FAREWELL JULIAN, STATION NEWS AND THE LOGBOOK - August 9, 2014


FAREWELL JULIAN, 

STATION NEWS AND THE LOGBOOK

 AUGUST 9, 2014

FAREWELL JULIAN ANDERSON

If you haven't already heard the news, well known Argentinian  DXer, Julian Anderson, passed away a few days ago. The report came through via a number of Facebook groups where Julian was a member. It was quite a shock to us all and apparently quite sudden. I don't know the circumstances surrounding his passing, but he will be greatly missed by the DXing community.

 I was always fascinated to read of Julian's early days as a DXer traveling around South America visiting many shortwave radio stations and relating his experiences along the way. He had a wonderful collection of radio memorabilia, along with interesting stories and photographs of the old days of radio from the South American continent.

 Only a few weeks ago, I invited Julian to contribute an article for my upcoming 2014 Latin American DX Survey. I believe it's important to have people like Julian recalling what it was like in the past, as a way of preserving  memories for the future. He generously agreed to prepare an article, offering to write about some of the stations visited in his travels and share with us some of his QSLs/pennants. But first of all, he said, he had to go on a DXpedition with his old DXing friend Daniel Camporini. Alas, now Julian has gone, and so have his wonderful memories.

 Rest in peace, Julian. This blog post is dedicated to you, my friend.

STATION NEWS

INDONESIA
News has just come through in the last few hours from Ron Howard (Asilomar Beach, CA, USA) of some reception of Radio Republik Indonesia via the Nabire (Propinsi Papua) transmitter site in the 41 metre band. This station has been a fairly irregular operation for a long time, and is rarely heard here these days. Although my location is much closer to Indonesia that Ron's QTH, the station seldom makes it into my receiver. So, thank you to Ron for the alert on this one. Here's his log report:
INDONESIA. 7289.95, RRI Nabire, 1132-1218, August 8. This exciting reception would never have happened except for the timely tip from Dave Valko! Running well past their normal sign off time; mostly talking; 1145 played patriotic song “Bagimu Negeri” (For You Our Country); 1153 anthem(?) type of music; 1159 music leading into the Jakarta news; time pips; blocked at 1201 by sign on of strong CNR1; was able to hear RRI  underneath till completely lost after 1218. News // 4869.90 (RRI Wamena), but 3325 (RRI Palangkaraya) was off the air and did not start broadcasting till later. Not sure what prompted this anomaly, but their Independence Day is coming up later this month. Also of note is an important ASEAN meeting being held this weekend in Myanmar. Worth checking again to see if they run late. 

 You can check out a nice mp3 audio clip recorded by Ron at:
https://app.box.com/s/wtytzdef7msso4l63mzw

 DISAPPEARING MEDIUMWAVE
MW DX enthusiast, Bruce Conti, maintains a list of countries that are no longer operating on the medium wave band. Entitled Silent MW Radio Countries, the document was updated just yesterday (Aug 8) and contains a surprising list of countries no longer on the AM broadcast band. I was stunned! Not being a MW Dxer for many years, I had no idea just how much the MW band had changed over the years! Particularly interesting was the absence of African nations that have moved away from MW and onto the FM band. It makes fascinating reading. Check out the list at http://www.bamlog.com/darkcountries.htm. And if you are interested in mediumwave reception, have a look at the rest of Bruce's excellent website at http://www.bamlog.com.

 RARE BOLIVIAN RECEPTION
Last night, I was delighted to catch what I believe to be (although no ID was heard) reception of Red R. Patria Nueva in La Paz. Operating on 6025 kHz, the station was first noted at 1035 in Spanish with mainly talk between two announcers and occasional music. There was no sign of PBS Tibet listed here at this time. Light QRM from 6030 R. Marti and China but easily managed by listening in LSB mode. Couldn't get a decent ID at 1100 as both stations on 6030 kHz burst into music, obliterating the Bolivian for about a minute. The station finally faded out around 1120. I've been watching out for this this one every since Craig Seager (Bathurst, NSW) reported it on April 25.

FROM THE LOGBOOK

4055   GUATEMALA. R. Verdad - San Esteban, Chiquimula. In the noise with talk and occasional songs, 1010. Tough listening in LSB to avoid a digital signal on the same freq, Aug 2.

4450   KOREA REP. V of the People - Kyonggi-do. Cutting through the jamming very well (best for some months) at 1016, good signal on Aug 2.

4747.1   PERU. R. Huanta Dos Mil - Huanta. Music programming at 1020 in the noise, Aug 2.

4755.5   MICRONESIA. The Cross Radio - Pohnpei. Music for program changeover at 1030, American religious show, fair Aug 2.

5910.05   COLOMBIA. Alcaravan R. - Puerto Lleras. Lovely selection of Colombian music at 1020, memories of programs from the old days. Good signal Aug 8.

5980   PERU. R. Chaski - Urbamba, Cusco. Nice clear uninterrupted signal 1055 with instrumental flute music, ID and anncts at 1100, then into light orchestral and choral music. Preaching at 1117. Best I've heard this in a long time, Aug 2.

5985.23   MYANMAR. Myanmar R. - Yegu. News in the Burmese national service 1130, fair to good signal Aug 2.

9420   GREECE. Helliniki Radiophonia - Avlis. Music programming at 0340, fair signal but improved greatly by 0530 on Aug 8.

9505   AUSTRIA. AWR - Moosbrunn. Farsi service with orchestral music at 0343, then a commentary at 0345, weak signal but easy copy on Aug 8.

9515   TURKEY. VoTurkey - Emirler. English service to NAm at 0348 with a Turkish instrumental item, then suddenly off air at 0350. Never returned before its official s/off at 0400. Good signal while it lasted on Aug 8!

9545   SOLOMON ISLANDS. SIBC - Honiara. Fair signal with deep fades at 0355 with some enjoyable island-style pop songs. ID at 0400 then news, Aug 8.

9575   MOROCCO. R Méditerranée Int (Medi 1) - Nador. Arabic news at 0401, ID as "Mahataat Medi an" at 0405 and then into lively Arabic instrumental music. Weak on Aug 8.

9635   GERMANY. RFE/RL - Lampertheim. Russian commentary at 0410, poor signal on Aug 8.

9955   USA. WRMI - Okeechobee FL. English program on Ebola virus 0440, fair signal Aug 8.

13710   IRAN. VOIRI - Kamalabad. Strong but poor quality signal with muffled audio, hum and a swishing sound for the Turkish service at 0525, Aug 8.

13765   MADAGASCAR. Vatican R. - Talata-Volonondry. English service to SAf at 0510, weak signal at first but improved significantly by 0525, Aug 8.

15105   D.P.R.KOREA. VoKorea - Kujang. English to SEAs at 0545 with music programming, fair on Aug 8.

15120   NIGERIA. VoNigeria - Ikorodu. Very strong carrier and hummy carrier but no audio at 0530. Suddenly at 0536 the English service sprung into life in the middle of a political report. Lilting music at 0540. Light QRM from CRI's Mandarin to Siberia, Aug 8.

15170   SAUDI ARABIA. BSKSA - Riyadh. Qur'an service at 0535, powerful signal but with QRM from CRI's Cantonese service co-channel, Aug 8.


73 and have a great weekend everyone,

 Rob Wagner VK3BVW

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