Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Short-wave Stations in Malaysia

Voice of Malaysia has discontinued its external short-wave service. 

I received the following email from Pimon Patiang, VOM Online Team: "Thank you for your e-mail. Now Voice Of  Malaysia broadcasting online at www.vom.com.my...stay tune with were are team...start from 12 - 2 pm (Malaysia Time) Bahasa Malaysia Language and 2 - 4 pm English Service and re-run until midnite..."

Only simulcast FM stations can be heard on short-wave now: RTM Klassik Nasional / Radio 1 @ 5.965 kHz, RTM Wai FM @ 11.665 kHz and RTM Radio Sarawak FM @ 9.835 kHz. These stations broadcast daily around-the-clock from Kajang, Selangor. A QSL card may prove difficult to obtain from either of these RTM stations

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

QSLs for November 2011

QSL cards and eQSLs were received during the month of November 2011 from the following stations:

Democratic Voice of Burma (eQSL and QSL card) transmitting from Madagascar
Fu Hsing Broadcasting Station (QSL card)transmitting from Taiwan
BBC Indian Ocean Relay Station (QSL letter) transmitting from Mahe, Seychelles
Voice of Tibet (QSL card) transmitting from Talata-Volondry, Madagascar
Radio Canada International (QSL card) transmitting from Sackville, New Brunswick
Voice of Russia (QSL card) transmitting from Samara
Galei Zahal (QSL card) transmitting from Zahal, Israel
Voice of Russia (QSL card) transmitting from Yerevan-Gavar, Armenia
Radio Nederland Worldwide (QSL card) transmitting from Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
HCJB in Quito (eQSL) transmitting from Santiago, Chile
Voice of Russia (QSL card) transmitting from Serpukhov, Russia
Voice of Russia (QSL card) transmitting from Dushanbe-Yangiyul, Tajikistan
IRRS Milano/the Overcomer Ministry (eQSL) transmitting from Tiganesti, Romania
Gospel for Asia (QSL card) transmitting from Wertachtal, Germany
Radio Taiwan International (two Special Anniversary German language QSL cards) transmitting from Tainan, Taiwan
Voice of Indonesia (two QSL cards) transmitting from Jakarta, Indonesia
Deutsche Welle (QSL card) transmitting from Krasnodar, Russia
Deutsche Welle (QSL card)transmitting from Meyerton, South Africa

QSL card promised:
Radio Japan (QSL card) transmitting from Talata-Volondry, Madagascar

Monday, November 28, 2011

Fu Hsing Broadcasting Station (Taiwan) Freebies

Grooming Kit
FHBS Key Chain
Fu Hsing Broadcasting Station in Taiwan sent two souvenir items, along with a QSL card (see 23 May 2011 blog) and programme schedule. It arrived by registered mail on 29 November 2011. Previous attempts to receive a QSL from FHBS were unsuccessful in May and July 2011; subsequent correspondence and reception report in October 2011 cinched it, along with these wonderful gifts. Thank you FHBS!!!

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Radio Africa -- Equatorial Guinea

Radio Africa in Bata, Equatorial Guinea was heard on 26 November 2011. An English language broadcast of music and talking was monitored from 19.40 to 21.00 UTC on 15.190 kHz. Reception (SINPO) at 19.40 UTC was 15221 -- poor signal strength and poor atmospheric conditions, yet speech and music was audible; at 20.00 UTC reception was degraded to 13221 due to strong inference from Family Radio on 15.195 kHz; after 21.00 UTC signal dissolved into static.

Reception report was sent by email and post. QSL Card, QSL-letter and programme schedule arrived in the mail on 29 December 2011.


Website:
www.radiopanam.com/qslreports.php

Address:
Pan American Broadcasting
7011 Koll Center Pkwy Ste 250
Pleasanton, CA  94566-3253
United States of America


Email:
info@panambc.com

Friday, November 25, 2011

BBC Indian Ocean Relay Station (Seychelles)

BBC Indian Ocean Relay Station in Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles was received on 20 September 2011.  Broadcast time was  15.00 to 17.00 UTC (monitored 15.00 to 16.30 UTC). English language programming aired on 15.420 kHz. Reception (SINPO) at 15.00 UTC was 45544 -- excellent all-around reception in Malaysia. At 15.30 UTC signal was 44544 -- some unidentified modulation and slight fading. At 16.00 UTC reception was 45544. At 16.30 UTC reception was 35323 -- increased fading and QRN.

Reception report was emailed and posted directly to BBC relay station in Sechelles, not the BBC. QSL letter arrived in the mail on 26 November 2011.

Deutsche Welle (Dhabbaya, UAE)

Deutsche Welle, broadcasting in Pashto and Dari languages from Dhabbaya, UAE, was heard from 07.59 to 08.30 UTC (in Pashto) and 08.31 to 09.00 UTC (in Dari) on 25 November 2011. DW news magazine aired on 15.640 kHz. Reception (SINPO) was 35433 -- fair signal strength, slight atmospheric noise and some fading, otherwise clear and audible speech.

Reception report was sent online at DW website and emailed. QSL card arrived in the mail on 9 December 2011.



Thursday, November 24, 2011

Athmeeya Yatra Radio (Nauen, Germany)

Athmeeya Yatra Radio, transmitting presumably from Nauen, Germany, was received on 24 November 2011. Religious programming, closing music and station IDs were heard between 12.30 to12.45 UTC (in Kashmiri) and 12.46 to13.00 UTC (in Gujarati). The station was heard on 15.285 kHz. Reception (SINPO) was 45554.

Reception report was emailed.

Email:
info@Athmeeyayatra.org

Voice of Russia (Samara)

Voice of Russia, transmitting from Samara, was received on 4 October 2011. A German language broadcast was monitored from 17.50 to 18.50 UTC (broadcast time 17.00 to 19.00 UTC) on 12.010 kHz. Signal (SINPO) was 44454 -- strong signal despite interference from RTV Tunisia. At 18.30 UTC reception worsened to 34333.

Reception report was emailed to VOR and dutifully confirmed a day later. QSL card arrived in the mail on 24 November 2011.


Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Africa Numero Un -- Gabon

Africa Numero Un, transmitting from Moyabi, Gabon, was heard on 23 November 2011. A French language broadcast consisting of news, Afro-pop songs and commercial announcements was monitored from 16.45 to 18.00 UTC (broadcast time 05.00 to 23.00 UTC).  Transmission was on 9.580 kHz. Reception (SINPO) at 16.45 UTC was 44334 -- good signal strength  with slight interference from adjacent stations and fading; at 17.00 UTC reception was slightly degraded to 43333 due to interference from Radio Australia; at 17.30 UTC interference from Radio Australia further degraded reception to 22332. By 17.45 UTC signal was too weak to receive due to increasing interference from Radio Australia. By 22.45 UTC, reception was possible until sign-off at 23.00 UTC.

Reception report was emailed and posted. Finally after numerous follow-up emails, then as a last resort faxing the reception report on 10 May 2012, I received a confirmation by email from Guy Kalenda in lieu of a QSL card.

Email:
guykalenda@africa1.com

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Radio Taiwan International Freebie

Radio Taiwan International sent this freebie, a cheque-book size business diary for 2012. It arrived in the mail, today. As the old year comes to an end and the new one dawns, some international broadcasters send out little PR gifts like these to their listeners. Who will be next?

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Galei Zahal -- Israel

A QSL card (see 11 April 2011 blog) from Galei Zahal, Broadcasting Station for the Israel Defence Forces, arrived in the mail today. A reception report was mailed and emailed shortly after 11 April 2011. Galei Zahal responded on 2 May 2011. Like a message in a bottle this QSL drifted around a sea of postal departments until it reached my mailbox on 21 November 2011. I had given up on ever receiving this QSL. It just goes to show -- as with most things in life --  persevere and, above all, be PATIENT. 

CBC Radio Nord Quebec

CBC - Radio Nord Quebec, transmitting from Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada, was  heard Sunday, 19-20 November 2011.  English language broadcast was monitored in Malaysia from 23.40 to 01.05 UTC on 9.625 kHz. Signal (SINPO) at 23.40 UTC was 24332 -- fair signal strength, audible and clear speech  at times, some atmospheric noise; from 00.01 to 00.30 UTC  signal splatter from Radio Australia transmitting from UAE on 9.620 kHz which  degraded reception slightly to 23332; by 00.40 UTC your signal  gradually faded out and was barely audible at 15111 after 01.00 UTC.

Reception report was emailed to CBC and on CBC website. An eQSL letter and short-wave schedule was received on 29 December 2011 after a follow-up email on the same day.









Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Radio Nacional de Venezuela (Habana, Cuba)

Radio Nacional de Venezuela, broadcasting in Spanish from la Habana, Cuba,  was logged on 15 November 2011. Transmission was monitored from 19.30 to 20.00 UTC (broadcast time 19.00 to 20.00 UTC) on 15.290 kHz. Reception (SINPO) from 19.30 to 19.45 UTC was 25221 -- poor reception marred by a weak signal, static and fading, yet Spanish speaking announcer was heard and brief music. At 19.45 UTC, only carrier signal could be heard.

Reception report was submitted by email and post on same day. A follow-up email on 22 August yielded the above e-QSL which was emailed later on the same day.

This is the English translation of the e-QSL: "Good morning, dear friend Muhamad. We wish to inform you that the station you listened to was Radio Nacional de Venezuela. For more information, you can visit our web... and we thank you and trust you will  keep on listening to us..."



Email:
inforrnv@rnv.gob.ve
inforrnv@gmail.com

WYFR - Family Radio (Florida, USA)



WYFR - Family Radio, transmitting from Okeechobee, Florida, USA, was logged on 14 November 2011. English language broadcast was monitored from 23.00 to 00.00 UTC on 9.355 kHz. Signal (SINPO) at 23.00 UTC was 35333 -- fair reception with no interference, moderate signal strength, slight atmospheric notice and fading, otherwise clear and audible speech was observed throughout much of the broadcast. After 23.40 UTC reception gradually worsened, speech was less discernible and signal faded out by 00.00 UTC.

Reception report was emailed and posted to WYFR. QSL cards for two different reception reports arrived in the mail on 3rd January 2012.





Sunday, November 13, 2011

Radio Okapi (UAE / Democratic Republic of Congo)

Radio Okapi, transmitting presumably from Dhabbaya, United Arab Emirates, was heard on 13 November 2011. Headquarters are located in Kinshasa, Gombe, Democratic Republic of Congo;  while its preminent sponsor is  The Hirondelle Foundation based in Lausanne, Switzerland. A French/Lingala programme in a largely talk format was heard from 16.00 to 16.58 UTC. Radio Okapi aired on 11.795 kHz. Signal (SINPO): 34333 -- fair signal strength with moderate atmospheric disturbance, yet speech was audible and discernible.

Reception report was emailed to The Hirondelle Foundation and Radio Okapi in Democratic Republic of Congo. QSL printed on 80 gram paper arrived in the mail on 25 January 2012.

Radio Japan (Madagascar)

Radio Japan (NHK), transmitting from Talata-Volondry, Madagascar, was heard on 13 November 2011. A Hindi language programme was aired from 14.30 to 15.15 UTC on 15.720 kHz. Signal (SINPO) was 45544 -- strong reception and clear speech through the duration of the broadcast.

Reception report was emailed on-line from NHK website. NHK World RAdio Japan emailed on 15 November indicating QSL card was in the mail. Two QSL cards, post cards and a programme schedules arrived in the mail, today, 2 December 2011.




Friday, November 11, 2011

Radio Canada International (Sackville, New Brunswick)

Radio Canada International, transmitting from Sackville, New Brunswick, was heard on 11 November 2011. A  French language broadcast was monitored from 19.00 to 19.40 UTC (actual broadcast time 19.00 to 20.00 UTC) on 15.365 kHz. Signal (SINPO) at sign-on was 15111 -- poor reception marred by weak signal strength, some fading and atmospheric disturbance. Nevertheless speech was audible enough to discern French speaking announcers, RCI station ID and talk format highlighting various topics. 

This is quite a DXing feat in this region of Asia. Geographically, it is the northernmost and furtherest station from Malaysia that I have received to date.

Reception report was submitted on-line at RCI's website. Bill Westenhaver emailed a few days later and confirmed the reception report, indicating a QSL card had been mailed. QSL card arrived in the mail on 26 November 2011.
Sackville transmitter site

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Voice of Indonesia (Jakarta) QSL Cards for 2010 Report

Voice of Indonesia in Jakarta responded to a reception report submitted in October 2010, today. Although it took over a year, it was worth the wait; instead of one QSL card I received two (see blog date for November 2010), each for a different broadcast time on the same frequency and date. Besides the QSL cards, I received a confirmation letter and a couple of lovely Indonesian stamps. No IRCs were sent to receive these cards. Now, if only RRI in Sulawesi  would reply, I'd be one happy guy!




Tuesday, November 8, 2011

IRRS Milano / The Overcomer Ministry (Romania)

IRRS Milano / The Overcomer Ministry, broadcasting from a 300kW transmitter in Tiganesti, Romania was monitored from 13.09-14.00 UTC (broadcast time 13.00-15.00  UTC) on 8 November 2011. Brother Stair and his Evangelical Christian message was received 15.190 kHz. Signal (SINPO) at 13.09 UTC was 45544 -- clear and audible reception with no interference or atmospheric disturbance. By 13.45 UTC reception had degraded to 35333, due to increased atmospheric conditions and fading, yet speech remained clear and discernible.

Reception report was emailed and within an hour an eQSL card was received

Email:
brotherstair@overcomerministry.org

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Deutsche Welle (Meyerton, South Africa)

Deutsche Welle, transmitting from Meyerton, South Africa, was heard on 22 October 2011. French language broadcast was monitored from 17.00 to 17.59 UTC on 9.735 kHz. 

Reception report was submitted by email to DW on 23 October 2011. QSL card arrived in the mail on 2 November 2011. Unlike most DW QSL cards, this one is signed by a person from Transmission Management.