE USB 101 TO 139 THIS IS 101

1140 September 10, 2019 (EW)

5146.00 HAIFA ISR MODEM USB SHORT BURST PSK

1556 September 10, 2019 (EW)

5149.00 UNID STANAG 4481 RTTY ENCRYPTION 1316


5149.00 MOSCOW RUS AQUARIUS 200 RTTY


5155.00 MURMANSK RUS T600 RTTY RIT IDLE 1658


5157.00 BEIJING CHN ALE USB TO 153 1138


5158.70 UNID LSB VOICE TRANSMISSION ASIAN, UNID

LANGUAGE 1300 September 7, 2019 (EW)





5174.00 UNID MODEM USB SHORT BURST PSK 1414




5180.00 BEIJING CHN ALE USB 919 THIS WAS 919 1556





SYSTEM 4 PEAKS 400HZ APART 1226


5206.00 BEIJING CHN ALE USB TO 119 TO 119 1215


5210.00 BEIJING CHN ALE USB 157 TO 157 1314


5211.00 BEIJING CHN ALE USB TO 381 1144


5212.00 BEIJING CHN ALE USB 111 THIS IS 111 TO 119

1214 September 13, 2019 (EW)







5220.00 BEIJING CHN ALE USB TO 135 TO 135 1133




1401 September 5, 2019 (EW)

5242.00 BEIJING CHN USB 901 VOICE TRAFFIC 1401


5246.00 HAIFA ISR MODEM USB SHORT BURST PSK

1704 September 10, 2019 (EW)



5259.00 UNID USB VOICE TRANSMISSION ASIAN,

UNID LANGUAGE 1440 September 10, 2019

(EW)

5262.50 BAGHDAD IRQ ALE USB 10001 THIS WAS

10001 1431 September 5, 2019 (EW)

5268.00 MOSCOW RUS T600 RTTY MESSAGES 2144




5291.00 KALININGRAD RUS 75 RUS RTTY


5300.00 ATHENS GRC STANAG 4285 USB SXA




5311.00 BUSAN KOR STANAG 4481 RTTY

ENCRYPTION 1043 August 28, 2019 (EW)

5315.00 BEIJING CHN ALE USB THIS IS 875 THIS IS 875


5315.00 BEIJING CHN MIL STD 188 110A 39 TONE USB


5321.00 BEIJING CHN USB VCO5 CHINESE GIRL

MESSAGE VERY RARE ACCORDING TO ARY


5342.00 KHIVA UZB MORSE CW V SENDS V

CONTINUOUSLY 1307 September 5, 2019 (EW)

5348.00 UNID MORSE CW FIVE NUMBER GROUPS

OFF AT 1230 UTC 1228 September 9, 2019 (EW)

5361.00 MOSCOW RUS AT 3004D USB 12 CHANNEL

VOCODER ALL CHANNELS ENCRYPTED

PILOT TONE AT 3300HZ 1502 September 13,

2019 (EW)

5365.00 UNID ALE USB LINK PROTECTED NO

DECODE 1139 September 10, 2019 (EW)




5390.00 VLADIVOSTOK RUS MORSE CW 1210 FOR

RJS ENCRYPTION 1208 September 9, 2019

(EW)




5395.00 BEIJING CHN 4+4 LSB UXBP FOUR FIGURE

GROUPS ENCRYPTION 1304 September 7,

2019 (EW)







5438.00 MOSCOW RUS T600 RTTY IDLING ONLY 1731


5449.00 BEIJING CHN USB VOICE TRANSMISSION

ASIAN, UNID LANGUAGE 1350 September 5,

2019 (EW)

5450.00 CHELVESTON UK USB VOLMET 1907


5453.00 BEIJING CHN 4+4 LSB FOUR FIGURE

GROUPS 1105 September 22, 2019 (EW)

5453.00 BEIJING CHN MODEM LSB ENCRYPTION 1125




5475.00 MOSCOW RUS 75 RUS RTTY ENCRYPTION





5497.00 BEIJING CHN ALE USB 158 TO 135 1136


5502.00 SEOUL KOR HFDL USB 10 CALLS CPA 719

(EW)

5505.00 SHANNON IRL USB VOLMET 1909 September

5, 2019 (EW)

5531.00 BEIJING CHN ALE USB 158 THIS IS 115 TO 158





TO 135 1316 September 5, 2019 (EW)

5666.50 UNID USB UNID ASIAN OR ISLANDER

LANGUAGE 1333 September 5, 2019 (EW)

5715.00 UNID MODEM USB BURST MODEM 1125

August 27, 2019 (EW)

5726.00 UNID LINK 11 USB ENCRYPTION 1215


5732.50 UNID MORSE CW MH5T ENCRYPTED FIVE

FIGURE GROUPS ENDS WITH UUUUU 1232


5744.00 BAGHDAD IRQ ALE USB 4444 THIS AS 4444


5759.00 TOULON F STANAG 4285 USB FUO




5793.00 UNID MORSE CW ENCRYPTED TEXT 1436




5836.00 UNID ALE USB 801 THIS WAS 0801 1408


5897.50 HUMPTY DOO AUS FSK RTTY ENCRYPTION

1234 September 17, 2019 (EW)

6501U HMO, Honolulu. USB Hawai'ian/Pacific weather

1234 10/9..checked just in case I wanted to stand-

up paddle around the islands. (Sheedy*)

6507U VMC, Charleville, Qld. USB Aussie marine


weather/ocean condx 1308+ 9/9..apparently //

VMC, Wiluna 6230u but not in synch. (Sheedy*)

6607 ISRAEL NAVY CW "VVV DE 4XZ 4XZ" good

signal (JV)




6619.00 SEOUL KOR HFDL USB 10 SQUITTERS 1452


6633.00 UNID USB UNID AIRCRAFT COMMS 1403


6666.50 UNID LSB VOICE NET UNID LANGUAGE 1215


6676.00 BANGKOK THA USB VOLMET 1141 September

16, 2019 (EW)

6679.00 AUCKLAND NZL USB VOLMET 1122


6709.00 UNID ALE USB 8008@@ THIS WAS 8008@@


6715.00 DIEGO GARCIA DGC ALE USB JDG ALECALL

US AIR FORCE 1231 September 19, 2019 (EW)

6717.00 UNID STANAG 4481 RTTY ENCRYPTION

BRIEF MESSAGE 1300 September 19, 2019

(EW)

6721.00 DIEGO GARCIA DGC ALE USB JDG ALECALL

US AIR FORCE 1231 September 19, 2019 (EW)

6728.00 BEIJING CHN USB MANDARIN NETWORK

1920 September 20, 2019 (EW)

6745.00 UNID USB VOICE TRANSMISSION UNID

LANGUAGE MAYBE INDONESIA 1220


6745.00 UNID CODAN 16 USB SLAVE STATIONS 7095

7103 1223 September 18, 2019 (EW)

6751.00 UNID LINK 11 SLEW USB ENCRYPTION 1507


6759.00 NORTHWOOD G STANAG 4481 RTTY MKL


6775.00 KALININGRAD RUS AT 3004D USB RMP 12




6790.00 UNID ALE USB 8825@@ THIS WAS 8825@@

AT 1212 THIS WAS 6001@@ THIS WAS

2525@@ AT 1219 UTC 1213 September 18,

2019 (EW)

6807.00 UNID ALE USB T11 THIS WAS T11 1452


6820.00 PYONGYANG KRE ARQ 600 RTTY







6861.00 MOSCOW RUS AT 3004D USB 12 CHANNEL



2019(EW)

6862.00 UNID RTTY ENCRYPTION 200 BAUD NARROW

SHIFT OFF BEFORE I COULD SYNCRONISE






6872.00 MOSCOW RUS MFSK USB 1358 20 baud 16

CHANNEL SENDS TEST SIGNAL 2 MINUTES

BEFORE BCST, AT 1400 LASTS 15 MINUTES.


6879.00 UNID MODEM USB UNID BURST MODEM

THESE OPERATE WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY

OF EACH OTHER, FOR SHORT TIME ONLY

1206 September 19, 2019 (EW)

6883.00 UNID RUS T600 RTTY IDLE 1140 September

16, 2019 (EW)



6908.00 UNID MODEM USB UNID BURST MODEM

THESE OPERATE WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY

OF EACH OTHER, FOR SHORT TIME ONLY

1207 September 19, 2019 (EW)

6910.00 UNID ALE USB THIS WAS 0000 THIS WAS

9221@@ 1259 19 SEPTEMBER THIS WAS

0112@@ 1359 THIS WAS 9666@@ 1452 THIS

WAS 9222@@ 1459 1129 September 15, 2019

(EW)

6916.00 MOSCOW RUS T600 RTTY MESSAGES 1414


6936.00 UNID MORSE CW EEEEE 1136 September 19,

2019 (EW)

6943.00 UNID STANAG 4285 USB ENCRYPTION 1415


6946.00 UNID USB UNID ASIAN LANGUAGE NETWORK

1555 September 20, 2019 (EW)

6970.00 UNID USB SOUNDS LIKE ALARM GOING OFF

1225 September 20, 2019 (EW)

6980.00 UNID USB UNID LANGUAGE BUT SOUNDS

INDONESIAN 1152 September 18, 2019 (EW)

7000.00 UNID RUS AT 3004D USB 12 CHANNEL



2019 (EW)

7458.40 HUMPTY DOO AUS STANAG 4285 USB IDLE


7462.00 HUMPTY DOO AUS STANAG 4285 USB IDLE


7555.00 VLADIVOSTOK RUS AT 3004D USB 12

CHANNELS ALL ENCRYPTED 1135 September

4, 2019 (EW)

7645.00 UNID MORSE CW YDGR YDGR DE REN9 1045


7692.00 BEIJING CHN USB VOICE NET IN MANDARIN

1134 September 16, 2019 (EW)

7736.00 UNID MORSE CW RLJ ENCRYPTION 1102


7750.00 BEIJING CHN USB VOICE NET IN MANDARIN


1132 September 16, 2019 (EW)

7959.00 MOSCOW RUS 75 RUS RTTY ENCRYPTION

1110 September 10, 2019 (EW)

7988.00 MOSCOW RUS MORSE CW ENCRYPTION

1125 September 16, 2019 (EW)

8122.00 UNID STANAG 4285 USB IDLE 822 September

15, 2019 (EW)

8612.00 VLADIVOSTOK RUS AT 3004D USB RJS 12




8903 USB Tokyo ATC wkg several Ma’s 1000z (JV)

9034.00 KODIAK ALS ALE USB GDF USCG MUNRO

1132 September 18, 2019 (EW)

11387.00 KARACHI PAK USB VOLMET 1051 August 28,

2019 (EW)

14516.40 HUMPTY DOO AUS STANAG 4285 USB

ENCRYPTION 600 August 28, 2019 (EW)

14957 0449 UTC MFSK 16 USB Rus. system 24

September 2019 Messages last four minutes.

(EW)

15829 0439 UTC MFSK 16 USB Rus. system24


(EW)

16223 0447 UTC Northern Territory Police ALE THIS

WAS 9598@@ 24 September 2019 (EW) (Good

Catch! – ed)

16261.7 300 UTC Manila Philippines Navy Pactor 1

Sending message to CINARITA from NAUTILUS

24 September 2019 (EW)

16353 429 UTC MFSK 16 USB Rus. system 24


(EW)

BRAZIL, 10000, Time Signal Station Observatorio Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, 1936, 25-09, after months inactive, now on air, time signals, female voice announcements: "Observatorio Nacional, 16 horas, 37 minutos, 0 segundos...". 23322. (Méndez, HCDX)_ That’s All folks. Take care and good DX. 73’ John

Drake’s 2-B Amateur band receiver

Historic Woofferton Boasts a Modern Twist At 75, U.K.’s last public shortwave site provides essential info to listeners globally via analogue and digital broadcasts Neale Bateman ⋅ Sep 23, 2019 WOOFFERTON, England — Nestled in the beautiful Shropshire countryside, just a few miles from England’s border with Wales, is the tiny village of Woofferton. That name is synonymous with shortwave radio for millions of listeners around the world as just a short distance from the village itself, lays the United Kingdom’s last remaining public service shortwave transmitting station. Now owned and operated by Encompass Digital Media, Woofferton recently celebrated its 75th birthday. Built in 1943, the station has a fascinating history; originally designed to bolster the BBC’s General Overseas Service (now the World Service) during the latter years of World War II, it was later partly funded by the United States and was used extensively by the Voice of America to broadcast into Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union during the cold war years. Today, Woofferton transmits programs for the BBC and a number of other international broadcasters, reaching audiences across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. OPERATIONS

Woofferton near Ludlow in Shropshire is the U.K.’s last shortwave

broadcasting station. There are 10 high-power HF transmitters at Woofferton. They range from Marconi senders of various vintages, including two BD272 250 kW units that date back to the 1960s, to the more recent 300 kW B6124 solid-state transmitters, and four of the most modern RIZ 250K01 wideband systems, which are also capable of operating in Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) mode. In fact, the BBC’s daily DRM transmission for Europe is broadcast from here.


Outside in the antenna field, there are 35 shortwave curtain arrays (aerials) supported by 25 masts. Most of the antennas can be operated in full or half-curtain mode, depending on the coverage required, and can be electronically steered (slewed) to beam transmissions in a variety of directions. This is done by varying the phase of the signal and feed points to the antenna, rather than by physical movement. The Woofferton team numbers some 14 staff, comprising of broadcast engineers, maintenance technicians, mechanical and electrical engineers, riggers (antenna specialists) as well as providing an outpost for Encompass’ International Operations team. The station’s facilities and location make it an excellent logistical base for the testing, servicing and deployment of a wide range of satellite receivers and FM radio transmission systems which are installed at hundreds of BBC FM relays and partners around the world.

A Marconi BD272 250 kW sender, one the station’s oldest transmitters, is still in regular daily use.

Woofferton has one of most modern and flexible transmission control systems in the world, allowing the entire facility to be remotely controlled and monitored by Encompass’ MCR in London, over 150 miles away. At around 5 p.m. each evening, the Woofferton engineers handover control to the nightshift in London and until 8 a.m. the next morning, the whole operation is fully automated. MCR engineers in London can take control at any time however and remotely power up and tune the transmitters and then switch the output to any of the available antennas in just a few minutes. This capability is particularly useful if another transmitter fails and an alternative resource is required at very short notice. This flexibility means that scheduled broadcasts from other international sites, such as from Ascension Island, the Middle East and even Singapore, can be “covered” from Woofferton, minimizing the impact on listeners if a breakdown occurs. MAINTENANCE A shortwave transmitter station is a complex mix of

engineering disciplines — from high-voltage electricity and radio frequency and traditional audio engineering, through to modern computer processors, which run the station’s automation and control systems. Throughout a typical day, the duty engineers coordinate any changes to the transmission schedule, which may be required to allow maintenance and repairs to be carried out. Non-radiating towers support the latticework of HF curtain antennas. Ensuring the safety of staff working inside the transmitter enclosures and outside on the antennas is essential: a safety lock out system is used to isolate the equipment to be worked on, with unique physical “keys” and interlocks needed to make sure systems cannot be used or become live until the engineers and riggers are safely clear of high voltages and radiating elements. Surprisingly maybe, the middle part of the day is one of the “quietest” periods at the site, as most transmissions take place during the early morning and evening, due to the time differences between the U.K. and audiences in Africa and the Middle East. This is therefore the ideal time to carry out routine maintenance to the transmitters, some of which are still going strong after 40 years of service thanks to the skills and expertise of the Woofferton engineers. They need a carefully planned regime of regular checks and preventative work to keep them on the air, as well as some tender loving care — something which is in no short supply at Woofferton. A myriad of maintenance tasks are carried out, which include checking the RF, modulator and water cooling systems, and testing individual components such as resistors and capacitors, and of course the valves themselves.

The Duty Room has visibility of all of the station’s transmission

systems, and executive control of the broadcast schedule. Any faulty components will be replaced with spares from


stores, or as is sometimes required when items are obsolete, manufactured on-site by the station’s workshop. The mechanical and electrical engineers can fabricate bespoke metalwork and fittings which are no longer available, as well as carry out maintenance to the station’s “heavy” equipment such as HV transformers, fan units, gas compressors and pumps. MISSION-CRITICAL ROLE At around 3 p.m. GMT each day, the station comes alive as the evening transmissions for Africa and Middle East start to ramp up and by 6 p.m. almost every transmitter is on-air, broadcasting in languages such as Arabic, French, Hausa, Amharic, Kurdish, Dari, Pashto and Russian, as well as English. In recent years, Woofferton has also taken on a new role in being one of a few sites around the world where satellite carrier monitoring is carried out, to check and report on the performance of quality of satellite distribution of the BBC’s international TV and radio channels. More than 75 years after its first broadcast to wartime occupied Europe, Woofferton continues to demonstrate the unique and enduring power of shortwave broadcasting — especially in parts of the world where media freedom and access to objective news is sometimes made deliberately difficult for international broadcasters to reach. And it’s still proud of its critical role in informing, entertaining and educating millions of listeners around the world.

Antenna switches in the field feed the HF curtain arrays. (courtesy Radio World)

Radiofest Canberra The Historical Radio Society of Australia’s Radiofest took place in Canberra on the weekend of 21st and 22nd September. Activities included radio restoration workshops, and auction, group dinner (including keynote speaker Alex Sloane of the ABC), followed by an extensive market of

radios and accessories. The event coincided with Canberra’s Floriade, and was held at the EPIC Centre, Mitchell. ARDXCers spotted included Phil Ireland, Craig Seager and Geoff Clulow, from Bathurst. Some photos snapped at the event follow.

(CS)