Mount Evelyn DX Report: RON HOWARD'S DX QUICK TIPS

The Etón E1 receiver, as used by Ron Howard

RON HOWARD'S DX QUICK TIPS

April 20, 2020

My thanks to Ron Howard (CA, USA) for these hot tips that have just come through a few hours ago, all heard on April 19 from Asilomar State Beach, California. Ron used the Etón E1 receiver and a 30m long wire antenna.

⭐⭐ BHUTAN. 6035, BBS, April 19, from 1042 till blocked by start up at *1145 of PBS Yunnan (FM99); started well below threshold level audio and worked its way up to above threshold, but still unreadable; only able to make out a few words in English; usual formal with some pop songs in English; running later than usual. Has been a while since I last heard Bhutan.

BOUGAINVILLE [non-log]. 3325, NBC Bougainville again silent on April 19, from 0824+. Later at 1022, heard the carrier of Voice of Indonesia, but today with no audio at all; for VOI audio I checked 4749.95 kHz at 1151 and noted VOI mixing with CNR1, both in Chinese. NBC Madang's (3260) long-standing absence continues through April 19.

⭐ CHINA. 4940, Voice of Strait, 0943-0955, April 19 (Sunday). The program "Focus on China," with a repeat of the soundtrack from the documentary I heard about a year ago here, about the First Emperor of China (Qin Shi Huang) and his military achievements (mechanical crossbow, etc.) and his unifying the country; fairly readable even with OTH radar.

6035, PBS Yunnan, with a relay of FM99; suddenly started at *1145, on April 19; on top of BBS (Bhutan).

7210, PBS Yunnan, 1040, April 19. Very strong signal with musical loop IS; heard well above the jamming of SOH (Taiwan) by CNR1.

JAPAN. 8006, low powered JG2XA, with the HF-Doppler (HFD) Project, again heard with carrier at 0823 and 1026, on April 19. While their // frequency 5006 remains silent.

⭐⭐MYANMAR. 5985, Myanmar Radio, April 19, at 1156. Stronger than usual signal; Happy Birthday wishes followed by a unique song in both vernacular and English ("Happy Birthday . . . I love you . . . I need you"); COVID-19 PSA in vernacular. My audio at http://bit.ly/2KjonXc. (ID at 2:20 min in the recording - Rob)

MALAYSIA. 9835, Sarawak FM, 1011+, April 19. Reception well above the norm; in vernacular; playing pop songs.

TAIWAN. 6215, Sound of Hope, 1100, April 19. Usual ID by OM and YL ("Xiwang zhi sheng guoji guangbo diantai" - Sound of Hope international broadcast station); into the news; mostly fair reception.

⭐⭐ VANUATU. 11835 (harmonic), with Radio Vanuatu. April 19 - Police siren at 0856, then religious songs till 0935 (song: "I Love That Man From Galilee," etc.); reception not very good (QRN), but able to catch clear ID and some of the Lord's Prayer in English (My audio at http://bit.ly/2wVxvOE); Sunday religious sermon ("message of hope") mentioning COVID-19 and Cyclone Harold. Later at 1154, found 7890 kHz. (harmonic) with RV signature song "You Are The Only One." Primary frequency of 3945 mostly unusable, so very pleased to have the harmonics to listen to.

Thanks so much for these, Ron. Stay safe, my friend!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW