DX QUICK TIPS
November 21, 2020

After my last week's Higher Frequencies Fire Up! blog post, activity in the 15, 17 and 13m shortwave broadcast bands has tapered off somewhat this week. The amateur bands weren't quite as busy either, although long-distance digital mode QSOs continue to get through on 18 and 21 MHz quite successfully, depending on the time of day. BUT....things may heat up again in the next week or so, and it could prove fruitful to keep an eye out on the higher frequencies.

Although I spent much of my time on the amateur bands this week, here are a few SWBC DX tips and accompanying videos. Ohh! And by the way, I decided to dust off the Kenwood TS2000 transceiver for checking out these shortwave broadcasters, as you will see from the videos below. This first-generation version of the TS2000 is nearly 20 years old now, but still works fine! Especially when we connect it to the 100m long horizontal loop antenna! Nice!

5009.92 MADAGASCAR. R. Madagasikara - Ambohidrano. Great listening with local music featuring the band Tsimihole, a group from southern Madagascar, and Vaovy, another national band. Fair signal, Nov 20.

5020 SOLOMON ISLANDS. SIBC - Honiara. The morning sign on at 1902 with the anthem, ID and preaching. A surprisingly weak signal on Nov 20.

6030 ETHIOPIA. R. Oromiya - Geja. Local instrumental music at 1910, anncts in Oromo, story-telling at 1915, lovely signal, Nov 20. (video below)

6090 ETHIOPIA. Amhara State Radio. - Addis Ababa. Amharic to EAf at 1830 with commentaries. Mixed to equal levels with co-channel BBC-Al Seela’s Pashto service, fair signal, Nov 20.

6138.02 NETHERLANDS. Radio. Onda - Borculo. Brazilian and other music with Portuguese anncts, first noted at 1930 and monitored to past 2000 with occasional IDs. NF and clearly not 1 kW anymore!! Way off the registered frequency of 6140 kHz, too! But a great signal into Mount Evelyn on Nov 20.

OTHER NEWS

AUSTRIA. Radio Japan (NHK) has been using 6155kHz for English to WEu via the Moosbrun transmitter site at 0430-0500 UTC on weekdays and 0500-0530 on Sat/Sun. However, according to Ivo Ivanov, there will be a frequency change from Nov 30 to 6185 kHz for this service. This could be an issue for listeners who enjoy listening to the low-powered XEPPM Radio Educación - Mexico City.

RADIO FREE KASHMIR. For the B20 transmission season, R. Free Kashmir has moved to 7370 kHz (ex 7355) for its Sunday-only broadcast between 0330 and 0430 UTC. It turns out the station has also changed the transmitter site from Tiganesti, Romania to Kostinbrod, Bulgaria, which is probably a good thing - See comments in my Sept 29 Propagation Reflections post!

73 and have a great weekend everyone!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW