Madagascar, Morocco and More!

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 before getting into music and an interview with a local singer. Pleasant listening on Dec 12.

5875 / 5885   BULGARIA. KBS World Radio - Kostinbrod. So….this is interesting! KBS is running DRM on 5875 for German 1900-2000 and in // 5885 with German on AM! Respectable signal on 5885, respectable hash on 5875. BUT…. what's even more interesting is that VOA-Tinang is running Korean on 5875 (!!) under the DRM hash at 1900-2100, and can be quite clearly heard here through the hash. However, I suspect that in Europe it would be impossible to hear VOA because of the would-be strong DRM signal. From 2000, VOA is in the clear. Both KBS outlets are listed as the Bulgarian site so I'm "assuming" that's correct, although HFCC is currently listing KBS on 5885 in English, which it is NOT! Dec 16.

6080  SOLOMON ISLANDS.  SIBS - Honiara. English news at 0805 including a clear station ID at 0808. Fair signal and improved significantly by 0840 and into a bible reading and a religious song at 0850. It runs // 5019.9 but much weaker there and cops splash from a massively strong Cuba on 5025 on Dec 12.

7550   INDIA.  AIR - Bengaluru. English GOS to Europe at 2220 until s/off 2230, poor signal and the only station left before the 41mb closed up for the morning, Dec 13.

9395   ARMENIA.  VoR or Radio VR - Erevan. Weak signal for English to CAm at 0950, ID at 2256 as "We are the American edition of the Voice of Russia". At 2300, ID as "This is the Voice of Russia" then a news report of another shooting in an American school. Faded at 2305 as the band began to close up for the morning, Dec 13. 

9445   IRAN.  VOIRI - Kamalabad. Indonesian service with prayers at 2240, weak signal here as the band begins to close up for the morning, and no sign of VoKorea co-channel, Dec 13.

9555   SAUDI ARABIA.  BSKSA - Riyadh.  Arabic service at 2248 to NAf to s/off 2300, fair to poor signal on Dec 14.

9575   MOROCCO.  R. Medi Un - Nador. After having been missing for a while, this station seems to have returned and is dead on freq for a change! French programming at 1851 but then changed at 1858 to Arabic after a modern jazz song sung in Arabic. ID at 1800 then news. Fair signal but with a little splash from RA-Shepparton 9580 on Dec 16.

9955   USA.  R. Slovakia Int'l - Okeechobee.  Spanish service to LAm with largely commentary programming at 1140. ID at 1148 and s/off 1156 after ID and station address. Fair to good signal on Dec 14.

9955   USA.  R. Cuidad Global - Okeechobee. New service on Sats only at s/on 1200. The station is  based in Colombia. Full Spanish ID at s/on including a brief English ID. Programming included 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 in the line of fire for this broadcast. Final ID and s/off at 1229 on Dec. 14.

11850   MARIANA ISLANDS.  RFA - Agignan Pt. S/on 2230 in Khmer with news, NF for B13 ex 13740, fair to poor on Dec 13.

13630   UZBEKISTAN.  CVC Asia - Tashkent. Hindi programming at 0432, fair signal through the noise on Dec 14.

13740   CUBA.  R. Havana. Earnest talks in Spanish 0420, ID and theme music at 0428. Got quite a bit stronger within 15 minutes of the first tune-in, Dec 14.

15190.01   EQUATORIAL GUINEA.  R. Africa - Bata. English (American) preaching at 1940 after R. Pilipinas s/off at 1930. Good signal, too! Not strong but with great clarity. ID for R. Africa in the bible program at 1958. THEN….at 2002, WYFR/R. Africa signs on with a strong signal, absolutely no station ID - only a program ID, and straight into English (American) religious programming. Bata can still be heard underneath but pretty much squashed for all intents and purposes. This left me wondering WHY???? on Dec 16!

17680   UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.  R. Ergo - Dhabayya. S/on 0830 with ID and opening anncts, then straight into Somali commentary. Fair to poor level and never really improved for the remainder of the broadcast on Dec 12.

73 everyone

Rob VK3BVW