Radio Free Asia announces QSL Card #81

To welcome the Year of the Rabbit, Radio Free Asia (RFA) announces its latest QSL card. RFA is closing out an historic year of impactful reporting and exciting growth, during which we have begun broadening our programming and storytelling capacity, as well as updating our technological infrastructure. As we continue our expansion, we look forward to serving our audiences in 2023! This is RFA's 81st. QSL design and will be used to confirm all valid RFA reception reports from January – April 2023.

                                                              RFA's QSL CARD #81

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 not only from DX'ers, but also from our general listening audience.

Reception reports are 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

New community radio stations coming up in Kerala

New Community Radio Station from Kerala is Sargakshetra 89.6 FM from Kottayam Dist. The Studio is installed at Mannanam, a small village in Ettumanoor Taluk in Kottayam District and it comes under Athirampuzha Panchayath and shares Alappuzha border with Kuttanad. It is located 8 KM away from the north from the district headquarters Kottayam, 4 KM from Ettumanoor, 161 KM from the State capital Thiruvananthapuram, and the nearest airport is Kochi – it is 75 KM.

More details at :  https://sargakshetra.org/community-radio/

Salil Sivadas Foundation , Mattannur, Kannur Dist, Kerala is now testing on 89.6 MHz (50 Watts). It is proposed to be inaugurated on 7 Jan 2023

The following new FM Relay Stations of All India Radio in Kerala State will be inaugurated by Shri. Narendra Modi, Hon'ble Prime Minister of India on 31 Dec 2022

Kayamkulam, Alappuzha Dist 100.1 MHz (100 Watts)

Pathamamthitta 101.0 MHz ( 100 Watts)

These stations will relay AIR Thiruvanthapuram from 5.50 am to 11.10 pm

(Info from Jose Jacob, Hyderabad & Ouseph Varghese, VU2KOV in Kollam)

WMLK testing in DRM mode on 9275 kHz

WMLK Radio based in Pennsylvania, United States was noted testing in DRM mode today on 9275 kHz, first noted by Glenn Hauser at around 1554 UTC.

WMLK uses 300 kW Ampegon TSW 2300D transmitter which was upgraded for digital broadcast last week.

In spring 2017, WMLK Radio's transmitter building caught fire and the previous Ampegon transmitter (originally built in 1975 under heritage BBC brand, and working reliably until the fire) was completely destroyed. 

Happy 90th anniversary to BBC World Service

This is London calling"
Happy 90th anniversary to BBC World Service, calling the world since 1932.

Learn more about rich history of BBC World Service here: https://bit.ly/3hz0Vcw

In a special 90th anniversary programme, Nick Rankin digs into a treasure trove of sound archive and talks to journalists who made and still make the BBC World Service such a remarkable network.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct4lzh

(Via BBC News Press Team on Twitter)

Japan Shortwave Club(JSWC) 70th anniversary special program via HCJB Australia

Japan Shortwave Club(JSWC) celebrated 70th anniversary this year 2022. In July 1952, just after Japan gained independence again by San Francisco Peace Conference, students Tohoku University in Sendai founded the club, and published the first edition of "SW DX Guide" (8 pages, all in English) by mimeograph printing. 

The first forward was given by Mr.O.Lund Johansen, the publisher and the editor of World Radio Handbook of the days, as "My heartiest congratulation to Japan Shortwave Club. I hope the World Radio Handbook will be of value to each of the members in their world listening, and in this way contribute to best possible understanding between the Japanese people and the pop peoples of other countries". Also "Asora DX Club" in Germany sent the celebrating message. Annual membership fee was only 300 yen for domestic and 80 cents for foreign members!

To celebrate 70th anniversary special talk about the history of JSWC between Toshimichi Ohtake, club member since 1953 and Takahito Akabayashi, since 1966, in Japanese will be on air on December 17 ("BCL Day" in Japan, celebrating the birthday of legendary BCL late Koji Yamada 1940-2008 who was also a member of JSWC) and 18 by Reach Beyond Australia "HCJB Japanese" (Kununura 75kW 5deg).

Part 1 December 16 2230-2300 15420 repeated December 17 1100-1130 11905

Part 2 December 17 2230-2300 15420 repeated December 18 1100-1130 11905

Special eQSL, woodprint by member artist Hiroyoki Ogawasara, will be issued by JSWC for the reception reports, address <jswc70qsl @ gmail.com>.

(Takahito Akabayashi, Tokyo, Japan via WOR)

 

RFA Names Ginny Stein as Southeast Asia Managing Editor

WASHINGTON – Radio Free Asia (RFA), a nonprofit news corporation that brings answers, accountability, and empowerment to populations in Asian countries under authoritarian rule, today named Ginny Stein as its new Southeast Asia Managing Editor. Stein brings more than two decades of experience in journalism, working as a foreign correspondent and broadcaster across radio, TV and digital platforms, as well as managing overseas media operations. She replaces Mat Pennington, who is now serving as RFA's Senior Managing Editor.

"Ginny is a superb newsroom leader, whose extensive experience both as a journalist and strategic planner will be invaluable to RFA," RFA President Bay Fang said. "As we work to meet the immense challenges facing audiences in authoritarian areas in Southeast Asia, Ginny is the perfect fit to help drive our coverage in the region forward."  

"I'm excited to be joining RFA during this historic period of growth for the organization," Stein said. "I have tremendous respect for RFA's mission of bringing timely news to audiences who would otherwise be left in the dark. That mission is as crucial as ever in Southeast Asia and I am honored to have this opportunity to boost RFA's impact in the region."  

Stein will oversee RFA's coverage of its Southeast Asia programming. She will manage the daily operations and long-term plans for RFA's Burmese, Khmer, Lao and Vietnamese services. Prior to joining RFA, Stein worked for two decades as a multimedia journalist, filling a number of roles including foreign correspondent and camerawoman for Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), where she was appointed the public broadcaster's first female Southeast Asia correspondent to Bangkok.

During her tenure as a journalist, Stein produced stories in Asia, Africa, the Americas, the Middle East and the Pacific. She is a three-time winner of Australia's highest journalist award for stories she filmed in Myanmar, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. In addition, Stein previously served as Director at Blue Sky Vision Vanuatu, where she developed strategic communications plans and international reporting and content production for a wide range of news organizations including the Guardian, ITV UK, Al Jazeera, SBS Australia TV and RFA sister network Voice of America. Stein earned her Master's Degree in Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development from the University of Newcastle in Australia and her Bachelor of Arts from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia.  

(Press Release)

Community Radio Station 90.0 'Bhavyavani' inaugurated

Community Radio Station 90.0 'Bhavyavani' inaugurated in Hisar by the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur

Shri Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated a Community Radio Station 90.0 'Bhavyavani', established at the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Om Sterling Global University, Hisar. The station also broadcast the Hon'ble Union Minister's address at the function. Lok Sabha MP from Hisar, Shri Brijendra Singh and Urban Local Bodies Minister of Haryana Dr. Kamal Gupta and other dignitaries also attended the convocation ceremony.

Union Minister also visited Doordarshan Kendra and All India Radio Stations at Hisar and reviewed their functioning.

Posted On: 04 DEC 2022 4:41PM by PIB Delhi
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1880809

19th Edition of the Global Radio Guide (Winter2022-23) Now Available

Small moves and gradual escalation.

Positioning resources so that at the perfect moment, a move can be made to ensure a swift victory.

This is no game of chess, this is the real-world and real-time tensions playing out in the Taiwan Straits every day.

With tensions between Taiwan and China on the rise, and with the Russian-Ukrainian war raging on, radio hobbyists are following the latest news from the front lines using shortwave broadcasts and various other radio services. You can hear these international events like the pros do, but you will need an accurate and comprehensive global radio guide to know where and when to tune in to the action.

That is where you can count on Gayle Van Horn's (W4GVH) Amazon bestselling Global Radio Guide (now in its 19th edition for the Winter of 2022-23)as it has all of the details you need to catch up with the latest from these and other hotspots around the world.

As one of the only remaining publications available with international broadcast frequencies and schedules, the Global Radio Guide (GRG) puts everything a radio enthusiast needs to navigate the action right in their hands.

In this completely updated edition, regular GRG contributor Fred Waterer (also of TheSpectrum Monitor) post features on monitoring the international broadcasters at the very forefront of the events.  Larry Van Horn, N5FPW, adds his detailed information on monitoring of utilities on the shortwave bands, including military communications.

With the help of the GRG, you can tune in shortwave broadcast stations from additional hotspots such as  Cuba, India, Iran, North/South Korea, and many other counties. If you have a shortwave radio receiver, SDR or Internet connection, pair it with this unique radio resource to know when and where to listen to the world.

This newest edition of the GRG carries on the tradition of those before it with an in-depth, 24-hour station/frequency guide with schedules for selected AM band, longwave, and shortwave radio stations. This unique resource is the only radio publication that lists by-hour schedules that include all language services, frequencies, and world target areas for over 500 stations worldwide.

The GRG includes listings of DX radio programs and Internet website addresses for many of the stations in the book. There are also entries for time and frequency stations as well as some of the more "intriguing" transmissions one can find on the shortwave radio bands.

In addition to the global hotspots, the GRG brings the world to you from other places on the radio dial.

It's not just the shortwave bands heating up, mediumwave DXing has seen a surge in popularity in recent years as well.  For those DXing the lower bands,DX Central's Loyd Van Horn, W4LVH, breaks down the basics of getting started with mediumwave DX and even gives us a fun summer project does a deep dive into everything you need to know when purchasing a portable radio for AM DX.  While SDRs are taking over, portable radios remain popular and highly successful options for the mediumwave DXer and Loyd can help you sort through the specs and stats to find your next radio!

Whether you monitor shortwave radio broadcasts, mediumwave, amateur radio operators, or aeronautical, maritime, government, or military communications in the HF radio spectrum, this book has the information you need to help you to hear it all. Teak Publishing's Global Radio Guide "brings the world to you."

You can find this edition of the Global Radio Guide, along with all of our titles currently available for purchase, on the Teak Publishing Web site at www.teakpublishing.com. Details will be available at www.teakpublishing.com.

The 19thedition of the Global Radio Guidee-Book (electronic book only, no print edition available) is available worldwide from Amazon and their various international websites at

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNSYN8PK/

The price for this latest edition is US$8.99. Since this book is being released internationally, Amazon customers in the United Kingdom, Germany, France Spain, Italy, Japan, India, Canada, Brazil, Mexico and Australia can order this e-Book from Amazon websites directly servicing these countries. Customers in all other countries can use the regular Amazon.com website to purchase this e-Book.

You can read any Kindle e-Book with Amazon's 'free' reading apps on literally any electronic media platform. You do not have to own a Kindle reader from Amazon to read this e-book. There are Kindle apps available for iOS, Android,Mac and PC platforms.You can find additional details on these apps by checking out this link to the Amazon website at 

www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771.

All India Radio to broadcast its Annual Dr. Rajendra Prasad Memorial Lecture on December 3, 2022

All India Radio will broadcast the annual Edition of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Memorial Lecture on Saturday, December 3, 2022. Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla will deliver the address. It will be on air from 9.30pm onwards on Saturday, December 3, 2022 across the entire network of All India Radio. Listeners can tune into 100.1FM GOLD, 102.6 FM Rainbow, primary Channels of All India Radio, @airnewsalerts on Twitter, NewsOnAirOfficial YouTube Channel and NewsOnAir App to access the broadcast.

Doordarshan News will telecast Dr. Rajendra Prasad Memorial Lecture from 10.30pm onwards the same day.

The theme this year is "Amrit Kaal Mein Bhartiyata" to coincide with the 75 years of India's independence.

About Dr. Rajendra Prasad Memorial Lecture:

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Memorial Le ture is organized by All lndia Radio in the memory of the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad who was an epitome of simplicity, a renowned scholar, President of the Constituent Assembly and a great visionary who had India and Indianness uppermost in his mind.

The lecture series by AIR in his memory has been an honoured tradition since 1969. Eminent personalities like the former President Dr. Shankardayal Sharma, former P
rime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, firmer Vice President M.Venkaiah Naidu, doyens of Indian literature like Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, Mahadevi Verma, Harivansh Rai Bachchan are among those who have delivered this prestigious memorial lecture in the past on wide ranging subjects on India's cultural ethos and its strides.

The recording of the lecture, is broadcast across the entire network of All lndia Radio on 3rd December every year to mark the birth anniversary of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India. The lecture series seeks to evaluate the nation's political, cultural and social environment. The achievements and the future prospects of the country are also critically analysed through these lectures.

(Saurabh Singh, Press Information Bureau, Government of India, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting)

World Music Radio on 25800 kHz

Good conditions are forecast for propagation on the 11 meter band in December. Currently there is only one radio station using the 11 meter band, World Music Radio (WMR). Best chances for receiving WMR on 25800 kHz (60 Watts only) in different parts of the world - acc. to the monthly 'Funkprognose' in Radio-Kurier Weltweit Hören (thanks to Hans Zekl):

West Africa: 08-16 UTC

Central Africa: 07-16 UTC

South Africa: 06-16 UTC

East Africa: 06-15 UTC

Middle East: 07-14 UTC

South Asia: 07-12 UTC

Indonesia: 06-10 & 13-14 UTC

East Asia: around 08 UTC

South East Asia & Philippines: 07-13 UTC

Southern North America: 14-16 UTC

Eastern North America, The Caribbean & Central America: 13-16 UTC

Northern South America: 12-17 UTC

South East South America: 09-17 UTC

You might like to enjoy this video clip, showing how World Music Radio can be received on 25800 kHz some 400 km East of Moscow: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qnw5BUj7Tw

(Stig Hartvig Nielsen)

WRMI Begins Relays of the Voice of Indonesia

WRMI has begun testing relays of the daily English-language program of the Voice of Indonesia.  The one-hour program can currently be heard at 0800-0900 UTC on 7780 kHz.  

While beamed to Central America, this frequency can often be heard well in North America, Hawaii and Oceania at that hour.  

Reception reports from listeners would be most welcome.  It is possible that these relays could be expanded in the future to additional times and frequencies, as well as additional languages including Spanish.

Reception reports to :    wrmiqsl@gmail.com

Or, submit online at : https://www.wrmi.net/index.php/reception-report-qsl/

Tropical Bands Monitor Dec'22 version released

Updated version of 'Tropical Bands Monitor 2022', compiled by Anker Petersen has been issued on 1st Dec'22.

Download link :     http://www.dswci.org/tbmonitor/2022.pdf

USAGM CEO Bennett condemns media restrictions in Afghanistan

December 1, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to orders from Taliban officials to stop broadcasting all USAGM-funded programming on FM and AM transmitters operated by Radio Television Afghanistan, CEO Amanda Bennett issued the following statement:

"This action by the Taliban will be seen for what it truly is — an effort to restrict Afghan citizens' access to uncensored information," said Bennett. "The people of Afghanistan have the right to know all of the facts, including the information the Taliban is hoping to censor in this flagrant attack on press freedom."

USAGM research in 2022 indicates that Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty content is reaching 66% of Afghan adults with access to a mobile phone on a weekly basis.  

"Afghan citizens are seeking out independent, fact-based journalism from Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and this action by the Taliban is a reminder of the importance of press freedom," Bennett added. "Repressive governments around the world like this one clearly understand the power of independent media — that is why they spend so much time and effort fighting it. We are already exploring alternate transmissions, and we will not let this action deter us."

For more information, contact USAGM Office of Public Affairs at (202) 920-2000.

The United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is an independent federal agency, overseeing public service media networks that provide unbiased news and information in countries where the press is restricted. USAGM entities include the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Marti), Radio Free Asia, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa) and Open Technology Fund. USAGM programming has a measured audience of 410 million in more than 100 countries and in 63 languages.

‌
(‌Press Release)

RFE/RL Condemns Cutoff Of Its Broadcasts In 13 Afghan Cities

RFE/RL Condemns Cutoff Of Its Broadcasts In 13 Afghan Cities

RFE/RL has condemned a decision by the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan to cut off its broadcasts in 13 Afghan cities and said it will continue to broadcast from outside the country despite the move.

More at :

https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/taliban-cuts-off-rferl-radio-broadcasts-afghanistan/32156965.html

VOA Statement on Taliban Halting All VOA Radio Broadcasts in Afghanistan

VOA Statement on Taliban Halting All VOA Radio Broadcasts in Afghanistan

The takeover of VOA's FM and medium wave (AM) transmitters by the Taliban, breaking a multiyear contract, is a blow to the large audience that turns to Radio Ashna for uncensored news and information. VOA broadcasts provided the people of Afghanistan uncensored perspectives and hope. They gave ordinary Afghans a voice through call-in programs and discussion shows about subjects censored by domestic media. On VOA programs, topics ranged from the increasing isolation of Afghanistan's current government and the second-class status of women and girls as a result of the Taliban's policies to the persistent economic failures that have diminished the quality of life in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover. "Many programs were anchored by women," said Acting VOA Director Yolanda López. "Removing VOA from the domestic airwaves will not silence us. It will only increase the importance of serving the captive audience inside Afghanistan."

VOA broadcasts currently reach 7.3 million adults per week in Afghanistan, about one-third of all Afghan adults. Nearly half of that audience is through radio, so these recent actions by the Taliban make our job more difficult. Fortunately, VOA has other means of serving its large audience in Afghanistan, including a 24/7 TV satellite channel (Yahsat channel 469), short wave radio, a medium wave radio station in Tajikistan at 972 khz, and our websites (darivoa.com and pashtovoa.com) and social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. We are actively exploring additional ways to provide our content and fulfill our mission of serving our audience in Afghanistan.

(Press Release)

Radio Azadi FM Broadcasts Banned in 13 cities of Afghanistan

KABUL (BNA) The Ministry of Information and Culture has banned the broadcasting of Radio Azadi FM in 13 major cities of the country with effect from 1st Dec '22.

More at :

https://bakhtarnews.af/en/broadcasts-radio-azadi-fm-banned-in-13-cities-of-afghanistan/

Related :

Taliban Bans VOA, RFE/RL Radio in Afghanistan

https://www.voanews.com/a/taliban-bans-voa-rfe-rl-radio-in-afghanistan/6856697.html

Last transmission of "Aqui Radio Andorra" on shortwave

Last transmission of "Aqui Radio Andorra" on shortwave will be coming up on Saturday, 3rd December from 1600-1830 UTC on 6180 kHz. Originally hosted in 1979 by the famous french singer Hervé Vilard and being accompanied by the author Guy des Cars. Broadcasted as usually via Moosbrunn with a power of 100kW on a directional LogPer Antenna towards 270°.

(Christian Milling)

WMR new broadcasting hours

As of 29th Nov'22 , World Music Radio (WMR) is now on the air as follows:

927 kHz (300W) from Hvidovre, Copenhagen        Daily 0000-2400 UTC
5930 kHz (100W) from Bramming           Saturday & Sundays 0900-1600 UTC (times are approx)
15700 kHz (10W*) from Randers           Saturday & Sundays 0900-1600 UTC (irregular at other times)
25800 kHz (60W) from Mårslet, Aarhus    Daily 0000-2400 UTC

As well as via online streaming from www.wmr.radio

*) A new 300W transmitter is due to be installed for 15700 kHz soon.

www.wmr.radio

(Stig Hartvig Nielsen)