STATION NEWS
AND DX QUICK TIPS
March 26, 2025

Much had happened in the world of shortwave over the past few weeks. The suspension of Voice of America broadcasts is one thing. It also includes VoA Deewa Radio, VoA Studio 7, and VoA Radio Ashna. But some have forgotten that the move by the current U.S. federal government has also impacted Radio Free Asia, Radio Thailand, Radyo Pilipinas, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (inc. Radio Ashna, Radio Mashaal, Radio Farda), and Radio Martí.

A few of the non-VoA broadcasters above continue to operate on severely restricted schedules via non-VoA-owned transmitter sites (e.g. Vatican's SM Galeria facility). But there is no doubt that the directive has left gaping holes in the shortwave broadcast bands.

To be clear, VoA hasn't been dismantled completely....yet!. Broadcasts have been suspended. The VoA website has stopped publishing news after March 15. There is every possibility that some services may resume, albeit in a significantly revised and reduced schedule and format. At this point in time, however, it is unclear if the U.S. administration will allow any future services from VoA. Circumstances could change rapidly.

Some legal actions may influence the situation, such as reported by Politico in their article Judge blocks funding freeze for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Who knows what the future holds for VoA and USAGM? Is there a role here for other U.S.-based private broadcasters?

When Radio Australia closed its services to Asia and the Pacific and left shortwave, some said it would spell the end of soft diplomacy between the Australian government and those regions. However, RA still has some presence through their re-broadcasts on local FM stations in the Pacific islands, the Wantok service via Radio New Zealand Pacific and a range of Internet services.

Another excellent article on this situation that takes a different angle comes from The Conversation.com: Trump silences the Voice of America: end of a propaganda machine or void for China and Russia to fill?

One thing is certain. Putin and Xi must be laughing their heads off, dancing around and rubbing their hands together in glee. What a gift!

Radio Free Asia

RFA used to issue some attractive QSL cards that listeners enjoyed collecting. As a result of the USAGM shutdown, the station has just released the following statement regarding its future QSL policy.

Dear friends,

Last weekend, Radio Free Asia lost its grant and funding. Unfortunately, we are unable to confirm any more reception reports. If this situation changes, we will let you know.

As our relay sites stop transmitting our broadcasts, currently, we're still airing evergreen programming on limited frequencies but it's unclear how long this will continue.

Thank you for listening and also for your years of support and friendship.

RFA's QSL Team

DX QUICK TIPS

Equipment: Yaesu FTDX3000 transceiver, Kenwood R5000 receiver, Kenwood TS2000 transceiver. Kiwi SDRs are occasionally used for reference and spectrum monitoring, as stated in specific loggings below.

Antennas: 100m long horizontal sky loop antenna, a delta loop antenna for 10 MHz, a double bazooka antenna for 14 MHz and a 5/8λ centre-fed vertical for 21 MHz and above.

5900 TAIWAN. National Unity R. - Tanshui. 2030 Korean with commentaries. Fair signal and stronger than the co-channel American preaching via Kostinbrod. Also stronger than North Korea's feeble jamming attempt. Mar 11.

6070 GERMANY. Channel 292 - Rohrbach. 2040 Continuous dated pops from the 60s and 70s, usual programming fare. A mainly weak signal with occasional good peaks. Faded by 2055. Mar 11.

6100 D.P.R.KOREA. KCBS - Kanggye. 2105 Korean domestic service, weak signal under co-channel CRI's Arabic to NAf. Mar 11.

6120 TURKEY. VoTurkey - Emirler. 2110 Turkish to ME with discussion program. Good signal, Mar 11.

7220 D.P.R.KOREA. VoKorea - Kujang. 0935 Korean to EAs, listed as KCBS programming with revolutionary songs and closing anncts. S/off exactly 0950. Good signal with only slight co-channel QRM from CNR 2-Golmud, Mar 10.

7220 VIETNAM. VoVietnam 5 - Son Tay. 2120-2128* French to ME, commentaries. Fair signal but with splash from 7235 CRI. Mar 11.

7225 CHINA. Sichuan Ethnic R. Chengdu. 1000 - Six time pips and ID. Then a lengthy conversation in the Yi language between a man and a woman. 1013 - Soft Chinese traditional instrumental music followed, followed by further discussion. Initially, the signal was weak but improved significantly by 1025 UTC. The transmitter output is listed as 50 kW. The service runs //on 6060. Mar 10. More info in this station at: https://medxr.blogspot.com/2025/03/spotlight-sichuan-ethnic-radio.html

9710 VIETNAM. VoVietnam 5 - Son Tay. 2137 English to Eu, station ID and current affairs program. Fair signal, Mar 11.

9765 MADAGASCAR. MWV Palavra Alegre - Mahajanga. 2140 Portuguese to SAm. Gospel rock song, then preaching. Fair signal, Mar 11.

9790 FRANCE. R. France Int’l - Issoudun. 2145 French to WAf with a live football (soccer) match broadcast. S/off 2200 as usual. Fair signal, Mar 11.

11934.9 SAUDI ARABIA. Republic of Yemen Radio Sana'a - Jeddah. 0915 radio play in Arabic. The 120 Hz transmitter hum - it's baaaack! However, the audio quality is good. There was a good signal via the Doha Kiwi, but it was barely audible at Mount Evelyn. Mar 10. And again at 0515, this time, it was off the air with just wisps of co-channel CNR 5 Cross-Strait R. being heard. But then I returned to the frequency at 0615 to find it was back on the air with a noisy, dramatic radio play. No hum on this occasion, although faint 120 Hz lines could be seen. Mar 11.

12050 ASCENSION IS. R. Ndarason Int’l - Ascension. S/on 0659 with anncts in Kanuri, beamed to WAf. Weak signal, as is often the case with the Ascension relay to Mount Evelyn. And again at 2015, when the signal was slightly better. Mar 11.

13855 ALGERIA. Ifrikya FM - Ouargla. 2305 French with news and interviews. Fair signal and // 13640 (Bechar), where it was much stronger. Mar 11.

15140 ALGERIA. Ifrikya FM - Ouargla. 0657 S/on with Afro music. 0700 French ID and into African news headlines. Groovy Afro song at 0715. The // 17600 (via Bechar) signed on at 0659. 15140 was a good signal, and 17600 was excellent but with some light accompanying audio hum. Mar 10.

17525 USA. WMLK Bethel PA. 2115 American preaching, male speaker with a gravelly voice. A weak signal but began to improve as the morning progressed and the band opened up. Mar 10.

73 and wishing you good DX,

Rob Wagner VK3BVW