From the Logbook....

I have a new antenna in the air this week so tests have been underway on all SW bands. It's a Double Bazooka Antenna (also known in some circles as a coaxial dipole). I'm preparing a separate post on this which will appear in a few days time. However, quite a few of the frequencies listed below were noted on both the new antenna and the reference Par End-Fed SWL line.

HIGH FREQUENCY SURPRISES
Last week, I tuned around the 13, 16 and 19 metre bands in the morning - 7 to 8:30am. Firstly, these bands aren't often open for reliable communication at that time. Secondly, there aren't many stations scheduled to operate at that time anyway! However, it was pleasing to hear 21630 - WHRI and 15344.67 Argentina coming through on this occasion. Here's a summary of all that was noted in this time period:

15340   CUBA.  R. Havana, Arabic service 2055. Into Spanish at 2100.

15344.67   ARGENTINA.  R. Nacional Argentina - General Pacheco. First noted at 2110 with Spanish talkback program and much passionate discussion. They talked right through half-hour time pips at 2130. Clear ID at 2141. This station runs the National service on Sats and Suns, but is scheduled for German in the external service at this time on weekdays. Usually reported on the high side of 15345, but today  it was quite a bit below the nominal frequency. Lovely signal by 2130.

15400   ASCENSION IS.  BBC, English to WAf at 2052

15580   USA. VOA - Greenville. English at 2050, signs off at 2100 

15610  USA.  WEWN - Vandiver. Preaching at 2045.

15825 USA. WWCR - Nashville. Preaching at 2040.

21630  USA.  WHRI - Cypress Creek. Nice signal at dawn at 2025 on Saturday. English ID and frequencies at 2030 then onto religious programming. It's the only station on the band at this time and this part of the radio spectrum is usually not open to our part of the world for at least another couple of hours.

NORTH KOREA ENGLISH SERVICES
The Voice of Korea English service at 1000 has all four three frequencies back in operation: 

6170, 6185, 9335 and 9850. The best reception here was on 9335 where the station was rocketing in 20+ over S9. No interruptions to the service were noted throughout the transmission on two days this past week.

In addition, English was also noted for their service to Europe at 2100-2200 on 7570 and 12015. Both channels were heard very strong here at Mount Evelyn, as was the earlier French service at 2000-2100.

MORE FROM THE LOGBOOK

3200   SWAZILAND.  TWR - Manzini. Lovely reception of the usual English religious programming with hymns and talks at 2025, program ID at 2029.

3905   PAPUA NEW GUINEA.  NBC New Ireland - Kavieng. Tok Pisin talks with a news program at 0930. Has been a bit erratic with its presence recently, but a fair signal on this occasion.

3945   VANUATU.  R. Vanuatu - Port Vila. Program in English talking about the health of children including an interview with an Australian female doctor at 0940. Fair to good reception through a very high local noise level.

3965   FRANCE.  R. Taiwan Int'l - Issoudun. Strong signal with the closing programming anncts for the Spanish service at 2056, then into German at 2100, directed towards Europe.

4780  DJIBOUTI.  R. Djibouti. Massive signal today at 2045 with Arabic programming and swinging Afro pops. Haven't heard it this strong in some months.

4925   KOREA.. MND Radio - Jongan. Recently, this has been heard here most nights 1000-1050v, always at a weak signal strength, always with softly spoken Korean talks, and rarely with any music.

6010   CUBA.  R. Havana.  One of the few (perhaps the only?) Esperanto service on SW these days. Only on Sundays at 0700- 0730 s/off. Good signal.

6040   VATICAN.  RV - S.M. di Galeria. Arabic talks (no Mass) at 2140-2200. Fair signal and will start to improve as we approach the Mount Evelyn winter.

6080   SAO TOME.  VOA - Pinheira. English service with a music program at 2140, full ID at 2200 before s/off. Fair signal with an opportunity to improve over the coming winter months.

6165   CHAD.  R. N'Djamena - Gredia. Still going strong past 2215 (past 9:15am my local) with French programming. Six weeks ago, I was lucky to hear it past 2100. This time, it finally faded out around 2250!

9579.15  MOROCCO.  R. Mediterranee Internationale - Nador. Arabic programming with pop-oriented songs interspersed with topical reports at 0745. Nice signal until destroyed by the RA-Shepparton s/on at 0800.

11930   USA & SAUDI ARABIA.  R. Marti - Greenville and R. Riyadh with their respective Spanish and Arabic services. Riyadh was running with its Friday prayer service. Marti was the strongest on this occasion at 2110. Riyadh runs // with 11915 and 11820 which are in the clear and much stronger here.

Best wishes for a wonderful Easter (if you celebrate this occasion), and have a relaxing weekend everyone .

73,

Rob VK3BVW