Mount Evelyn DX Report: B22 SEASON - EARLY NEW FREQUENCY OBSERVATIONS

B22 TRANSMISSION SEASON

NEW FREQUENCIES MONITORED

The new B22 transmission season began last weekend. I have been scanning the international shortwave bands, checking out what has changed since the start of this new season. Below is a record of some very early observations made during the first four days since the changeover.

Where possible, for each item, I have tried to identify the former frequency used in the A22 season. But this is sometimes quite hard because schedules can be complex or drastically changed by the broadcaster, making it difficult to arrive at direct comparisons. There are 85+ frequency changes listed below. So if you are missing your favourite station, then it could be listed here!

Some additional points to note:

The list is in frequency order. The countries listed are where the transmitter sites are located. Many broadcasters make use of transmitters in other countries in order to achieve better reception to the target zones. e.g. the world-famous BBC is currently making use of this long list of relays for the B22 transmission season: Oman, Singapore, Bulgaria, Armenia, Ascension Is, São Tomé, Uzbekistan, Philippines, Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates, the Vatican, and Madagascar as well as its own transmitters in Woofferton, England!
LAYOUT CHANGE: In most cases, I have listed the sign-on and sign-off times for each broadcast. These are represented by asterisks * before the sign-on time and after the sign-off time. I hope readers will find this information more useful.
Australia is not part of the target zones for just about all of these broadcasts. The era of services beamed specifically to Australia stopped years ago. Well....except for China Radio International (aka CGTN Radio), of course! So, comments on signal strength as noted at Mount Evelyn have, in most cases, not been included in this list. In the designated target zones, listeners should find good to excellent reception from many of their favourite broadcasters.
All observations are based on actual monitoring from my receivers here at Mount Evelyn. Occasionally, remote SDRs are called upon to 1) confirm the Mount Evelyn reception, or 2) monitor propagation conditions in or near the target zone. These remote tools are particularly useful for checking the impact of interference, if any, of co-channel or adjacent channel broadcasters.
Some DX lists compare new frequencies with "ex" frequencies used for the same transmission season in the previous year (i.e. B21). Personally, I don't find this system useful and can be confusing. Yes, I know that a few stations will often try to use the same frequencies for the previous corresponding 12-month period. However, from a regular shortwave listener's perspective, at the start of a new season, they want to know if the frequency has changed since they last listened on the previous day or previous week - They won't remember a frequency from a season ago!
You may see an occasional change to some of the frequencies listed below in the upcoming weeks. This is not unusual, as broadcasters may discover they have clashed with other stations or receive reports of poor reception in the target zones. Sometimes, it can take a few weeks for everything to settle in a new transmission season.

Equipment: Yaesu FTDX3000 transceiver, Kenwood TS2000 transceiver.

Antennas: 100m long horizontal sky loop antenna, a delta loop antenna for 10 MHz and a double bazooka antenna for 14 MHz.

Abbreviations:
NF = New Frequency for the B22 transmission season

NS = New Site (i.e. a change in relay station for a specific broadcast)
QRM = Interference from another station
// = The same broadcast simultaneously on another frequency, i.e. in parallel.

WS = BBC World Service

5925 SÃO TOMÉ. VoA – Pinheira. *2130-2200* Bambara to WAf, NF, weak signal with co-channel QRM from CNR-5 “Cross-Strait Radio”, Nov 1.

6090 JAPAN. R. Japan - Yamata. *1100-1130 Korean, Mandarin 1130-1200, Korean 1200-1230*. NF (ex 13835), very good signal but moderate QRM from CNR 2 via Geermu. Oct 30.

7225 CHINA. CRI - Beijing. *2100-2200* Croatian to SEu, NF (ex 9655), Oct 31.

7300 OMAN. BBC - Al Seela. *2200-2300* English WS to SEAs, NF (ex 5955), Oct 30.

7310 ROMANIA. RRI - Tiganesti. *2130-2157* English to ENAm, NF (ex 11850), Oct 30.

7345 ROMANIA. RRI - Tiganesti. *0630-0657* English to Eu, NF (ex 7325), Oct 30.

7370 USA. KNLS - Anchor Point AK. *0800-1000* Mandarin to EAs, NF ex 11875, Oct 30.

7375 ROMANIA. RRI - Galbeni. *2130-2157* English to Eu, NF (ex 9740), Oct 30.

7500 THAILAND. VoA – Ban Dung. *2200-2300* Mandarin to EAs, NF (ex 5875), with jamming, Nov 1.

7520 PHILIPPINES. BBC - Tinang. *2200-2300* English to SEAs/PNG, NF (ex 7445), Oct 30.

9335 PHILIPPINES. VoA - Tinang. *2200-2230* Khmer to SEAs, NF (ex 9320), Oct 31.

9415 CHINA. CRI - Xian. *0900-1000* English to EAs, NF (ex 11710), Oct 30.

9430 ROMANIA. RRI - Tiganesti. *2136 (started late!) to 2157*, English to ENAm, NF (ex 13650), Oct 30.

9440 GERMANY. Bible Voice BC - Nauen. *0600-0615* Arabic to NAf, NF (ex 11655), Nov 1.

9540 USA. KNLS - Anchor Point AK. *0900-1000* Russian to NEAs, NF (ex 9695), Oct 30.

9570 USA. KNLS - Anchor Point AK. *1100-1200* Russian to NEAs. NF (ex 9580), Oct 30.

9580 SINGAPORE. BBC - Kranji. *1000-1200* English WS to SEAs/PNG, NF (ex 9410), Oct 30.

9610 TURKEY. VoT - Emirler. *2130-2230* English to SAs/SEA/ AUS, NF (ex 9875), Oct 30.

9620 PHILIPPINES. VoA – Tinang. *2200-2300* Mandarin to EAs, NF (ex 9625), with jamming, Nov 1.

9625 USA. KNLS - Anchor Point AK. *1200-1300* English to EAs, NF and good signal except for splash from a booming CRI on 9620. // 9580 also to EAs and also a NF for this time slot. Oct 30.

9630 AUSTRIA. AWR - Moosbrunn. *0500-0530* Hausa to WAf, NF (ex 11870), Oct 30.

9680 USA. KNLS - Anchor Point AK. *1000-1100* English to EAs, NF (ex 9580), Oct 30.

9680 JAPAN. R. Japan - Yamata. *1200-1300* Japanese to SAs, NF (ex 13690), good signal but slight co-channel QRM from CNR-Baoji, Oct 30.

9690 SPAIN. REE - Noblejas. 2220 Spanish, NF, Oct 31.

9715 USA. KNLS - Anchor Point AK. *1000-1100* Mandarin to EAs, NF (ex 9685), Oct 30.

9720 USA. KNLS - Anchor Point AK. *1100-1200* Mandarin to EAs, NF (ex 9730), Oct 30.

9740 UZBEKISTAN. AWR - Tashkent. *1300-1400* Korean to EAs, NF (ex 15670), Oct 30.

9790 KUWAIT. R. Free Asia – Umm al-Rimam. *2200-2300* Tibetan to EAs, NF, with jamming, Nov 1.

9860 GERMANY. AWR - Nauen. *0600-0630 French to WAf, NF (ex 15455), Oct 30.

9860 CHINA. CRI - Kashi. *2200-2300* Esperanto to SAm, NF (ex 9880), Oct 31.

9885 SRI LANKA. AWR - Trincomalee. *2100-2200* Mandarin to EAs, NF (ex 11750 via Guam), Oct 30.

11590 INDIA. AIR - Delhi. *1042-1215* Tibetan beamed to Tibet. No AIR interval signal. It just started 3 min before the scheduled time. NF (ex 11560), Oct 30.

11620 INDIA. AIR - Delhi. *0430-0600* Dari to Afghanistan, NF (ex 9950), Oct 30.

11630 JAPAN. R. Japan - Yamata. *2100-2300* Japanese to SEAs, NF (ex 11800), Oct 30.

11630 JAPAN. R Japan - Yamata. *2100-2300* Japanese to SEAs, NF (ex 11800), Oct 31.

11640 GERMANY. AWR - Nauen. *0600-0630* French to WAf, NF (ex 17790), Oct 30.

11650 IRAN. VoIRI - Sirjan. *2220-2320* Hausa to WAf, NF (ex 11630), Oct 30.

11660 ASCENSION IS. BBC - Ascension. *0700-0730* French to WAf, NF (ex 11930), Oct 30.

11690 GUAM. KSDA/AWR - Agat. *1000-1100* Mandarin to EAs. // 15420 and seems to be an additional freq for this service. Fair to Oct 30.

11720 USA. VoA – Greenville. *2100-2200* English to Af, NF, good signal, Nov 1.

11735 SINGAPORE. BBC Kranji. *1000-1100* English WS to SEAs and PNG, NF (ex 11855), Oct 30.

11760 MADAGASCAR. R. France Int'l - Talata Volonondry. *0430-0500* Swahili to EAf, NF (ex 11790), Nov 1. And again *0530-0600* Swahili, NF (ex 15215). Nov 1.

11790 ROMANIA. RRI - Tiganesti. *0600-0630* French to WAf, NF, Oct 30.

11830 SRI LANKA. AWR - Trincomalee. *0100-0130* Amoy (M to F) and Mandarin (Sat/Su) to EAs, NF (ex 11925), Nov 1.

11850 NTH MARIANA IS. R. Free Asia – Tinian. *2230-2330* Khmer to SEAs, NF (ex 12140), co-channel QRM from Cuba, Nov 1.

11870 GUAM. KSDA/AWR - Agat. *1030-1100* to the Philippines in the announced Ilocano language (Sun/Fri only). Scheduled for Filipino on other days. NF (ex 17540). Oct 30.

11880 AUSTRIA. AWR - Moosbrunn. *0600-0700* Arabic to NAf, NF (ex 15560), Oct 30.

11905 AUSTRALIA. Reach Beyond - Kununurra WA. *1055-1130* Japanese. NF (ex 15565), Oct 30.

11980 GERMANY. AWR - Nauen. *0700-0800 Arabic to NAf, NF (ex 15220), Oct 30.

11985 MADAGASCAR. AWR - Talata Volonondry. *2100-2130* Nigerian Pidgin to WAf, NF (ex 9800 via Nauen), Oct 30.

12075 BOTSWANA. VoA – Moepeng Hill. *2130-2200* Bambara to WAf, NF (probably ex 11900 via Vatican), Nov 1.

12080 GUAM. KSDA/AWR - Agat. *1200-1230* Amoy to EAs, NF (ex 12105), Oct 30.

12095 ASCENSION IS. BBC - Ascension. *0700-0800* English to WAf, NF (ex 15490), Oct 30.

13705 JAPAN. R. Japan - Yamata. *2300 Thai to SEAs, NF (ex 13650), Oct 30.

13865 SÃO TOMÉ. BBC - Pinheira. *0600-0700* English to SAf, NF (ex 13610), Nov 1.

15050 INDIA. AIR - Bengaluru. *0130-0230* Indonesian to SEAs, NF (ex 13710), good signal but audio somewhat muffled, Nov 1.

15185 INDIA. AIR - Bengaluru. *0430-0600* Pashto to Afghanistan, NF (ex 15285), Oct 30.

15210 CHINA. CRI - Kunming. *0900-1100* English to AUS/NZ, NF (ex 13800), Oct 30.

15210 INDIA. AIR 0 Bengaluru. *0145-0315 Nepali, 0315-0415* Burmese to SAs. NF (ex 11560), Nov 1.

15255 ROMANIA. RRI - Galbeni. *1100-1156* French to SEu, NF (ex 15150), Oct 30.

15255 TAJIKISTAN. AWR - Dushanbe. *1200-1300* Korean to EAs, NF (ex 15505), Oct 30.

15310 SINGAPORE. BBC - Kranji. *0100-0200* English WS to SAs, NF (ex 17790), Nov 1.

15400 MADAGASCAR. BBC - Talata Volonondry. *0500-0600* English WS to SAf, NF (ex 15420), Nov 1.

15400 SÃO TOMÉ. BBC - Pinheira. *0700-0800* English WS to SAf, NF and Oct 30.

15430 CHINA. CRI - Kashi. *0500-0700* English to SAs, NF (possibly ex 17540), Nov 1.

15460 ROMANIA. RRI - Galbeni. *1200-1256* English to WEu, NF (ex 15130), Oct 30.

15610 AUSTRIA. AWR - Moosbrunn. *0700-0730* French to WAf, NF (ex 15560), Oct 30.

15610 GUAM. KSDA/AWR - Agat. *1300-1330* Nepali to SAs, NF (ex 15255 via Dushanbe), Oct 30.

15625 SRI LANKA. AWR - Trincomalee. *0100-0130* Amoy (M to F) and Mandarin (Sat/Su) to EAs, NF (ex 15630), Nov 1.

17520 GUAM. KSDA/AWR - Agat. *2300-2400* Mandarin to EAs, NF (ex 15625), Oct 31.

17525.03 GUAM. KSDA/AWR - Agat. *0000 Vietnamese to SEAs, 0030 Karen to SEAs to 0100*, NF (ex 15320), off-frequency, Nov 1.

17570 GUAM. KSDA/AWR - Agat. *2300 Khmer (daily), 2330-2400* Thai (smtw.f.), Lao (....t.s), NF (ex 15370), Oct 31.

17620.03 GUAM. KSDA/AWR - Agat. *2300-2400* Mandarin to EAs, NF (ex 15685), good signal but off-frequency, Oct 31.

17630 THAILAND. R. Thailand – Ban Dung. *1000-1030* Thai to ME, NF (ex 17850), Nov 2.

17650 GUAM. KSDA/AWR - Agat. *0000-0030* Burmese to SEAs, NF (ex 17720), Nov 1.

17690 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. BBC - Dhabayya. *0500-0800* English WS to EAf, NF, Nov 1.

17690 CHINA. CRI - Jinhua. *0900-1100* English to AUS/NZ, NF (ex 11905), Oct 30.

17760 OMAN. BBC – Al Seela. *0600-0700* Arabic to EAf, NF (ex 15335), Nov 2.

17770 MADAGASCAR. AWR - Talata Volonondry. *1300-1400* Vietnamese to SEAs, NF (ex 17605), Oct 30.

17780 ROMANIA. RRI - Galbeni. *0630-0657* English to AUS, NF (ex 17760), Oct 30.

17800 ROMANIA. RRI - Galbeni. *1200-1256* English to Af, NF (ex 15320), Oct 30.

17840 NTH MARIANA IS. R. Free Asia – Tinian. *0600-0700* Mandarin to EAs, NF (possibly ex 17810), Nov 2.

21470 ROMANIA. RRI - Tiganesti. *0630-0657* English to AUS, NF (ex 21550), barely audible. I expect it will improve here as we get into the summer season, Oct 30.

21470 ROMANIA. RRI Tiganesti. *1200-1256* English to Af, NF (ex 17670), Oct 30.

21630 VATICAN. BBC - SM Galeria. *0700-0730 French to CAf, NF for this time slot, Oct 30.

21580 FRANCE. R. France Int’l – Issoudun. *0800-0900* French to CAf, NF for this time slot, Nov 2.

21630 VATICAN. BBC - SM Galeria. *0700-0730 French to CAf, NF (possibly ex 15400?), Oct 30.

73 and wishing you good DX!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW