Ampegon delivers two 100 kW shortwave transmission systems to All India Radio

Turgi, Switzerland, August 8, 2013. All India Radio (AIR), India's National Broadcaster and the premier Public Service Broadcaster of the subcontinent, has ordered two 100 kW shortwave transmitters from Ampegon. The new systems will replace existing analogue transmitters with four tubes by modern analogue/digital transmitters having single tube and hence a much better overall efficiency. The transmitters will operate with the new Ampegon control system to optimize DRM performance, an important factor in the growing Indian DRM market.

 

All India Radio has selected Ampegon as supplier because of the expertise and the reliability of their transmitters well known since decades. AIR is already using many different Ampegon AM/DRM radio transmitters which have been delivered between 1983 and 2012.

 

The transmitters will be manufactured in Turgi, Switzerland. Factory tests together with AIR engineers are planned for January and shipment for February 2014. Thereafter AIR will install the transmitters at a site near New Delhi. Commissioning together with an Ampegon engineer will start in August 2014. The new transmitters are expected to be on air in October 2014.

 

They will be partially used for DRM digital broadcasting and partially for analogue transmission. Furthermore AIR has plans to upgrade 36 of the existing AM mediumwave and 4 of the existing AM shortwave transmitters for DRM digital broadcasting.

 

AIR originates programming in 23 languages and 146 dialects. AIR operates 244 FM transmitters for coverage of 29.4% surface area and 41.6% of the population. AIR also operates mediumwave transmitters which cover 92% surface area and 99% of the population. Further AIR operates 48 shortwave transmitters. 21 of them are 500 kW or 250 kW shortwave transmitters and are used for external international services. 27 of them are 50 or 100 kW shortwave transmitters and are used for local services and for coverage of neighboring countries.

 

(Press Release)

 

Kintronic Labs brings 'radio to the world'

Located in a non-descript building on the outskirts of Bristol is Kintronic Labs, which for more than 60 years has been "Bringing Radio to the World." Founded in 1949 by Louis King in his father’s real estate office on Shelby Street, Kintronic Labs is known world-wide for its high quality and services available to the AM broadcast industry.

Full story at :
http://www.timesnews.net/article/9039496/kintronic-labs-brings-39radio-to-the-world39

Afghanistan back on shortwave, thanks to BECIL

Thanks to Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Ltd (a Govt. of India enterprise), RTA (Radio Television Afghanistan) was noted back on shortwave by Mikhail Timofeyev.

quoting from his log via HCDX list ...

6100 1527-1607 AFG R.Afghanistan, Kabul, 31/07, local OM singing, then English with news at 1530, Afgnan traditional song, OM talk about Ramadan, and one western pop song (tentaive ID at 1555'58 as "The International service of National Radio of Afghanistan"), 1600'24 music and Urdu service - poor at the beginning, then fair and almost good after 1600 with local noise, KRE in the background and CRI on 6095 till 1557 - 73! Mikhail Timofeyev, Saint-Petersburg, Russia .....unquote

An old Indo-Asian News service report quotes Abdul Rehman Panjshiri, director of international relations at the Afghan Radio and TV, as saying that "The 100kW shortwave transmitter with seven antennas being installed by India at Yakatoot in Kabul. It will enable Kabul Radio programmes to be heard in South East Asia, South Asia, Africa and Europe."

Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Ltd (a Govt. of India enterprise) has been involved with many projects in Afghanistan, here's full list of projects :

http://www.becil.com/story/2008/6/6/057/20907

A Bakhtar News report says Dr. Sayed Makhdoom Raheen Minister of Information and Culture inaugurated the foreign section of Radio Afghanistan yesterday. This section in the first place will air program in English and Urdu languages each night from 8:00 to 9:00 pm. Opening the section Dr. Raheen said that this section has been revived with the efforts of the director general and employees of the radio and in the first place it will air English and Urdu programs and followed by Arabic and Russian programs and subsequently French and German programs. According to Dr. Raheen revival of this program shall assist in recognition of Afghanistan to its outside friends and will inform them about our country's events. Abdul Ghani Mudaqaq head of the publications department of Radio Afghanistan said that this program shall cover Asia,Africa and Europe regions. According to officials of the radio ten years delay in the radio programs was inactivity of the short wave in Yakatout.
Full story & pictures at : http://bakhtarnews.com.af/en/index.php?news=6070

Check out for RTA on 6100 kHz, tentaive schedule 1530-1630 UTC in English & Urdu