THAZIN RADIO, MYANMAR

THAZIN RADIO, MYANMAR

Here in Australia during our summer months, signals from the Asian continent can often be at their best, especially in our evenings.

So it was pleasing to hear Thazin Radio, the military-controlled station from its transmitter site at Pyin U Lwin. First noted at 1015 UTC on 9590 kHz with pleasant easy listening music (which had a bit of a gospel feel about it) and some announcements. The Lahu language (one of the many minority languages of Myanmar) was scheduled and presumed at this time.

There are a huge number of languages spoken in Myanmar; one list claims there are nearly one hundred minority languages in current usage. Not bad for such a small country! Some of these languages are also spoken in neighbouring countries, while a few others are used by perhaps only 150,000 people in a local region of Myanmar.

At 1030, there was supposed to be a scheduled change into the Kokang language, but I couldn't really tell the difference (if, indeed, there was a change!). Later in the transmission, the music took on a more pop-like character. Signal strength was fair, but because the station was on a clear channel, listening was easy. The frequency was monitored right up until 1058 when CRI signed on with its Cantonese service to South East Asia, flattening poor old Thazin Radio, although it could still be heard at a low level in the background.

According to the WRTH, the station is operated by the Directorate of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare, part of the Ministry of Defence. Pyin U Lwin is a scenic hill town situated east of the city of Mandalay in the centre of the country. In earlier times, it was once a "summer capital" for the Raj of Burma and a military centre for the Indian Army during British times.

Here's a video of the station as monitored on December 12 at 1033 UTC.




73 and good DX to you all,

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

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