Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

The latest "bytes" from the world of shortwave

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

Aussie DX Report's first 2010 broadcast available
The first episode for 2010, no. 184, of the Australian DX Report audio news magazine about shortwave broadscasting includes research and analysis of current spectrum occupancy in the 9 and 13 MHz bands.

There are also other features, news and information about shortwave broadcasting, propagation, a solar activity report, monitoring notes, schedules for the new B09 season, extracts from schedules, and schedule updates. It's 15 mins duration, and may be accessed from the Australian Internet Radio Magazine site, at http://airm.edxp.org/

You may download/listen to/save the episodes as an MP3 file on your laptop/desktop, set up a Podcast, or receive/save it on your Mobile Phone or other portable internet-enabled digital device. You may also subscribe via the site's RSS/Atom feed - full details are at the site.

The shows are very popular - in the four weeks to January 2, 2010, there have been 731 downloads by subscribers, 1927 site visitors, and 185 episode hits. There have been 19,285 channel visits in the past 12 months!

The episodes are also available on-air, over WWCR Nashville, 0300-0315 on Sundays, on 5070, and on Mondays 1245-1300 on 15825, and via WWCR's streaming audio (live) at http://wwcr.com/

Good listening to the Australian DX Report Episode No. 183, and enjoy the music!
(Bob Padula, Melbourne, Australia)

Deutsche Welle changes frequency via Bonaire relay
Effective from 01 Jan 2010
0800-1000 new freq 9785 BON 250 kW 230 deg to AUS/NZ, ex 9885*
*to avoid Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran in Arabic from 0830 UT.
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 4) * interference by China Natl Radio/CRI Beijing in Mandarin on adjacent 9880 kHz at 0800-0900 UT, according of mail from downunder New Zealand. wb./DX Mix News #606]

Malaysia's Traxx FM monitoring
7295, Traxx FM, Kajang, 0007-0040, Dec 24, 27 and 29, ‘The Wake-Up Show.’ Two announcers with funny chit-chat in English, rock song, All Summer Long, and "Wild, Weird and Wonderful stories from 2009.” Good signal peaking at one hour after Kuala Lumpur sunrise, with QRM from Voice of Russia 7290. (Bell and Bernardini). Also heard at 1150-1205, Jan 04, English conversation, very weak and QRM Russia *1200. (Bolland). And 1500-1535, Dec 30, news in English. Pop music, station ID at 1532 as "“Traxx FM." SINPO 33333 (Mille/DX WIndow #393)

Pakistan adjust Urdu service frequency
Radio Pakistan to Western Europe
1700-1900 new freq 7535 ISL 250 kW 313 deg, ex 7530*. No signal on \\ 9340 *to avoid 1700-1730 Ginbot 7 Radio in Amharic Tue/Thu/Sat and Clandestine- 1700-1730 Radio Xoriyo Ogadenia in Somali Mon/Fri (R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 4/DX Mix News # 606)

Passport to Worldband Radio 2010 -Not
Larry Magne, posted this update to http://www.passband.com/ on November 28

Thanks for your many kind and helpful comments, which have touched us greatly.

Alas, although the long-term future of IBS' activities continues to be mulled over, there will definitely be no printed 2010 edition of Passport to World Band Radio. At this juncture it appears nearly as certain that online options aren't going to be feasible, either.

Nonetheless, the Japanese-language (only) Blue Pages for 2010 will be offered within Japan, as in the past, by ohtaket@kyp.biglobe.ne.jp later this year.

For equipment issues, Passport readers have increasingly been visiting Passport equipment maven David Zantow's webpage for up-to-date equipment news and expert advice. The URL is http://n9ewo.angelfire.com/ (worlddxclub/Contacxt Jan 2010)

Radio Kashmir on 4950.0
Radio Kashmir, Srinagar, *0119-0225*, Dec 28 and 31, All India Radio interval signal to song Vande Mataram. Brief selection of subcontinent music, Kashmiri (presumed) news, 0130 TS, Hindi news, 0135 brief segment of reciting from the Qur'an and segment of indigenous singing/chanting, but mostly talking. Clearly on past their scheduled 0215 sign off. Best in USB to get away from Angola carrier, heterodyne from Angola. SINPO 34333. (Howard and Petersen). Also at 1650-1733, Dec 27 and 28, slow Indian songs, English news, fair. (Bernardini and Groppazzi/DX Window # 393)

Rwanda on 6055 kHz
Radio Rwanda, 2030-2100*, Jan 2, Euro-pop music. Afro-pop music. French talk. Phone talk. Fair but weak co-channel QRM from Iran. (Alexander-PA)

Vanuatu on 3945
Radio Vanuatu, Port Vila. January, 4 0811-0821. Pop music selections alternating female announcer, seems in English with talks. SINPO 24332. (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Embu SP Brasil/HCDX)

Voice of America frequency change
Tibetan
1400-1500 new freq 11695 LAM 100 kW 075 deg, ex 15530 BIB, re-ex 17520 BIB (R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 4)

Win the 2010 WRTH
Radio Heritage Foundation
additional info at: http://www.radioheritage.net/

WYFR updates frequencies
Via Media Broadcast - Germany
Effective from 30 December 2009
1400-1500 new freq 9770 NAU 500 kW 082 deg to SEAs, ex 11995 in English
1400-1500 new freq 15315 WER 500 kW 105 deg to SoAs, ex 17670 in Malayalam
1500-1600 new freq 9675*NAU 500 kW 084 deg to SoAs, ex 11610 in Gujarati
1500-1600 new freq 11610 WER 500 kW 090 deg to SoAs, ex 13655 in Kannada
*co-channel Voice of Russia in English to Western Europe in DRM mode.
(DX Mix News #606)