STATION NEWS AND THE LOG BOOK - March 14, 2015



STATION NEWS AND THE LOG BOOK
March 14, 2015

STATION NEWS

SOLOMON ISLANDS
Recently, there were several reports floating around that Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation was closing down on shortwave during 2015. These reports are NOT CORRECT! The station will be remaining on shortwave for some years to come. SIBC is hoping to have funds available soon to expand its FM network to cities and provincial towns. The shortwave service is being retained. In a few years time, they may add digital services using the current new shortwave transmitters. This information comes directly to me from a management source within SIBC.

 While talking about SIBC, Ron Howard at Asilomar Beach, CA, USA logged the station several days ago while it was operating on cyclone watch. Here's Ron's details:

 5020.00, SIBC. Recently had been off frequency; March 11 special extended schedule to provide tropical storm/cyclone info in Solomon Pijin; with random listening from 1247 to 1505; mention of: "Solomon Islands Meteorological Service update," "flash flooding," phone number to call in with reports of property damage; several phoned in reports of weather conditions, "storm moving at 3 knots," "What God can do," etc.; segment of Christian religious songs in English; many pop Pacific Island songs; mostly fair. https://app.box.com/s/goecpp2zj3sdmbk0hkxge426m419yjyf  has some audio (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA)

 INDONESIA
Ron also sent me details of his reception of RRI - Palangkaraya, a station that has been intermittent in its operations in recent months. Details below:

 3324.885, RRI Palangkaraya, 1202, March 11. Thanks to Dave Valko for the frequency measurement; positive confirmation it's them; Jakarta news ending at 1222 with usual patriotic song “Bagimu Negeri”; news // RRI Ternate (3344.85) // RRI Wamena (4869.90). Later much stronger; at 1434 local "RRI Palangkaraya" ID and again played the patriotic song “Bagimu Negeri”; indigenous chanting/singing; 1502*. Great to have them back again and to confirm it's them!  
https://app.box.com/s/kqbxbzyaoyaccf5fennfmokefynay1m2  has audio. (Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA)
Thanks Ron!! Fantastic signal there!

 VANUATU
As I type this, Cyclone Pam is wondering around the Pacific and has skirted past Port Vila. It has developed into a category 5 cyclone (highest rating). The death toll this morning now stands at 44 (unconfirmed estimate), although this may rise in coming hours. Catastrophic destruction has been inflicted upon this small island nation. Listen out for Radio Vanuatu on its two frequencies of 3945 and 7260 kHz (both channels have been off air in recent times) - hopefully the station is still operating and serving its community with news and disaster relief information. Here's an online press update:

 http://www.news.com.au/world/vanuatu-cyclone-pam-brings-catastrophic-death-destruction/story-fndir2ev-1227262193959
ENGLAND
There was a report on March 11 in Britain's Telegraph newspaper online, claiming that the BBC is planning a new service to North Korea. Currently, this appears to be the only report (although several other online news sources have quoted the same Telegraph article), so we can't really say with certainty that BBC is indeed planning a service to DPRKorea. The article quotes a BBC official as saying "it could be several years before any service was up and running". And the report does nothing to really answer the question WHY the BBC would bother taking this course of action! What's the point? What's to be achieved by beaming transmissions that are likely to be jammed anyway? And with the BBC's current limited budget?? AND....will the BBC have enough money to do this after it has paid off Jeremy Clarkson (of Top Gear fame)? - facetious comment, I know... 


 For the moment, I'm treating this report with a healthy dose of scepticism! Read the news report for yourself at:

 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/11464586/BBC-plans-new-North-Korea-radio-news-service.html

FROM THE LOG BOOK

6110   ETHIOPIA. R. Fana - Addis Ababa. Amharic language service at 2025 (not the Oromo language, as I sometimes see listed elsewhere). Discussion program then a music break of groovy African dance rhythms. Good signal although degraded somewhat by CRI's French s/on at 2030 on 6115, Mar 12.

 6130   SWAZILAND. TWR - Manzini. Portuguese service targeting Angola at 2015, ID and address at 2018. Then into the Kimbundu language at 2020. A fair signal on Mar 12. Kimbundu is one of two Bantu languages spoken in Angola. Interestingly, it has more than a dozen alternate names! It is widely spoken in many places including the northwest, mainly Cuanza Norte, Bengo and Malanje provinces; adjacent areas in Cuanza Sul, Uíge, and Luanda provinces. Kimbundu is spoken by 4 million people and has a number of dialects attached to it.

 6135   ENGLAND. VoVietnam - Woofferton. Russian to EEu at 2010, making it through heavy Nth Korean jamming of the unheard co-channel Voice of Freedom, Mar 12.

 6180   IRAN. VOIRI - Kamalabad. Russian to EEu at 2005, fair signal on Mar 12.

 11780.1   BRAZIL. R. Nacional da Amazônia - Brasilia. Discussion program at 2140, weak signal on Mar 12.

 11840   VATICAN. VOA - SM Galeria. Weekdays only service to CAf in French with English (err…I mean American!) language lessons at 2120, good signal till s/off 2130 on Mar 12.

 11930   SAUDI ARABIA. BSKSA - Riyadh. Qur'an programming to WAf at 2120 with heavy co-channel QRM R. Marti. Runs // 11915 which was in the clear on Mar 12.

 11980   AUSTRIA. AWR - Moosbrunn. English to WAf at 2115, fair signal until 2130 s/off, Mar 12.

 12095   ASCENSION IS. BBC - Ascension. English with WS current affairs at 2110, fair signal and runs // 11810 also heard on Mar 12.

 12105   USA. WTWW - Lebanon TN. Portuguese preaching at 2112, fair on Mar 12.

 13765   VATICAN. Vatican R. - SM Galeria. Concluding the French service to CAf at 2057 (not 2115 s/off on this day, as listed in HFCC), good signal Mar 12.

 13830   USA. WEWN - Vandiver AL. ID at 2100 and religious news program, fair signal and // 12050 which was slightly stronger, Mar 12.

 15130   FRANCE. R. Japan - Issoudun. Japanese to CAf 2040, fair signal Mar 12.

 15140   OMAN. R. Sultanate of Oman - Thumrayt. Nice signal in Arabic to Eu at 2045. Interesting Arabic rock music with lots of drums and punchy exclamations by the backing singers. Foot tappin' stuff on Mar 12.

AND FINALLY.....

Thank you to everyone who said how much they enjoyed two recent MEDXR posts over the past week! There's been a big response to the YouTube video review of the Alpha Delta Antenna Switch. And there's lots of DXers out there who still love looking at old QSL cards. Many commented about the first page of my QSL Archives - Part 1. There will be more pages coming soon. 

73 and have a great weekend everyone!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW


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