STATION NEWS AND THE LOG BOOK - Friday July 3, 2015
STATION NEWS AND THE LOG BOOK
July 3, 2015
STATION NEWS
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
It's quite difficult to hear Papua New Guinea these days now that nearly all their shortwave transmitters have closed and moved to FM. BUT....In the last day or so, PNG's National Broadcasting Corporation has been transmitting on shortwave with two new outlets. NBC is the host broadcaster of the 15th Pacific Games, being held in the capital Port Moresby. The games begins tomorrow July 4 and runs through till July 18. The following schedule was noted from on-air announcements as follows:
6075 kHz - 1900 to 2159 UTC
9860 kHz - 2200 to 0959 UTC
6075 kHz - 1000 to 1400 UTC
12025 kHz - 2200 to 1000 UTC (to Pacific Island communities)
Here at Mount Evelyn, 9860 is heard quite well during the afternoon, and 6075 was noted last night. As yet, I have not found a signal on 12025 kHz, but this frequency may come into use once the Games begin. The station is announcing itself as both NBC and "The Voice of Papua New Guinea". This is the recording of the frequency announcement made at 0455 UTC on 9860 today:
UPDATE: See comment below this post......
CLANDESTINE
Dandal Kura Radio is currently broadcasting via the BBC's Ascension Island and Woofferton transmitters. It broadcasts in the Kanuri language beamed to Nigeria and surrounding countries suffering from Boko Harem terrorism. Reception has been noted here of the past few days on 7415, 11830 and 15480 kHz. See the log book notes below for details. There's a really interesting article on the station which appeared in the Canadian "Globe and Mail" news back in April. Check it out at:
Nigeria’s war against Boko Haram takes to the airwaves
NIGERIA
Another station also beaming to remote and regional parts of Nigeria is the Nigerian Armed Forces Radio via the Issoudun transmitter site. Apparently this is a one-week series of daily 60 minute broadcasts starting at 0600 UTC. The English broadcast is on 13775 kHz and the Hausa service is on 11825 kHz. Both frequencies have been noted at Mount Evelyn and details are in the Log Book notes below. Here is a recording of the opening of yesterday's broadcast. It's a bit scratchy but you'll get the idea:
FROM THE LOG BOOK
3324.91 INDONESIA. RRI - Palangkaraya. Noted on early for Ramadan at 2105 with the Qur'an, Indonesian annct at 2109, then a pop ballad at 2110. A fair signal on July 2.4910 AUSTRALIA. ABC - Tennant Creek NT. I just happened to be sitting near 4910 kHz when this hit the airwaves at smack on 2130. Usual Northern Territory programming from Alice Springs on July 2.
5975 UNIDENTIFIED. Suspect this may have been the VoVietnam Network 1 domestic service at 2150 (scheduled s/on is usually 2145) with quiet Asian music and softly spoken anncts. Faded by 2155 just before CRI began at 2200, July 2.
6155 AUSTRIA. AWR - Moosbrunn. Big signal in our winter afternoon at 0433 (2:33pm local) with French to NAf, July 2.
6155 AUSTRIA. Oesterreich Rundfunk - Moosbrunn. S/on 0459 with English and German IDs, then news at 0500. Different beam heading than for the AWR broadcast in the previous half hour (or perhaps a non-directional antenna as suggested by the Aoki list), so signal was a little weaker than for AWR, July 2.
6175 USA. VoVietnam - Cypress Creek (WHRI). Spanish programming to the Caribbean at 0421, s/off at 0430, good signal on July 2.
7255 BELARUS. Belaruskaye Radio - Minsk. Domestic service to EEu at 0410 with a news program in Belarusian. Fair to poor signal on July 2.
7275 KOREA REP. KBS World Radio - Kimjae. S/on 1200 in Korean for EAs, and dwarfing the co-channel CNR 1 and PBS Xinjiang, July 1.
7285 VIETNAM. VoVietnam - Son Tay. Laotian service at 1140 with a delightful 15 minute music program featuring a female vocalist in a selection of songs. Transmission ended at 1155 and recommenced in French at 1200 with full ID. Some QRM from CNR 1 on 7290 kHz on July 1.
7315 MADAGASCAR. R. Tamazuj - Talata Volonondry. Just caught the closing anncts in Sudanese Arabic at 0425, then the carrier was quickly off at 0427, fair signal on July 2.
7355 ALASKA. KNLS - Anchor Point. English service with pop music programming at 1215. Then a talk on shortwave listening, reception reports and QSL cards. QRM CRI 7360 on July 1.
7375 AUSTRALIA. Reach Beyond Australia - Kununurra WA. Indonesian service at 2230, big signal on July 2.
7415 ASCENSION IS. Dandal Kura R. - Ascension. Noted at 0528 till s/off at 0558 with a poor signal on July 2 in the Kanuri language beamed to Nigeria and surrounding countries suffering from Boko Harem terrorism.
7495 FRANCE. R. Algerienne - Issoudun. Arabic service to WAf with the Qur'an at 2220, good signal on July 2.
9265 USA. WINB - Red Lion PA. American preaching at 2240, fair to poor signal on July 2.
9420 GREECE. Helliniki Radiophonia - Avlis. ID at 2301 then a national song, good signal on July 2.
9425 MOLDOVA. BBC - Kichinev. Farsi service to ME and SAs at 0250, fair signal on July 3.
9440 IRAN. VOIRI - Kamalabad. Additional broadcast during Ramadan at 2250 in Arabic with talks, chat and occasional bursts of music, July 2.
9440 OMAN. BBC - Al Seela. English WS to CAs and ME at s/on 0300, fair signal on July 3.
9515 TURKEY. VoTurkey - Emirler. English to NAm with a Turkish pop music program at 0315, good signal on July 3.
9530 GERMANY. AWR - Nauen. Broadcast to EAf at 0318 in Tigrinya till s/off 0328, good signal on July 3.
9575 MOROCCO. R. Medi Un - Nador. Contemporary Arabic pop music program at 0326, fair to poor signal on July 3.
9655 ALASKA. KNLS - Anchor Point. S/on 0800 in Russian with IS, ID and music. Good signal on a day when the bands were not in great shape, July 1.
9860 PAPUA NEW GUINEA. NBC at 0410 with news reports on the Pacific Games that start on July 4, interspersed with pop music. Identifies itself as The Voice of Papua New Guinea. Fair signal on July 3
11560 MOLDOVA. R. Miraya - Kichinev. Magnificent signal at 0505 with jivy African music then an interview in the English portion of the broadcast. The only thing that marred this reception was a very slight hum on the audio, otherwise it was pleasant listening all the way. July 2.
11645 VATICAN. R. Dabanga - SM Galeria. Arabic telephone phone-in show punctuated by Sudanese music, noted at 0515 with a fabulous signal. Runs // 13800 kHz also heard (via the Madagascar relay), but not as strong there (but still at good strength) on July 2.
11645 INDIA. AIR - Delhi. GOS in English with Indian songs at 2258, then news at 2300. Not currently using DRM at this time. Fair signal on July 2.
11825 FRANCE. Armed Forces Radio of Nigeria - Issoudun. S/on 0600 in Hausa with much noisy fanfare and IDs. Contemporary and traditional (localised) Nigerian music. A different music "play list" to the simultaneous English programming on 13775. A fair signal strength at the opening but weakened badly by 0630. S/off 0700 on July 2.
11830 ASCENSION IS. Dandal Kura - Ascension. Kanuri language broadcast at 2050 with talks and occasional brief musical interlude. At 2057, an ID and the Facebook website was given. "Dead air" for a minute then the carrier was off at 2059. Poor signal in the noise on July 2.
13775 FRANCE. Armed Forces Radio of Nigeria - Issoudun. S/on at 0600 with much noise from bands and drums, IDs, then into contemporary Nigerian songs. Pretty exciting (almost chaotic!) opening to the broadcast. Great energy! Good signal at the opening but deteriorated by 0630 and later it barely registered on the S-meter. S/off with military precision at right on 0700, July 2.
15480 ENGLAND. Dandal Kura - Woofferton. Noted at 0705 with live outdoor interview in the Kanuri (listed) language. Weak signal and mixed with CNR 1 which was also weak. Beamed to Nigeria on July 2.
73 and have a great weekend everyone!
Rob Wagner VK3BVW
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PNG UPDATE:
ReplyDeleteThe shortwave services for the Pacific Games are relayed via satellite from the PNG studios in Port Moresby to Australia and transmitted via the Brandon, Queensland site. 6075 and 9860 kHz is for PNG (especially remote regions of the country) and Australia, while 12025 kHz is for the Pacific Island nations participating in the Games. (Updated 1830 UTC July 3)
Power output is 20 kW! :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, Antonio!!! That's it! :-) congratulations, you heard it. Well done.
ReplyDeleteIf any other MEDXR readers hear NBC, please post the links to your recordings here. We'd love to hear them! - Rob
What I heard was 0920 Utc - 0959 Utc on 9860 khz on July 8 2015
ReplyDeleteI uploaded a recording so you can hear what I was hearing at home
http://chirb.it/6MCyra
you will notice a short electrical burst thanks to the mini disc player I was using to record it with
My location is in Perth WA Australia using a Tecsun Pl310et portable
Great work on the little Tecsun!! Well done.
DeleteRob, with regard to the NBC transmitters in PNG, I was told recently the 10 kW shortwave transmitter of NBC Radio New Ireland in Kavieng, PNG would be phased out, if indeed its not not already off.
DeleteOn learning this I contacted Michael Samuga, NBC Provincial Radio Network Manager, to enquire about NBC's future plans for Radio New Ireland. He had this to say about the SW transmitter at Radio New Ireland, "Unfortunately our SW Tx in Kavieng has finally succumbed to age and lack of parts. NBC already has plans to bring back our SW service both on National and Provincial front, but the cost is pretty much a challenge which we will furnish to government for funding on a phased basis. The new SW Tx we are looking at are DRM compatible. As I've said, it's still in plan and I am in no position to give you a timeline".
Thanks Timm. I wonder when the Kavieng txer finally stopped working.... I also find it interesting that the PNG government (who, it must be said, is not exactly flushed with funds!) is investing in SW DRM capable txers. After so many of their services went to FM, what is the need to expand SW services again. Are the FM services not reaching people in outlying regions of the country? Not that I'm complaining! Just curious. It will be interesting to see what develops. Thanks for your information.
Delete