DX Focus: AFRICA

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 - fascinating listening!! Malagasy talk program at 1920. The other day it was s/off at 1906, so although they can often be on late during the weekends, it seems that weekdays have variable s/off times as well. Today, it was still going at 2015 but fading fast as the band closes up in the morning here around 7:30am. Regular readers of the MEDXR blog will remember I wrote about this on August 11 in Radio Madagasikara Gets The Wobbles and included some audio clips.

5820   SOUTH AFRICA.  RTE Dublin Radio 1 - Meyerton. WRN ID at 1929, then into the 30-min RTE programming from 1930, fair signal with utility QRM. Always interesting listening and brings a touch of the Irish to Africa!!

5915   ZAMBIA.  NBC Radio 1 - Lusaka. Local language talk programming at 1935, good signal.


5950   ETHIOPIA.  VoTigray Revolution - Addis Ababa. Delightful local music program at 1938 in Tigrinya. Massive signal made for easy armchair listening. S/off at 2000 when the KBS French service s/on.

6030   ETHIOPIA.  R. Oromiya - Addis Ababa. Local music program with great tunes and a nice signal, but not quite as strong at Tigray on 5950. At 1945 with fair strength. But the announcer's audio appeared to be down somewhat, not balanced with the recorded music. S/off at 2000 to make way for Romania's Ukrainian service.

6055   RWANDA.  R. Rwanda - Kigali. Impressive signal with French news commentary at 1950, some splatter from an equally impressive Kuwait signal on 6050.

6110   ETHIOPIA.  R. Fana - Addis Ababa.  This can be heard at a fair level in Amharic at 1955 under CRI's Russian service until that one signs off at 1958 then Fana is in the clear.

7120   SOMALIA.  R. Hargeisa. A wonderful signal at 1848 with Somali talks and speeches. ID at closing anncts at 1859, a few moments of a Somali song at 1900 and off at 1901.

11735   TANZANIA. Zanzibar BC - Dole. Strong signal at 2024 with talk and mentions of ZBC, into Nth East African song at 2027.

73 and have a great weekend everyone,

 Rob VK3BVW

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