STATION NEWS AND THE LOG BOOK - March 11, 2017

STATION NEWS AND THE LOG BOOK

March 11, 2017

STATION NEWS

THAILAND

In the past few days, there have been multiple reports at online news sites regarding the closure of the BBC's Nakhon Sawan transmitter site, located about 240 km north of Bangkok. After 20 years of successful transmissions from that site into Asia, BBC failed to reach an acceptable agreement with the Thai military government on the renewal of its operating permits. According to Mashable, the BBC said "We regret that we have not been able to reach an agreement with the Thai government which would allow us to continue using this facility to bring accurate and impartial news to audiences in the region. We are continuing to develop other ways for people to access the BBC, including internet and mobile streaming, as well as FM radio and TV broadcasts."

Where have we heard THAT before?!

Anyway, many broadcasts from the Nakhon Sawan site have now been transferred to the Kranji, Tashkent, Dhabayya, and Gavar sites. I won't try noting the schedule alterations here, as the list is quite long. And it all changes anyway towards the end of this month when the new A17 transmission season commences. However, you can refer to the Bulgarian DX Blog for the schedule that is still current till March 25.

VATICAN

A recent article at the online CatholicCulture website points out that "As Vatican Radio closes an era by ending its short-wave transmissions, other broadcasters are stepping up their involvement in the short-wave field, notes Sandro Magister of L’Espresso." The article mentions BBC and Radio Japan specifically. Interestingly, it also states "Japan’s NHK network has inquired about purchasing the broadcasting station at Santa Maria di Galeria, just outside Rome, that Vatican Radio will no longer use." As Vatican Radio ends short-wave broadcasts, others expand

NHK’s possible purchase of the SM Galeria site would make very good strategic sense. It would give them wonderful access with a very strong signal into Europe, all parts of Africa, and the Middle East. This would mean that they would no longer need to buy transmitter time (as they are currently doing for this B16 transmission period) from sites such as Issoudun, Tashkent, Nauen, Woofferton, Madagascar, Dhabayya and Meyerton – all of which must amount to a significant cost each month!

Perhaps even more significant is that it seems to indicate that NHK desires an ongoing international presence on shortwave. They apparently see a future in shortwave broadcasting. It will be interesting to watch developments here.

AUSTRALIA

ABC.

Don't get me started!

Suffice to say, the managing director Michelle Guthrie didn't look too flash last week when interrogated by the Federal Government's Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee. You can read and view video on this topic at:

- ABC boss Michelle Guthrie grilled in Senate Estimates over axing shortwave radio service

- ABC Friends Facebook Page

- Michelle Guthrie says it is not her job to lobby for ABC funding

There is also an excellent open letter to Guthrie, which states some important considerations and invites her to actually visit Darwin to discuss the impact on relevant stakeholders:

- GO TO DARWIN AND LISTEN: ABC Friends TO GUTHRIE

The Australian Parliament now has a bill before it called the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Restoring Shortwave Radio) Bill 2017. The Bill would require the ABC to restore its shortwave transmission services, following the announcement by the ABC in December 2016 that it would end its shortwave transmission service in the Northern Territory and to international audiences from 31 January 2017. It is receiving submissions at the following government website:
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Restoring Shortwave Radio) Bill 2017

FROM THE LOG BOOK

Monitoring over the past 24 hours has yielded some interesting observations:

6170   ROMANIA. RRI - Tiganesti. Interval signal at 2127, s/on in English service to ENAm at 2130, fair to poor signal, Mar 10.

7259.94   VANUATU. R. Vanuatu - Port Vila. Talks in the Bislama language at 2045. The signal started at a fair level, but began to weaken rapidly by 2055 as the local time in Port Vila approached 8am and ionospheric absorption levels rose quickly at the transmitter site. Disappeared by 2100. Mar 10.

7415   ASCENSION IS. Dandal Kura R. - Ascension. A weak signal drifting in through the noise at 0635, in the Kanuri language with talks. ID at 0638 as Dandal Kura Radio International. Groovy electroacoustic female vocal at 0640. Often difficult to hear at Mount Evelyn at this time of year. Mar 10.

7455   PRIDNESTROVIE. Denge Kurdistane - Grigoriopol. At 2117 with contemporary Kurdish songs. Good signal, Mar 10.

7500   UZBEKISTAN. North Korean Reform R. - Tashkent. Korean talks at 2113, a fair to poor signal in the noise, Mar 10.

9275.05   USA. WMLK - Bethel PA. Quite a good signal at 2030 with American preaching droning on and drifting aimlessly from one topic to another. Plenty of mentions of Yahweh. ID at 2109, with an invitation to "drop by at the Assemblies of Yahweh in Bethel PA….if you are  a person of good will". Mar 10.

9445   D.P.R.KOREA. VoK - Kujang. English to EAs at 0650 with "news" and military music. Such a happy kingdom! Weak signal on Mar 10.

11600   PRIDNESTROVIE. Denge Kurdistane - Grigoriopol. Kurdish talks and occasional pop music to ME and WAs at 0620, fair signal, Mar 10.

11880   AUSTRIA. AWR -  Moosbrunn. S/on 0600 with the Arabic preaching to NAf. Fair signal, Mar 10.

13580   KUWAIT. R. Mashaal - Umm al-Rimam. Pashto service to Pakistan at 0714 with news reports, weak signal but should be heard quite well in Europe, Mar 10.

13600   OMAN. R. Sultanate of Oman - Thumrayt. Arabic programming with talk and phone-in chat at 0615, occasional musical interludes. A weak signal on Mar 10.

15480   ENGLAND. Dandal Kura R. - Woofferton. Moves here at 0700 after the 7415 kHz outlet closes at the same time. ID and phoned-in news report. Weak signal and difficult listening due to the co-channel presence of CNR 1. However, I suspect Dandal Kura will be easily heard in Europe at this time. Mar 10.


AND FINALLY.....






This is Rob Wagner VK3BVW

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