Voice of Vietnam's English Service




It's been ages since I checked out Hanoi's international broadcasts. So, to kick off 2013 I wondered around the bands monitoring how their signal was making it into south eastern Australia at this time of the year. In fact, they are not doing too badly, with the services I monitored being heard here to varying degrees of success. However, this is not a complete list of all their English broadcasts. Transmitter sites are Hanoi and Son Tay in Vietnam, and Moosbrunn, Austria. 

 Here's a summary:
1000-1030 English Service - To Asia:
9839.88  (Son Tay). These transmissions currently seem to be a touch off frequency. It's quite a strong signal but cops a little splatter from the excessively booming Chinese CNR1 on 9830. 
12020 (Son Tay). This is a great signal that can be heard very well in the clear. On the day I noted this transmission (January 9), there were a number of breaks in audio throughout the 30 minute broadcast, although the transmitter remained on-air. There is a 15 minute Letterbox program on Wednesdays.

1100-1130 English Service - To Asia:
7285 kHz (Hanoi). Difficult listening here. The signal is not especially strong and it's sandwiched between on one side Sound of Hope 7280 and on the other side between both CRI (in Russian) and CNR1 (in Mandarin) 7290 kHz. No other frequency choices for this service, I'm afraid.

1130-1200 English Service - To Asia:
12020 (Son Tay). Still a great signal at this time, as it was in the 1000 service. Can be subject to fading as the transmission progresses. 
9839.88 (Son Tay). This frequency is much more difficult to hear due to severe interference from the fade-in of Radio Malaysia's FM relay on 9835 kHZ.

1800-1830 English Service - To Europe:
5955 (Moosbrunn, Austria). Fair signal via the short path from Europe, in the clear but not especially strong here in Melbourne.

 1900-1930 English Service - To Europe:
7280 (Son Tay). Good signal level and in the clear, very readable audio, too. Best on this frequency during the weekdays. However, there's a fair bit of interference from 7275 when Spain runs its weekend service, which can also be strong here at this time. 
9730 (Son Tay). This outlet competes with China's Portuguese service which is also directed to Europe. However, at my location (nowhere near Europe!) Hanoi is slightly stronger over CRI.


2030-2100 English Service - To Europe:
7280 (Son Tay). Fair signal, a little interference from CNR 1 in Mandarin on 7275.
9730 (Son Tay). Fair to poor signal but it's in the clear for easy monitoring.

2030-2100 English Service - To Middle East:
7220 (Son Tay). Barely audible at this time. Some days it doesn't make it through to here at all.
9550 (Son Tay). Weak signal most of the time. A little interference from Riyadh on 9555 kHz.

 Rob VK3BVW



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