DX QUICK TIPS and STATION NEWS - November 21, 2018


DX QUICK TIPS and STATION NEWS
November 21, 2018


We are on holiday at the moment, so I have only a short Quick Tips from a few days ago:

7254.97   NIGERIA. VoNigeria - Abuja. Hausa to WAf with commentaries and news reports at 0610. Fair signal, Nov 12.

7295   FRANCE. RFI - Issoudun. Hausa to CAf at 0615 with ID and news reports, weak signal, Nov 12.

7335   FRANCE. R. Nigeria Kaduna - Issoudun. “The Other Nigeria” with Hausa at WAf at 0620. Afro music programming and anncts, weak signal, Nov 12.

7345   ASCENSION IS. BBC - Ascension. English WS to CAf at 0625 with a discussion. A weak signal which was flattened by the RRI-Tiganesti English service at 0628, Nov 12.

7420   INNER MONGOLIA. PBS Nei Menggu - Hohhot. An early fade-in at 0630 with commentaries, a weak signal at the start, but improved after 0800, Nov 12.

STATION NEWS


AUSTRALIA
In social media over the past few days, there has been much excitement about an ABC news report regarding the Federal opposition Labor Party pledging to provide the ABC with $2 million in funding to help re-establish the Northern Territory Shortwave Services. There was also some confusion with a few shortwave listeners incorrectly thinking this meant that Radio Australia would return to shortwave.

WHOA!! NOT SO FAST THERE! The Australian federal election will not be held until around May 2019 (unless the current Liberal Government calls an early snap election). And then the Labor Party has to win! And then they have to keep their promises! And then they have to get budgetary funding passed through parliament. And then they have to convince the ABC that switching on the NT services again is a good thing to do! And if all that happens, the owners of the NT transmitter sites, Broadcast Australia, would need to bring the sites up to readiness for service after having been off-air for more than two years. Indeed, if all the cards fell into place, then that would probably be at least twelve months away from now before the re-commencement of the service. And, NO, Radio Australia is not being considered in this proposal here!

However, there is a realisation amongst foreign affairs think tanks and some government officials that perhaps the ABC's decision to cease RA's Pacific service on shortwave was, indeed, shortsighted....especially when China continues to have a growing push into the economies of many South Pacific nations. "Soft Diplomacy" is starting to be seen as an important tool in Australia's relationship with its Pacific neighbours. But, alas, a little too late?

CUBA
One to always wait to see what everyone else will do, Radio Habana Cuba has finally released its B18 transmission schedule, some weeks after all the other international broadcasters. However, what RHC publishes as its schedule and what it ACTUALLY transmits on any given day can often be poles apart. Use this schedule only as a guide!!



INDIA
Our great DX friend in Hyderabad, Jose Jacob VU2JOS, has just published the All India Radio transmission schedule for B18 on his website. His handy compilation of both Home Service and External Service in frequency order makes for easy checking of changes for the B18 transmission season. He also has the External Service listed under times and languages. Check it out at https://qsl.net/vu2jos/sw/freq.htm


73 and good DX to you all,

Rob Wagner VK3BVW


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