Mount Evelyn DX Report

2013 - THE MEDXR "YEAR IN REVIEW" Although the Mount Evelyn DX Report went live for the first time on January 3, 2013, I had trialled it off-line for three months before launch date, and before inflicting it on you guys, the all-important readers and fellow DXers/SWLs! I have to say that I thought I'd lose enthusiasm and let the blog lapse over time. However, to my own surprise, I've kept it going and enjoyed immensely the weekly act of compiling and publishing DX news. But…..I do want to thank all the MEDXR readers for your encouragement and support of the blog. New posts are generally advised in the various forums of Facebook, there have been many comments and "likes" received there, which is much appreciated. Without your support, I doubt that I would have kept going with the project. So…..give yourselves a round of applause!! Over the year, the top five posts (based on the number of views) were: #1:  The LATIN AMERICAN DX SURVEY 2013 - ...

DX FOCUS:  AFRICA All the following stations were logged yesterday morning (5:30 to 7:30 am AEDT December 19). I've included several sound bits for you as well. This is by no means a complete list.  3200   SWAZILAND.  TWR - Manzini. Weak signal at 1833 with hymns and English programming, nowhere as strong as in our winter time. 3320   SOUTH AFRICA.  R. Sonder Grense - Meyerton. Another weak signal at 1904 with Afrikaans and what appeared to be a news or commentary program. 4930   BOTSWANA.  VOA - Moepeng Hill. A fine signal at 1907 with a discussion program on South Africa in the English service. 4976   UGANDA.  R. Uganda - Kampala. A strongish carrier but audio was very weak at 1914. 5011.13   MADAGASCAR.  R. Madagasikara - Ambohidrano. Still wondering around the frequency (a few days ago it was on 5010.55 kHz). If you put a USB carrier on it, you'll hear the very unstable frequency constantly moving around ...

MADAGASCAR, MOROCCO and MORE A few observations made over the past week: 4774.9   PERU.  R. Tarma - Tarma, Junin. Lively Latin music and anncts at 1013, a poor signal but readable because of exceptionally low thunderstorm and other atmospherics on this evening, Dec 12. 5010.55   MADAGASCAR .  R. Madagascar - Ambohidrano. Spotted this while checking to see if R. Bata was on 5005. Just caught the last two minutes before s/off at 1906 with closing anncts in both Malagasy and French. Other reports have had this one up as high as 5014.9 so it's still wonders around. Indeed, in my two minutes of observation before it left the freq, there was wobble in the signal when listening in USB. Fair on Dec 16. Incidentally, no sign of Bata….. 5025   CUBA.  R. Rebelde - Havana. A regular throughout the year, but notable this evening for it's exceptional strength and clarity with very little atmospheric noise. Noted at 0900 with ID, and a short news bulletin ...

RADIO CIUDAD GLOBAL COLOMBIA VIA FLORIDA! It was enjoyable listening last night to Radio Ciudad Global via the newly acquired Okeechobee FL transmitters of WRMI (now morphed into WYFR….again). Here's the entry into my logbook: 9955   USA.  R. Ciudad Global - Okeechobee. New service on Sats only at s/on 1200. The station is  based in Colombia. Full Spanish ID at s/on including this brief English ID as: "This is Global City Radio, Radio Ciudad Global, the first international station from Colombia. Radio Ciudad Global is an international radio initiative from Colombia. Contact us at Radio Ciudad Global at gmail dot com."  Then programming continued in Spanish with Colombian and regional news, produced in Bogotá. Occasional music interludes. Then a documentary program on "La Guerra de la Radio" (The Radio War) produced by Señal Radio Colombia, complete with excerpts of old radio broadcasts. Fair reception considering that Australia is not really ...

THE CROSS RADIO Pacific Mission Aviation I heard a nice signal from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) the other night. Not a particularly strong signal but quite readable nonetheless from The Cross Radio in Pohnpei. My radio log reads: 4755.5   MICRONESIA.  The Cross PMA - Pohnpei. A clear signal tonight although audio was somewhat low at 1020, but quite good for 1kW. The usual religious programming plus addresses for correspondence and handouts. ID at 1039 as "The Cross Radio is a ministry of Pacific Missionary Fellowship. You are welcome to join us every Sunday morning at 9am for our worship service." Then a short religious message from The Edge program with Chip Ingram. Then followed the Christmas song Feliz Navidad.  Dec 12. Here's a short recording of part of that broadcast: The station has been running an FM service since 2007, but also requires shortwave to service listeners over greater distances. It is a Christian ministry of Pacific Missi...

WRTH 2014 - TEN REASONS Why You Need THIS YEAR'S Edition! The 68th edition of the World Radio TV Handbook (WRTH) is out now. My copy arrived today (Dec. 11th) and I've already had a detailed look through its 672 pages. The handbook is packed with all the usual features that DXers and shortwave listeners have come to love over many years. And although people will tell you that "radio is dead" or "shortwave is finished" or "medium wave DXing is just too hard", the fact is that every year there are still constant changes that  require the attention of radio enthusiasts. So, here's ten good reasons why you should be buying "the Handbook" this year: #1:  A Reputable Reference Source in a Sea of Global Change We are seeing a continual change in the operations of radio broadcasters. And 2013 has been no exception! Many have gone, probably for good. For example, as I write this, the Voice of Greece's flame looks like it is al...

Rumours of the Voice of Russia's demise have been circulating for months now. Virtually nothing has come out of the state broadcaster itself, but rather mumblings have been published in other external news sources. So…..here's another one - but with a somewhat different slant. This one claims that VoR is wanting to INCREASE its Kurdish language service, not decrease it or close the service down! It really makes me wonder what the REAL facts are about VoR's future! The report below comes from Rudaw English , a private online newspaper published by the Rudaw Media Company in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It claims to have no link to any political party or interest group, and practises impartial reporting to promote freedom, human rights and democracy in the region. Make of that what you will!!!  Anyway, here's the article. Rob Russian Radio’s Kurdish Service Keen to Expand but Struggling for Trained Staff By Khoshawi Muhamm...

An interesting and varied selection of logs were noted over the last few days: 3945   VANUATU.  R. Vanuatu - Port Vila. A fair signal with Bislama programming and mainly talks at 0915. Later, local islander music noted at 0949. R. Nikkei 2 faded in around 0945 but was generally under Vila until later in the evening. Dec 6. 3965   IRAN.  VOIRI - Kamalabad. Good signal with Iranian music at 1745 then an ID in the Russian service, suddenly off at 1749. NF for B13 and appears to replace 7350-Kamalabad, Dec 7. 3965   FRANCE.  RTI - Issoundun.  English service now here at s/on 1759 with ID and station info before the 1800 time pips, then into news. Fair to poor signal on this NF to Eu and replacing 6155 for B13. Dec 7. 5975   JAPAN.  Shiokaze - Sea Breeze - Yamata. Noted at 1650 with Japanese commentaries, poor signal but only light jamming at this time, Dec 7. 6080   SOLOMON ISLANDS.  SIBS - Honiara. Can be ...