Thursday, December 31, 2015

Radio Free Asia releases Year of the Monkey QSL


                                                   RFA's Year of the Monkey QSL

Radio Free Asia (RFA) has announced about the release of Year of the Monkey QSL. The Year of the Monkey begins February 8, 2016 and ends January 27, 2017. The design is used with permission from the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA). The sheet is made of ten $ 1.20 USD stamps with the UN emblem as a standard international first class postage stamp. Those born in a monkey year are said to be optimistic, adventurous, humorous, forthright and to-the-point, and intelligent. Monkeys have strong personalities and are witty, but also mischievous, clever and curious about the world around them. The Chinese New Year is celebrated in many countries around the world. This is RFA's 60th QSL and is used to confirm all valid RFA reception reports from January-April 2016.
 
Created by Congress in 1994 and incorporated in 1996, RFA broadcasts in Burmese, Cantonese, Khmer, Korean to North Korea, Lao, Mandarin (including the Wu dialect), Vietnamese, Tibetan (Uke, Amdo, and Kham), and Uyghur. RFA strives for accuracy, balance, and fairness in its editorial content. As a 'surrogate' broadcaster, RFA provides news and commentary specific to each of its target countries, acting as the free press these countries lack. RFA broadcasts only in local languages and dialects, and most of its broadcasts comprise news of specific local interest. More information about Radio Free Asia, including our current broadcast frequency schedule, is available at www.rfa.org
 
RFA encourages listeners to submit reception reports. Reception reports are valuable to RFA as they help us evaluate the signal strength and quality of our transmissions. RFA confirms all accurate reception reports by mailing a QSL card to the listener. RFA welcomes all reception report submissions at http://techweb.rfa.org (follow the QSL REPORTS link) not only from DX'ers, but also from its general listening audience

Reception reports are also accepted by email at qsl@rfa.org and by mail to:
 
Reception Reports 
Radio Free Asia 
2025 M. Street NW, Suite 300 
Washington DC 20036 
United States of America

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

AIR Mall Road, Delhi back in DRM mode on 1368 kHz



All India Radio Mall Road, Delhi is back on DRM mode after being on AM mode for few months, two services on 1368 kHz ....VBS and FM Rainbow

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Fazilka gets FM transmitter

Gaurav Sagar Bhaskar, Hindustan Times, Ferozepur
Updated: Dec 25, 2015 21:51 IST

Fazilka district got a 20 kW FM radio transmitter on Friday, a much-awaited facility that will not only cater to the region but also 36 lakh Pakistanis across the border.

The transmitter, equipped with a 16-panel FM antenna, was inaugurated by Union minister for social justice and empowerment Vijay Sampla. The broadcast will be available on 100.8 MHz.

The transmitter, mounted on a 300m-high Doordarshan tower, believed to be the country's highest and Asia's second-highest tower, was commissioned on the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Full story at :

Monday, December 21, 2015

NDR Christmas Transmission on Dec 24,2015

On Dec 24, 2015 Media Broadcast will transmit a 4 hour long program on behalf of NDR (Norddeutsche Rundfunk) in Hamburg. The transmission is intended for sailors and Marine personel on the high seas, who cannot celebrate Christmas with their family and Relatives. Transmission times will be 19.00-21.00 hours UTC.

Below you'll find the complete frequency schedule for the transmissions.
Happy Tuning !!

1900-2100 UTC on 6185 kHz  towards CIRAF 27,80,36,81,11 NAU 125 kW
1900-2100 UTC on 9810 kHz towards CIRAF 41,49,54,79,58 MOS 100 kW
1900-2100 UTC on 9830 kHz towards CIRAF 57,53,48,79 ISS 250 kW
1900-2110 UTC on 9885 kHz towards CIRAF 48,53,41,79 NAU 125 kW
1900-2100 UTC on 11650 kHz towards CIRAF zones 13,46,15,66,52,57 ISS 250 kW

2100-2300 UTC on 6040 kHz towards CIRAF 27,80,36,81,11 NAU 125 kW
2100-2300 UTC on 9515 kHz towards CIRAF 48,53,41,79 NAU 125 kW
2100-2300 UTC on 9655 kHz towards CIRAF 13,46,15,66,52,57 ISS 250 kW
2100-2300 UTC on 9765 kHz towards CIRAF 41,49,54,79,58 MOS 100 kW

(Jan Oosterveen via shortwavesites list)

Sunday, December 20, 2015

New time & frequency for RTI English transmission to South Asia

New frequency for listeners in South Asia
 
Starting December 15th, 2015 Radio Taiwan International's transmission to South Asia in English language on 6180 kHz from 16:00 to 17:00 UTC will be switched to 9465 kHz from 15:00 to 16:00 UTC.

(RTI)

Friday, December 18, 2015

Amazing story of "Voice of Freedom" from Goa

Amazing story of "Voice of Freedom" from Goa
 
The Underground Voice That Fought for Goa, Meet Unsung Libia Lobo
Rishika Baruah
 
During Goa's liberation movement, Lobo used to run an underground radio service called "Voz de Liberdade" in Portuguese, 'Goenche Sadvonecho Awaz' in Konkani and the "Voice of Freedom" in English. The broadcasts started in 1955 from the jungles of Amboli bordering Goa.

Full story at :
 


Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Winter SWL Fest 2016

We invite one and all to be a part of the 2016 Winter SWL Fest on February 19 and 20 at the Doubletree Guest Suites in fashionable Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. 

As you know, one of the centerpieces of the Fest weekend is our line-up of informative and entertaining forums. How do we get them? These excellent sessions are put together and presented by you and people just like you--people with a deep and abiding interest in radio and a willingness to share what they've experienced, learned and know.

So, how about it? Have you a topic that you think Fest participants will find interesting and would be willing to present? Tell us about it.

Your role will be to lead a one hour session forum. That means preparing about a half-hour presentation that leaves plenty of time for audience questions and interaction. It can be anything from a straight (or comic) lecture (or both) to a multimedia extravaganza. Your choice!

And as a gesture of appreciation (and perhaps some measure of small compensation for your efforts), the Fest will comp your registration fee if your proposal is accepted by the Organizing Committee (which consists of Rich Cuff, yours truly and a pineapple that serves as committee chair and expert consultant) for inclusion in the 2016 program.

If you have any questions, we'll be happy to discuss them with you. And even if you've never led a forum before, don't hesitate. We've learned that people tend to unfairly and inaccurately minimize their own abilities.
We know you'll be great...but you have to let us in on what you're thinking!
We promise a quick turnaround on your proposal.

Be a part of the 2016 Winter SWL Fest program!

73 and 88 to the Ladies
John Figliozzi
Richard Cuff
2016 Winter SWL Fest Co-Chairs

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

World Radio TV Handbook 2016


 
World Radio TV Handbook 2016
Published 10 December 2015 - Order your copy today!
 
We are delighted to announce the publication today of the 70th edition of WRTH.
 
For full details of WRTH 2016 and to order a copy please visit our website at www.wrth.com where you can also order the B15 WRTH Bargraph Frequency Guide on CD and as a download.
 
WRTH 2016 is also available for pre-order, for readers in the USA, from Amazon or Universal Radio in Ohio.
 
I hope you enjoy using this new edition of WRTH and the new CD.
 
Best regards
 
Nicholas Hardyman
Publisher
 
Our mailing address is:
WRTH Publications Ltd 8 King Edward Street Oxford, OXON OX1 4HL United Kingdom
 
Our telephone : +44 (0)1865 339355
 
 

Wednesday, December 09, 2015

All India Radio launches new website for its external service



All India Radio has launched a multimedia website for its external service. The website airworldservice.org  is presently available in English, Hindi and Urdu languages. The content consists of rich bouquet of news, current affairs, programmes on culture, heritage, music, art, tourism, health-care, issues relating to economy, investment, development, education etc. The website which has a blend of text, pictures, video and audio components, also features live streaming of radio programmes. It also has a segment of "Radio On Demand".

The External Services of All India Radio have been broadcasting their programmes in 27 languages (15 foreign and 12 Indian). They are reaching out to more than 140 countries through medium and short wave. Broadcasts are aimed at Indians living abroad as well as others worldwide. The programmes of AIR have wide following as is evident from large number of letters, e-mails received by the different language services. It is mainly for Indian Diaspora and to give the listeners a feel of Home away from home. AIR also broadcast in Bangla, Baluchi, Burmese, Chinese, Dari, Pashtu, Punjabi, Nepali, Saraiki, Sindhi, Sinhala, Tamil and Tibetan for the neighbouring countries. Their objective is to project the progress and policies of India, along with its arts and culture. All Indian nationals living abroad who are interested to see the external service of All India Radio may log to its website www.airworldservice.org




Tuesday, December 08, 2015

International Respect for Broadcasting Spectrum

Last week in Geneva, Switzerland, representatives of nation-states from around the world tipped their hat to the significance of over-the-air television broadcasting.  While members of the International Telecommunication Union's World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15) looked at higher spectrum frequencies for mobile broadband use, they resolved to protect UHF for television in a wide region including Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.

Simon Fell, Director of Technology & Innovation for the European Broadcasting Union, welcomed the announcement and said, "Now that we have certainty on access to spectrum, the broadcasting industry can complete the transition to fully digital television broadcasting. We can also continue to innovate, and ensure that everyone has access to the benefits that new digital services bring."   Similarly, Ruxandra Obreja, Chairman for Digital Radio Mondiale, was pleased that the WRC-15 decision "implicitly reaffirms the importance of terrestrial broadcasting and ensures the protection of spectrum necessary for digital TV as well as digital multi-standard radio."

By Aaron Mercer, Vice President of Government Relations


Amateur radio turns vital link when gadgets fail in flood-hit Chennai

A steady stream of messages and news relayed from a home in suburban Kolkata kept many anxious people posted about relatives stuck in flood-ravaged Chennai, not with 21st-century technology but through its humble forefather — the radio.

Amateur radio, popular as HAM, crackled to life after smart phones and laptops gave up in the face of power outages and a clogged grid.

Full story at :




AIR Rajkot SPT Revised schedule wef 10th Dec 2015

With effect from 10th Dec, 2015 transmissions from All India Radio SPT, Rajkot using 1000 kW MW DRM transmitter has been re-scheduled as following :

0545-0630 IST -  Simulcast Mode - AM 1071 kHz Urdu + DRM 1080 kHz (Prog 1 : Vividh Bharati, Prog 2 : Urdu)

0630-0730 IST -  Simulcast Mode - AM 1071 kHz Sindhi  + DRM 1080 kHz (Prog 1 : Vividh Bharati, Prog 2 : Urdu)

0730-1000 IST -  Simulcast Mode - AM 1071 kHz Urdu  + DRM 1080 kHz (Prog 1 : Vividh Bharati, Prog 2 : Urdu)

1200-1345 IST - Pure DRM Mode - 1071 kHz ((Prog 1 : Vividh Bharati, Prog 2 : Urdu)

1400-1800 IST - Simulcast Mode - AM 1071 kHz Urdu + DRM 1080 kHz (Prog 1 : Vividh Bharati, Prog 2 : Urdu)

1800-2030 IST - Simulcast Mode - AM 1071 kHz Sindhi + DRM 1080 kHz (Prog 1 : Vividh Bharati, Prog 2 : Urdu)

2030-2130 IST - Simulcast Mode - AM 1071 kHz Baluchi + DRM 1080 kHz (Prog 1 : Vividh Bharati, Prog 2 : Urdu)

2130-0100 IST - Simulcast Mode - AM 1071 kHz Urdu + DRM 1080 kHz (Prog 1 : Vividh Bharati, Prog 2 : Urdu)

Transmitter will now carry 3 channels simultaneously, one in AM mode & two in DRM mode.

Reception reports to : spectrum-manager@air.org.in

Saturday, December 05, 2015

DRM Holds Live Demo in Tanzania



Digital Radio Mondiale was on hand for the 10th Southern African Development Community Digital Broadcasting Migration Forum, which took place Dec 2–3 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Radu Obreja, DRM marketing director, and Lucky Mbiko, representing Radio Pulpit and the DRM Southern Africa Platform, provided information and presented a live DRM broadcast to more than 60 participants.


Also via drm.org...

Today at the SADC (12 Southern African Development Community) Digital Broadcasting Migration Forum over 60 participants could get the latest DRM information from representatives of the Consortium and DRM Southern Africa Platform. They also had a chance to listen to a live shortwave DRM BBC transmission relayed by Babcock International via transmitters on Ascension Island  (on 17830kHz ) across the continent  to the other coast of Africa in Dar Es Salam, Tanzania. The new receiver AV-DR-114 was used for the test.


Related : 

DRM successfully demoed in SADC's forum in Tanzania


(Image courtesy John via drmrx forum)