PBC adopts Digital Radio Mondiale, unveils digital migration policy

According to a news report published in Dawn, Islamabad on 24th Dec, 2019 Digital migration policy for PBC (Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation) will be presented to Prime Minister next week. Information Secretary Zahida Parveen told a subcommittee of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting.

The secretary said the digital migration policy would be implemented in PBC in three phases at the cost of Rs3.995 billion in six years. 

1st Phase - Estimated cost of Rs42 million, digital broadcast pilot project will be completed in one year

1 kW DRM/FM station - Islamabad

400 kW DRM/AM station - Peshawar

100 KW DRM/AM station - Dera Ismail Khan.

2nd Phase - To be completed in three years at the cost of Rs 3,153 million.

1000 KW DRM/AM station - Fort Monroe, Dera Ghazi Khan

5-10 kW DRM/FM stations - At 13 cities

3rd Phase - Estimated cost of Rs800 million.

100 KW DRM/AM stations - Lahore, Skardu, Quetta and Peshawar

The committee was informed that the technology migration of Radio Pakistan from analogue to digital, would allow transmission of four channels on a single transmitter and crystal clear sound quality.

The transformation to digital will cut the operational costs of Radio Pakistan. The new technology was a necessity as the obsolete AM/FM held receivers were no more available in the market.

With the new digital technology, all locally assembled cars will be equipped with DRM receivers and the local assemblers and manufacturers will incorporate DRM capability in mobile phones.

(Source : Dawn/APP, 25 Dec 2019)

DRM = Digital Radio Mondiale

NDR Christmas Special - 24th Dec 2019

NDR Christmas Special special transmissions via Media Broadcast on 24th Dec'19

24th December 2019 (Tuesday)

1900-2100 UTC

6030 kHz ERV Europe

6080 kHz NAU Atlantic - North

9570 kHz MOS Indian Ocean Eest
9740 kHz NAU Indian Ocean West
9800 kHz ISS Atlantic/Indian Ocean(South Africa)
11650 kHz ISS  Atlantic - South

2100-2300 UTC

6145 kHz NAU Atlantic - North

6155 kHz ERV Atlantic - South

9590 kHz ISS Atlantic/Indian Ocean(South Africa) 
9675 kHz MOS Indian Ocean West

9740 kHz NAU Indian Ocean East
9830 kHz ISS Europe

Please send your answer and reception reports to : ndr@ndr.de  michael.puetz@media-broadcast.com

On Christmas Eve, Norddeutsche Rundfunndr broadcasts messages to sailors all over the world in the radio broadcast "Gruss an Bord" or "Greeting aboard" - greetings to the ship's crew in their home country. The greetings to the sailors were recorded at two "greeting on board" events in the Adventszeit: on 4 December in the  Cultural memory in Wilhelmine gear in neutral and on December 11 in the Hamburg Seemannsmission "Duckdalben". Relatives and friends had the opportunity to wish their loved ones at sea a happy holiday and a good new year. The show "Greeting aboard" was heard for Christmas 1953 for the first time on the radio. It is thus one of the oldest existing radio broadcasts in the world.

More about program "Gruss an Bord"

http://www.ndr.de/info/sendungen/Gruss-an-Bord,grussanbord306.html

https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/info/sendungen/Gruss-an-Bord-So-empfangen-Sie-die-Sendung,grussanbord534.html  

Radio Poland expands coverage

Starting in the new year, listeners will be able to tune in to Radio Poland's English Service through a new rebroadcasting arrangement on 1386 kHz medium wave.

More at :  https://www.polskieradio.pl/395/7789/Artykul/2425359,Radio-Poland-expands-coverage

NASB 2020 Annual Meeting at Alabama

Meeting Dates:   Thursday, May 14-Friday, May 15, 2020

Location: EWTN, Birmingham, Alabama, USA

Meeting Location:   WEWN Shortwave transmitter site near Leeds, Alabama (suburbs of Birmingham)

Conference Host:  EWTN/WEWN

Costs for Attendees:  There is no cost to attend the meeting itself, and the meals indicated in the agenda will be provided free of charge.  Attendees must pay their own travel and accommodation expenses.  

Hotel info, registration & agenda details can be found here :

http://shortwave.org/index.php/annual-meeting-info/

KTWR Special Christmas Broadcasts in DRM mode

KTWR will broadcast special Christmas broadcasts in DRM mode starting 14th Dec, 2019 :

day        date time (UTC) freq  beam language program
------------------------------------------------------
Saturday  14 Dec 1100–1200 9910  305 Mandarin Jesus Film
Sunday    15 Dec 1030–1100 13800 285 English  2018 Christmas Special **
Monday    23 Dec 1024-1055 13800 285 English  2019 Christmas Special
Monday    23 Dec 1228-1243 7500  320 English  2019 Christmas Special
Tuesday   24 Dec 1024-1055 13800 285 English  2019 Christmas Special
Tuesday   24 Dec 1228-1243 7500  320 English  2019 Christmas Special
Wednesday 25 Dec 1024-1055 13800 285 English  2019 Christmas Special
Wednesday 25 Dec 1228-1243 7500  320 English  2019 Christmas Special

** your feedback on this one needed!  Since it has significant music we're using SBR.  

To get the data rate for SBR we're reducing FEC to PL=1. Too many dropouts???) 

(Steve Brunson,KTWR Chief Engineer,Agana,Guam)

BBC Hindi shortwave broadcasts to go off air on 31st Jan

BBC Hindi announced on 13th Dec, 2019 that all shortwave broadcasts will be off air by 31st Jan, 2020 and going forward focus will be on digital.

Last broadcast of BBC Hindi morning program 'Namaskar Bharat' at 0100 UTC (0630 IST) will be on 27th December, 2019.

Similarly last evening transmission of BBC Hindi at 1400 UTC (1930 IST) will be on 31st January, 2020.

BBC Hindi will continue investing in newer digital platforms.

Radio Free Asia releases Year of the Rat QSL

Radio Free Asia (RFA)announces its Chinese Lunar Year QSL

The Year of the Rat begins January 25, 2020 and ends February 11, 2021. The rat is one of twelve animals used in the Chinese zodiac. Those born in a rat year are considered ambitious, meticulous, industrious and sociable. They are also are very focused, naturals at following their instincts, and they are highly attentive which supposedly makes them excellent in business. This is RFA's 72ndQSL and is used to confirm all valid RFA reception reports January – April 2020.

Created by Congress in 1994 and incorporated in 1996, RFA broadcasts in Burmese, Cantonese, Khmer, Korean to North Korea, Lao, Mandarin Chinese, Vietnamese, Tibetan (including Uke, Amdo, and Kham dialects), and Uyghur. RFA strives for accuracy, balance, and fairness in our editorial content. As a 'surrogate' broadcaster, RFA provides news and commentary specific to each of our target countries, acting as the free press these countries lack. RFA broadcasts only in local languages and dialects, and most of our broadcasts comprise news of specific local interest.  More information about RFA, including our current broadcast frequency schedule, is always 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 DXers, but also from our 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

AT1RS - HAMS celebrating 250th Session of Rajya Sabha & 70th anniversary of the Indian Constitution

HAMS CELEBRATING AT1RS

Venue :KAPPAD BEACH

Dates and time 08.12.2019 to 22.02.2020 qrv on all saturdays, sundays and other holidays

250th Session of Rajya Sabha The Parliament of India is a magnificent manifestation of the democratic ethos of our country. The Parliament of India has three constituents, namely, the President of India, the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The Council of States (Rajya Sabha) consists of not more than two hundred fifty members, out of which two hundred and thirty-eight members represent the States and Union territories and twelve members are nominated by the President. The Rajya Sabha is a permanent body and is not subject to dissolution. However, one-third of its members retire biennially. A member who is elected for a full term retains his membership for six years.

Rajya Sabha being a federal chamber enjoys certain special powers under the Constitution. All the subjects/areas regarding legislation have been divided into three Lists - Union List, State List and concurrent List. Union and State Lists are mutually exclusive - one cannot legislate on a matter placed in the sphere of the other. However, if Rajya Sabha passes a resolution by a majority of not less than two-thirds of members present and voting saying that it is "necessary or expedient in the national interest" that Parliament should make a law on a matter enumerated in the State List, Parliament becomes empowered to make a law on the subject specified in the resolution, for the whole or any part of the territory of India. 

70th anniversary of the Indian Constitution 

The Constitution of India was framed by a Constituent Assembly set up under the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946. The Constituent Assembly set up 13 committees for framing the constitution including a Drafting Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. On the basis of the reports of these committees, a draft of the Constitution was prepared by a seven-member Drafting Committee. It is the longest written Constitution in the world containing 395 Articles, 22 Parts and 12 Schedules. If one looks at the formation, adoption and passing of the Constitution of India, it took a total of 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days to complete it. 

People of India are the ultimate custodians of the Constitution. It is in them that sovereignty vests and it is in their name that the Constitution was adopted. The Constitution empowers the citizen, but the citizen too empowers the Constitution – by following it, by adhering to it, by protecting it, and by persevering to make it more meaningful with words and deeds. The Constitution is nobody's preserve – and it is everybody's preserve. The Fundamental Duties of citizens were added to the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, upon the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee that was constituted by the Government. The Committee suggested that steps needed to be taken to ensure that the individual did not overlook his duties while in exercise of his Fundamental Rights.

AMATEUR RADIO FIELD DAY 2020 AT1RS Dedicated to Bharat Ratna Dr.B.R.Ambedkar

Venue :KAPPAD BEACH

Dates and time 25.01.2020 to 26.01.2020

Organised by: Repeater society of Calicut and MARS Ham Radio or Amateur Radio

Often called "ham radio," the Amateur Radio Service has been around for a century. In that time, it's grown into a worldwide community of licensed operators using the airwaves with every conceivable means of communications technology. Amateur Radio is a fascinating hobby for people or all ages of all walks of life irrespective of age, educational qualifications and status. Its people range in age from youngsters to grandparents. Even rocket scientists and a rock star or two are in the ham ranks. Most, however, are just normal folks who enjoy learning and being able to transmit voice, data and pictures through the air to unusual places, both near and far, without depending on commercial systems. It is well suited to the persons with disabilities and elder citizens who are looking for new friends in their life. 

Ham radio has always been in the forefront whenever a disaster strikes, be it a flood, a cyclone, an earthquake or whatever kind of natural or man made situation.. The Amateur Radio frequencies are the last remaining place in the usable radio spectrum where one as an individual can develop and experiment with wireless communications. Hams not only can make and modify their equipment, but can create w hole new ways to do things  

World Radio TV Handbook 2020

World Radio TV Handbook 2020, the 74th edition of the bestselling directory of global broadcasting on LW, MW, SW and FM, is now available and can be ordered here :

http://www.wrth.com/_shop/?product=wrth-2020

The Features section for this 74th edition includes articles on the development of HF Transmitting Antennas, Sea Breeze, Wind from Japan, Radio on New Caledonia, Sidi Mansour Transmitter Site, and MW Propagation as well as our regular Digital Update. 

There are equipment reviews of the Elad FDM Duo R, Airspy HF+ Discovery, Tecsun 310ET, Tecsun AN-200 antenna, and the SDRPlay RSPDuo's Diversity upgrade, along with other information and maps.

The remaining pages are, as usual, full of information on:

- National and International broadcasts and broadcasters

- Clandestine and other target broadcasters

- MW and SW frequency listings

- National TV by country

- Extensive Reference section

Book ISBN: 978-1-9998300-2-1

 Get you copy now !