Latest info on All India Radio

Updates on All India Radio - External and Home services 

As reported earlier, transmissions of AIR External Services are suspended from 24 March 2020 due to national lockdown. The national lock down in India has been extended to 3rd May 2020.
Hence the External Services of All India Radio is expected to resume transmissions only after that.

Only the following External Service has resumed transmission from 12 April 2020:
Tamil 1115-1215 UTC 7270 kHz via Chennai to Sri Lanka /SE Asia

However new Digital Channel of All India Radio External Service is now available on YouTube as per below :

0600-0630 UTC Hindi Transmission 1   (1130 am to 12.00 pm IST):

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpDd2xJrNQKWAmfWjXhZgbw

0830-0900 UTC Urdu Transmission 1 (2.00 to 2.30 pm IST):

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG3E4dwKhE0OYvakWuKlD4g

1400-1430 UTC English Transmission 1   (7.30 to 8.00 pm IST):

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSE_P_fj1EMu0PO7lf4v6IA

1435-1505 UTC Hindi Transmission 2   (8.05 pm to 8.35 pm IST):

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpDd2xJrNQKWAmfWjXhZgbw

1515-1545 UTC Urdu Transmission 2 (8.45 to 9.15 pm  IST):

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG3E4dwKhE0OYvakWuKlD4g

1600-1630 UTC English Transmission 2 (9.30 to 10.30 pm IST):

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSE_P_fj1EMu0PO7lf4v6IA

Tests on External Service transmitters are noted occasionally eg:

594 kHz Chinsurah 1000 kW (Around 1730-1830 UTC)
Bengaluru 500 kW on 6110, 7550 (DRM), 9690, 9865, 9950, 11560, 17510 etc. at various times especially at around 1330-1430 UTC
Delhi 100 kW 9950, 11620

Home Services:

Since the national lock down, programs of all stations of AIR has changed with more emphasis on news including new and extended bulletins. Several stations are noted relaying Vividh Bharati Service (Entertainment Channel) from Mumbai instead of regular programs.

AIR Mumbai is noted now operating continuously at night on MW as follows instead of signing off around midnight:
558 kHz 100 kW  Vividh Bharati channel
1044 kHz 100 kW AIR Live news 24x7 channel

Live streaming of most stations of AIR is available in "Live Radio" in  http://prasarbharati.gov.in/

The updated complete SW service of AIR in Frequency order is available in: http://qsl.net/vu2jos/sw/freq.htm

(Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio , Hyderabad, India)
 

All India Radio curtails it's services due to lock down in India

On 22nd March, 2020 Government of India announced complete lockdown in 75 cities all across India upto 31st March, in a bid to contain the further spread of the Covid-19 virus . It's an unprecedented situation wherein except essential services, all shops, offices,factories are closed and prohibitory orders issued for general public.

In view of this following orders have been being issued with immediate effect across all stations of All India Radio :

1. The national spectrum of broadcast will be limited to Vividh Bharati Service originating from VBS Mumbai and News Services originating from AIR Delhi.

2. Regional services can relay content as related to above ( SL number 1) with local news, subject to feasibility.

3. All National Programmes of Spoken Word, Music, Sports & other categories stand cancelled till further orders.

4. All other services of All India Radio stands in abeyance until further orders.

5. All ESD (External Service Division) services and all transmitters dedicated to ESD stands suspended with immediate effect.

6. All Pure DRM mode operations suspended, DRM transmitters may be operated on analogue / simulcast mode to relay the National News Service subject to local circumstances and conditions

(Alokesh Gupta) 

IRRS announces special SW broadcasts & QSL for corona virus outbreak

While most of Northern Italy has come (nearly) to a halt due to the recent coronavirus outbreak, NEXUS-IBA, IRRS (The Italian and Irish Radio Relay Service) has just extended  global coverage with daily broadcasts to reach out to Europe, the Middle East, Asia/Pacific and Africa with daily news and commentaries on COVID-19 in English.

A new program aired via IRRS-Shortwave is called "War Room Pandemic" and produced in the USA by Steve Bannon, political advisor, media executive, former investment banker and former White House Chief Strategist.

War Room Pandemic presents the latest news and opinions on the effects of the coronavirus around the world.

New global frequencies on Shortwave

War room pandemic can be heard on new (daily) frequencies as of Feb. 21, 2020 (@ 150 to Europe and Africa and 250 kW to Asia):

9640 kHz (1400-1500 UTC) to Asia and Middle East

7290 kHz (1800-2000 UTC) to Europe

9660 kHz (2000-2100 UTC) to Africa

594  kHz (2100-2200 UTC/2200-2300 CET) AM/Medium Wave to N Italy and Southern/Central Europe

More details at IRRS blog :    https://nexus.org/coronavirus-qsl/

Updated B19 frequency schedule at:    https://nexus.org/schedules

On the occasion IRRS has released a new QSL card which is available electronically for all reception reports.

Additionally, new broadcasts have been started as of today March 4, 2020 in Oromo language to Ethiopia on 11990 from 1500-1600 UTC (@ 250 kW).

You may send your reception report for these broadcasts to reports@nexus.org. IRRS will gladly acknowledge all verified reception reports with new electronic QSL.

When requesting our QSL card, please consult Privacy Policy at https://nexus.org/privacy and learn how IRRS processes your personal data according to the GDPR.

Source : https://nexus.org/coronavirus-qsl/