Mount Evelyn DX Report

  WHICH ANTENNA WIRE  FOR SHORTWAVE LISTENING? I often see questions asked in Facebook groups and other forums regarding whether different types of antenna wire make any difference to the reception of shortwave signals at the receiver. For example, is copper wire better than aluminium, better than steel, etc? Another question often raised concerns the diameter of the wire used, i.e. would a thicker wire pick up more signal? I have to say that, in many informal tests of hanging different types of antennas over the years, I have found no measurable difference in the kind of wire used or in the diameter of the wire. There doesn't seem to be any noticeable difference in signal strength or quality of reception. My admittedly unscientific tests show no conclusive findings, so it is something that I just don't worry about. Any wire type or size will work for shortwave listening purposes. This is good news because we don't need to spend heaps of money on expensive wire. There is no...

 RADIO VANUATU GOES ROGUE (and other DX News!) In recent days, I and some other SWBC DXers have noted and been reporting on rather strange frequency movements being made by Radio Vanuatu. Here is a summary of what's been going on and my own log observations: 3945 kHz is one of the registered frequencies for Radio Vanuatu (RV). However, for several years now, harmonics of this frequency have appeared on 7890 (2nd harmonic), 11835 (3rd) and occasionally on 15780 kHz (4th harmonic). Indeed, 7890 and 11835 have been heard in many parts of the world. But on September 5, a listener uploaded a YouTube video  of RV operating on 7932.06 kHz via the VE6ARS KiwiSDR in Alberta, Canada. As Ron Howard (CA, USA) commented, this appears to be a fundamental frequency and NOT a 2nd harmonic of 3966 kHz. I confirmed its operation on Sep 6 and again on Sep 7, where I included detailed notes below: 7932.06 VANUATU. R. Vanuatu ­ Emten Lagoon. Fading in on this oddball frequency around 0605 in Bisla...

RADIO NEW ZEALAND'S NEW TRANSMITTER  A few months ago, some good news arrived for the folks at Radio New Zealand Pacific (previously known as Radio New Zealand International). In the 2022 budget released in May, the government announced NZ$4.4 million in capital funding for a new shortwave transmitter to be installed at the Rangitaiki site in the center of the North Island. This will ensure the future of the shortwave service across the Pacific. Currently, RNZ Pacific has two transmitters at its disposal. A 100 kW Thomson Broadcast and Media digital/analog transmitter was pressed into operation in 2005 and is the only sender currently used daily. This unit has a dual-task. It transmits stereo quality DRM broadcasts for relay by 22 local Pacific Islands broadcasters, allowing those smaller stations to carry daily RNZ news and current affairs. Secondly, this transmitter allows RNZ Pacific to offer the standard AM mode service for individual shortwave listeners in the region and beyon...

  WILL RADIO AUSTRALIA RETURN TO SHORTWAVE? (This post is an edited version of an article I wrote for "The World of Shortwave Listening" column of The Spectrum Monitor magazine - August 2022 issue. Further details on this excellent publication are available at www.thespectrummonitor.com ) May 21 saw the election of a new Australian federal parliament, with the Labor Party gaining power in its own right. Going into the election, Labor’s communications policies included an Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy. In it were two important statements: 1) to increase funding for the ABC as Australia’s international broadcaster, and 2) to review the potential restoration of Australian shortwave radio broadcasting capacity in the Pacific. Many long-time shortwave listeners worldwide were excited by this news, believing that it might result in the revival of Radio Australia (RA) on the shortwave bands. I am sure the ABC will be most grateful for a boost to its coffers, given that the publ...