New Zealand DX Times - Feb 2023

About Our Club

New Zealand Radio DX League Incorporated

NZBN 9429042708728

Bene fi ts

•Subscription to the New Zealand DX Times, published monthly and containing the latest DX news and what’s being heard on the wireless.

•Access to NZRDXL remote receivers located in Mangawhai (North Island NZ) and Hina Hina (South Island NZ).

•Membership of DXDIALOG, an email group where you can learn about the hobby and share your loggings with other members.

•Participate in DXpeditions, conventions and social gatherings with other members.

Patron

SUTTON BURTENSHAW

What is this thing called DX?

It’s the ‘Love’ of listening to radio stations in far off lands.

Committee

• Arthur DeMaine

• Bryan Clark

• David Norrie

•Peter Mott

• Steven Greenyer

• Stuart Forsyth

Member News

We welcome back Theo Donnelly, a member based in Burnaby (Vancouver), BC, Canada.

Theo is a former member of long standing and was editor of the Mailbag section for many years. It is great to have him back in the club!

We record with regret the passing of member Simone Lecchi on 24th October 2022 at his home in Karori, Wellington. Fellow league members extend their sympathies to Simone’s family and friends.

Future Events

Our Celebration 2023 social gathering is tenatively set for Wednesday 18 October 2023 in Wellington. More information next month.

The AGM of the league is tentatively set for Sunday 29 October 2023 at 2:00PM and is likely to be an online meeting only.

Subscription

To join or renew your membership to the New Zealand Radio DX League, scan the QR code or click “Pay Now” to pay the membership subscription of NZD $7.50 with your debit or credit card.

Pay Now

If you prefer to pay by bank transfer, email hello@radiodx.com with the word TREASURER in the subect and ask to join with payment via internet banking.

New Zealand DX Times

ISSN 0110-3636

Contents

Club Remote Receivers5 TV/FM News & DX27

NZ based KiwiSDRs with Paul Rawdon

Convention 20236SW Bandwatch47 by Steven Greenyer with Ian Wells

Receivers from Days Gone By8 SW Report55 by Bill Marsh with John Durham

DXing People9Remote Listening64 In the news with Dene Lynneberg

AM Broadcast10 Utilities69 with Bryan Clark with Arthur DeMaine

Next Month

Email your news and loggings to hello@radiodx.com with the column name above as the subject prior to;

Wednesday 22nd of February 2023.

Club Remote Receivers

City living has made DX’ing challenging. Man made interference makes it almost impossible to hear weak distant radio stations.

To solve this problem, NZRDXL provides members with two remote KiwiSDR receivers located in quiet coastal locations.

How To Connect

Click on the link below for the receiver you wish to use, then enter the password when prompted.

Check the monthly Members Update email for the latest password. It changes from time to time.

http://mangawhai-nzrdxl.proxy.kiwisdr.com:8073

http://catlins-nzrdxl.proxy.kiwisdr.com:8073

Online help is available at https://kiwisdr.com

Convention 2023

DATE

Saturday 22 April to Tuesday

25 April 2023

LOCATION

Owaka area, Catlins, South

Otago COST

This is still being finalised but will be about $300 per attendee.

Includes 3 nights accommodation and meals. Costs for partial attendance or self accommodation will be considered. Accommodation spaces are limited.

Owaka is approximately 25 minutes from Balclutha, an hour from Dunedin airport and an hour and a half from Dunedin. Invercargill is a bit less than two hours to the south. It is the northern gateway to the scenic Catlins area with its many waterfalls native bush, beaches and rugged coast line.

Owaka township has a hotel with accommodation and meals, three motels, a basic backpackers type facility with individual rooms, and two caravan parking location for self contained units locally. A small supermarket, restaurant and takeaway and a couple of coffee shops are the main outlets in the town.

The Convention accommodation will be across two or three houses (depending on numbers) on Hinahina road three minutes from Owaka. The houses all have magnificent views of the Catlins Lake. Two of them are airbnb rentals and one private, all provide linen.

TRANSPORT

Attendees are expected to arrange their own transport to and from the location.

A limited pickup from Dunedin airport may be available depending on numbers and times. Pickup from Balclutha would be more readily available.

To give some idea of transport options Airport Shuttles Dunedin will do an airport to Balclutha service for four people for a total of $150. Intercity have a Dunedin to Balclutha bus leaving Dunedin at 2.30pm, or Dunedin airport at 3.05pm, arriving Balclutha 3.55pm.

MEALS

Breakfast and a light meal will be self catered with food for this supplied. A main meal probably in the evening will be supplied. Anyone with special diet requirements should contact the organiser but will be expected within reason to look after this themselves.

DXING

Attendees may bring their own radio and portable antenna if they wish. A limited number of antennas will be available at one or two sites.

PROGRAMME

A limited programme will be put together with the option of some local site seeing, discussion on the future of DXing and the League and time for listening.

REGISTRATION

Click on the link below to complete online registration to Convention 2023. No payment required at this time. Be quick, limited spaces!

https://form.jotform.com/230207490202038

Receivers From Days Gone By

By Bill Marsh

The Eddystone 680X

This receiver was manufactured by the Eddystone Company in Birmingham, England during the years 1951 – 1961.

It is a 15 tube communications receiver and was used by many DXers in New Zealand and elsewhere over the years.

It was very popular because it had 2 RF stages and was very sensitive, had great band ranges especially for MW DXers and also had variable IF selectivity.

Band coverage; 480 – 1110 kHz, 1110 kHz – 2.5 mHz, 2.5 – 5.7 mHz, 5.3 – 12.5 mHz, 12.5 – 30.0 mhz. Each band was reasonably linear throughout their respective range particularly on the two low frequency bands and additionally the dial was well marked.

This receiver could be connected to a balanced or unbalanced antenna of typically 400 ohms impedance.

It was fitted with a BFO for CW reception and was found to work reasonably satisfactorily with SSB, but use of the RF gain control was advised.

Many verifications can be attributed to this receiver.

DXing People

Life member Ray Crawford passes on news of the death of Radio Havana Cuba’s Arnie Coro, best known to SWLs for his programme “DXers Unlimited” but also appreciated by MW DXers like Ray because he QSLed Cuban AM stations!

https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/people-news/cubanjournalist-arnie-coro-dies-at-80

Habana Cuba

Radio

AM Broadcast

with Bryan Clark, Mangawhai

email hello@radiodx.com subject “AM Broadcast”

News

This month’s column has news of how the United Kingdom is continuing its switch off of the AM Broadcast band, Luxembourg ending its AM longwave transmissions, and the continuing slow decline in US AM operations. According to a government official, AM radio in the UK has about 2% of UK radio’s listening hours yet costs 35% in electricity costs. It’s eye-wateringly expensive to be on AM if you look at the power costs.

Another factor in AM’s decline seems to be electric cars. Radio futurologist James Cridland writes that “Tesla, Porsche, Audi, Volvo, and Ford have all removed AM from their electric vehicles. Some suggest that it’s an interference issue; that’s probably part of the reason, though my hybrid Toyota Prius manages AM just fine - I also suspect it’s the cost of antennas and shielding.

AM radio is clearly on its last legs - regardless of what the DRM Consortium will tell you - and what happens in the US and Europe will have its effects elsewhere in the world.

ARGENTINA

The year 2022 is over and if we start to analyze what the past year has left us in terms of news and developments regarding the activity of sound broadcasting stations operating on the AM spectrum, we must conclude that it has not been the best.

I consider that the marked economic difficulties that the country is going through, has been a relevant fact that has undoubtedly affected the continuity of many AM stations, especially those considered "low power".

In that order, 2022 is characterized by as a time when no new stations have emerged - except the two awarded at 1070 and 1190 KHz -, but on the contrary, the disappearance of several stations has been noticed, some temporarily, and others permanently.

Here's a summary of what happened over the past 12 months:

540AM 540 (Isidro Casanova), has been off since June 2022.

820LRI208 Station 820 (Radio Maria Argentina), still unreported since the middle of last year.

850AM 850 (Moron), has not been on the air for several weeks now, although this station usually broadcasts very irregularly, and without defined programming.

860Digital Radio (Lanus), has long stopped radiating its signal for this frequency, which is why it can be considered permanently inactive.

1050Radio General Güemes (CA Buenos Aires), has stopped broadcasting "El Destape Radio", which would cover much of its daily programming, as soon as that programme started airing on LR1 El Destape Mundo on 1070 KHz, in November 2022.

1070LR1 El Destape Mundo (CA Buenos Aires), began regular transmissions, but these are usually interrupted for certain periods of time, presumably for technical adjustments.

1160Radio La Más Santiagueña (Gregorio de Laferrere), active on this new frequency since early January 2023, after abandoning 1190 in December 2020 to avoid interference with LR9. Currently interfering with Radio Independencia (Remedios de Escalada).

1160Radio La Más Santiagueña (Gregorio de Laferrere), active on this new frequency since early January 2023, after abandoning 1190 in December 2020 to avoid interference with LR9. Currently interfering with Radio Independencia (Remedios de Escalada).

1190LR9 Radio Perfil (CA Buenos Aires), finally began its broadcasts here, 5 long years after being assigned the frequency. The station plans to change its name to "RADIO MAXIMA".

1420LRI220 AM 1420 Con Vos (CA Buenos Aires), has been reported inactive at this frequency for several days now. It's not the first time this situation has happened with this station.

1460Radio Jerusalen (Luis Guillon), has been inactive since mid-2022, with no signs of returning to the air with its evangelical religious programming.

1480La 1480 "Tu Voz En Radio" (Tapiales), has also been reported off-air for several weeks now.

1540Radio Zorobabel (Monte Grande), is not currently active with its usual evangelical religious type programs.

1560Radio Melody (Remedios de Escalada), has been off air for several months, as a result of this frequency being assigned to the owners of Rebelde Radio, currently on 740 KHz.

1580Radio 26 de Julio (Glew), abandoned this frequency when it moved to 680 KHz at the end of December. However, it is currently interfering with Radio Magna on that new frequency. (Argentina en AM y FM Facebook page)

Since last November, Radio General Conesa (AM 1420 KHz), which transmits from the town of General Conesa, Partido de Tordillo, Buenos Aires Province, can be reported with a better signal, thanks to having acquired a new 5 kw M31 transmitter.

The new equipment replaces its previous 1 Kw transmitter, allowing it to have better coverage throughout the Bonaerense coast area, especially in Partidos de La Costa, General Lavalle and Dolores.

It's worth pointing out that this station can now be heard well across metropolitan Buenos Aires now that LRI220 AM 1420 Con Vos is inactive. Station director is Mr. Aldo Rufino Aizpitarte and webpage is www.am1420.com.ar (Argentina en AM y FM Facebook page)

AUSTRALIA

2GF Grafton ceased broadcasting in 1206 AM on the morning of 23 December 2022, and is now only using 89.5 FM (Robert Copeman & Paul Mech via ICDX–AM io Group)

RSN Racing and Sport have announced some additions heading into 2023, with changes to the breakfast host, a new daily racing service focused on Victorian Racing and previewing all Victorian thoroughbreds, greyhounds and harness racing, and a planned move into new studios in 2023.

RSN Racing and Sport is a broadcaster heard throughout Victoria at 1260am in the Goulburn Valley and North East, 1314am in the Ballarat region and 945am around Bendigo. In Melbourne, RSN can be heard at 927am or DAB. (Radio Today 24/1 via Ray Crawford)

CANADA

News/Talk 770 CHQR in Calgary is now being simulcast on 107 FM by CFGQ which formerly was classic rock. The move makes CHQR one of only two FM News/Talk stations in Canadian large markets joining Rogers’ CityNews 1310 CIWW Ottawa with CJET-FM Smiths Falls ON. on 101.1 FM. (Radio Insight 9/1 via Ray Crawford)

GUAM

KTWG Agaña 801 granted STA, U1 8kw day & night, due high electricity costs. The FCC had been denying STA applications based on economic rather than technical difficulties in operating at licensed parameters, but seems to be relenting on the question. (via NRC)

HAWAII

1130KPHI Honolulu format was ethnic, now oldies. (IRCA)

LUXEMBOURG

On 234 kHz, the New Year rang in with static, not bells or fireworks. As had been announced in October, French broadcaster RTL switched off its longwave broadcasts on January 1, 2023.

Long-time RTL presenter Georges Lang marked the occasion with a bittersweet tweet: “Voilà, c’est fini… Goodbye good old Long Waves, you did a good job for a so long time. You belong now to the history of Radio-Luxembourg and RTL.”

Groupe M6, which owns the station, noted that maintaining longwave broadcasts from the Beidweiler transmission site consumed about 6,000 megawatt-hours of electricity each year, roughly equal to the average annual energy consumption of 3,000 French people.

Listenership to the longwave service was “minimal,” according to RTL, as most modern receivers do not tune the band. RTL encouraged listeners to switch to using the station’s FM, DAB, or digital streams.

RTL had operated on longwave since 1933, broadcasting until 1966 as Radio Luxembourg from transmitters in Junglinster, Luxembourg. In 1966, it rebranded as RTL, and in 1972 the station began broadcasting from a new site at Beidweiler.

Since 2019, Luxembourgish energy company Enovos has worked with RTL Group, which owns the two transmission sites, to install large scale solar generation facilities at Junglinster and Beiweiler.

In October, Broadcasting Center Europe Marketing Manager Laurent Seve told Radio World that the 7.1-acre Beiweiler site will be fully decommissioned, its towers dismantled, and solar generation capabilities “progressively extended.”

(T. Carter Ross, Radio World 5/1 via Ray Crawford)

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

The commissioning of a new medium wave transmitter in West New Britain marked a successful partnership between the provincial government and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). https://postcourier.com.pg/medium-wave-transmitter-for-province (Papua New Guinea Post Courier, 9 Nov)

Photo shows a Nautel transmitter. WRTH 2022 lists NBC Kimbe on 900 kHz (10kW). (Kimbe is capital of WNB province on New Britain island)

NBC has film of commissioning event of the 5 kW MW transmitter on 4th November - in 9-minute extract of speech on NBC West New Britain's Facebook page, Minister for ICT, Timothy Masiu confirmed frequency of Radio West New Britain was 900 kHz (and mentioned reintroducing MW transmissions across PNG, including 10 kW transmitters already commissioned in NBC Highlands (Goroka) and Port Moresby).

As well as relaying National Radio Service from NBC HQ in Port Moresby, will carry local news etc. Said had even been heard in Boroko (Port Moresby). (Alan Pennington via BDXC Contact 12/22)

PERU

A public tender was recently held to assign a total of 88 frequencies (73 FM and 15 AM). But only 43 frequencies were awarded by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC). The city that had the most applicants was Espinar in Cusco, where 13 bidders competed for 5 frequencies.

In Arequipa, for the town of Caylloma, 10 bidders participated for a single frequency. The highest amount offered was for a frequency in the town of Caylloma - Chivay de Arequipa for an AM frequency, where the bidder offered S/101,100 soles (approx. £22000) for the 1530kHz frequency.

Two other MW frequencies were won, 910kHz (Huancavelica) and 950kHz (Ayacucho).

The second public tender for AM and FM Radio frequencies is currently in process for 59 FM frequencies and 6 AM frequencies in different regions of the country. More information:

https://www.perutvradios.com/index.php/item/380-mtc-otorga-43frecuencias-de-radio-am-y-fm-via-concurso-publico

(January Medium Wave News via Glenn Hauser’s WOR io Group)

SRI LANKA

TWR Sri Lanka has a new schedule for the Puttalam transmitter on 882, effective 1 January 2023: 1400-1600 UTC. (Jose Jacob via WOR io Group)

UNITED KINGDOM

On 5 January Dan Goldfarb reported that a ‘Radio Today’ story that "some time during this month" Bauer Radio would be closing their entire Absolute Radio AM / MW network. Some 17 stations are impacted on a group of frequencies clustered around 1215kHz.

The Absolute Radio website confirms that from 23 January, they will no longer be broadcasting on AM radio.

Reasons for stopping broadcasting on AM are given as “We think we sound better on digital, as it offers a much stronger signal and cuts out background noise.

Lots of you agree, which is why nearly all our audience listen to us digitally.” Also “Broadcasting on AM requires running an additional transmitter which is environmentally unfriendly and not costefficient given the small numbers of those listening here.”

(via MWMasts io Group)

Absolute Radio launched exclusively on AM (as Virgin Radio) 30 years ago in 1993 using predominantly 1215 kHz along with fill-in relays on 1197, 1233, 1242 and 1260. Some of these have been turned off in recent years in places such as Devon, Merseyside and Tayside.

Whilst this is a historic milestone for the radio industry, it shouldn’t affect many listeners as just two percent of all radio listening currently takes place on AM. (Alan Pennington, BDXC via Glenn Hauser’s WOR io Group)

USA

(items from National Radio Club’s “DX News” magazine)

600KTBB Tyler TX granted STA, U4 5000/1500 during repairs to night pattern.

850WTAR Norfolk VA applies for STA, U1 5000/5000, wind damage in Dec. 23 storm.

910KECR El Cajon CA granted STA extension, U4 1870/5000, night pattern 24 hours.

920KVEC San Luis Obispo CA carries Coast to Coast AM (via DXM)

980KICA Clovis NM went silent Dec. 31; lease dispute with tower site owner.

1020KCKN Roswell NM granted STA extension, U4 30000/50000, night pattern 24 hours.

1090KBOZ Bozeman MT granted STA extension, U1 1250/1250.

1090KVOP Plainview TX went silent Dec. 31 due lease dispute with tower site owner.

1130KSDO San Diego CA granted STA extension, U1 2500/2500, LW at 32-43-51/117-04-59.

1170 WKFL Bushnell FL has slogan ‘Boss Hogg Radio’ (Terry Krueger)

1180KERN Wasco-Greenacres CA granted STA extension, U1 10kw days, 2.5kw nights.

1200KFNW West Fargo ND granted license to cover CP with new site 46-43-09/97-01-48.

1300KKOL Seattle WA applies for CP with U4 35000/3200, existing site (reducing day power as in STA due to QRM caused at currently licensed 50 kW day power).

1340KPGE Page AZ went silent Dec. 31 pending sale of station.

1340KJMU Sand Springs OK went silent Jan. 8, transmitter failure.

1350 WWWL New Orleans LA slogan now “The Bet 92.9 FM - 1350 AM,” adds // W225CZ-92.9. (StationIntel.com)

1360WHNR Cypress Gardens FL slogan now ‘Boss Hogg Radio’ (Terry Krueger)

1390WAVP Avon Park FL slogan now ‘Boss Hogg Radio’ (Terry Krueger)

1400KREW Plainview TX went silent Dec. 31 due lease dispute with tower site owner.

1400KIXR Provo UT granted program test authority on CP with U1 1kw/1kw, new site (diplexed w/KEYY-1450) 40-13-48/111-41-09.

1400WZHR Zephyrhills FL went silent Dec. 30, transmitter problems.

1440KMED OR Medford – Call change to KYVL (Jan. 11).

1450WLAY Muscle Shoals AL format now Oldies ex-C&W. (MWDX Facebook page)

1450WSDV Sarasota FL format to Contemporary Hit Radio, slogan now “103.9 Kiss FM.” (Radio Insight)

1590KDAV Lubbock TX went silent Dec. 31 due lease dispute with tower site owner.

USA (items from International Radio Club of America’s “DX Monitor”)

1100New address for WTAM Cleveland OH from Ray Davis, PD. He said the station verifies via email (and it's a nice letter). Details sent to Steve Howe. 668 Euclid Ave., Suite 100, Cleveland, OH 44114 (Martin Foltz IRCA)

1230KTBZ Tulsa OK has new slogan “The Buzz”.

1280KSLI Abilene TX new slogan is “92.5 The Ranch”.

1340KTMP Heber City UT new slogan “The Peak 94.5 FM/1340 AM”.

1440KMED Medford OR will be retiring AM 1440 as a broadcast frequency. This change comes in the wake of advanced and more efficient broadcast technologies. KMED will continue to broadcast at 106.7 FM in Medford and 99.3 FM in Grants Pass and on January 8th, 106.3 FM. Although we are retiring AM 1440, KMED will remain on the air in southern Oregon, as it has since 1926. Thank you for your continued support and following of KMED on 106.3 FM beginning January 8th. (Rob Wein IRCA)

USA – DECLINE IN STATION NUMBERS

According to Paul McLane in Radio World 16/1, the number of AM stations in the United States continued to decline slowly in the past year. There were 25 fewer licensed AM stations at the end of 2022 than a year earlier, according to fresh FCC data.

The AM total has fallen about 3% over the past five years, according to Radio World’s calculations, and now stands at 4,484. (via Ray Crawford)

USA – IRCA SLOGAN DATABASE

Kraig Krist of the International Radio Club of America (IRCA) has compiled and published a 56-page listing of station slogans used by American and Canadian AM stations.

The FCC requires stations to give their call letters once an hour, on or near the top of the hour, but these FCC requirements are often ignored. Stations often use slogans as identifiers, believing the slogans are easier for listeners to remember.

The latest edition of the IRCA Slogan Database, which currently runs to 4,734 stations, can be downloaded from https://misc.kg4lac.com/ irca

radiodx.com

USA - CHANGES AT KNX

Recent reports in Glenn Hauser’s WOR io Group cover programming changes at KNX 1070, one of the easiest heard North American stations here in the South Pacific:

1070KNX Los Angeles CA at 0900 UTC on 14 January. Perhaps I haven't been listening at this time of day, or on this day of the week. Was sitting with the morning cup of java to get the CBS news, and thinking KNX is all news all the time, heard infomercials and/or holistic health programs before and after the hour. This part of KNX format had gotten by me. Another (Rick Barton-AZ). Greg Hardison in California responded: So far, on weekend mornings, KNX/1070 MW splits off from its simulcast with 97.1 FM, to air those infomercials as mentioned. All-News continues then on FM only, while AM 1070 rakes in the bucks. Still, KNX is our best source of general news & info in Southern California, along with KFI being a close second.

USA – CHANGE FOR KLOK 1170

Punjabi American Media’s “Punjabi Radio USA” has announced it has agreed to acquire 1170 KLOK San Jose CA for $2.85 million. Currently owned by Tron Dinh Do’s KLOK Media, who had acquired the station in 2017 for $6 million, KLOK had been airing the South Asian “Mirchi” network since July 2021.

KLOK operates with 50kW day and 9kW night. A Time Brokerage Agreement will take effect ahead of the sale.

The addition of KLOK-AM brings the network’s AM radio station count to 7, as it also owns: KIID (Sacramento), KOBO (Yuba City), KWRU (Fresno), KLHC (Bakersfield), KCVR (Lodi) and KVIN (Ceres). (Radioinsight, 24/1 via Ray Crawford)

X-Band Update

ARGENTINA

1620Radio Italia (Villa Martelli), has ceased to be heard as such, and, according to reports from our colleagues and readersapparently it would be broadcasting the programming of the evangelical station FM POWER (90.1 MHz) of Pablo Podestá, Partido de Tres de Febrero.

1640Radio Hosanna (Isidro Casanova), is heard with very irregular emission, and much of the time is off the air.

1710Radio Selva (Ituzaingó), is another station that has been inactive since last December. (Argentina en AM y FM FB page)

USA

1620 KSMH West Sacramento CA w/legal ID ”KSMH West Sacramento and translator K249FJ Rocklin... Relevant Radio” 23/1. Heard at local sunset with a good signal. (Rick Barton-AZ via IRCA)

1630KCJJ Iowa City IA verified by prepared card from Tom Sutter, GM; PO Box 2118, Iowa City IA 52244. (Martin Foltz FL via IRCA)

Medium Wave Mailbag

DAVID HEADLAND

Maheno, North Otago: “I’ve not had much of a chance to listen for a few months on MW. With Spring it is always a battle to keep up with the property here and usually by evening I’m just too tired to sit and DX. Thankfully it is slowing down now but I have something like 5000 thistles to deal with over the next week and must get on to those. When I returned from Rarotonga, I dismantled my loops with plans to make improvements to them but unfortunately I have not finished them either. I hope to do some further work on them over the summer so I can get back to the medium wave.

At the moment though the FM listening has been taking what spare time I do have! I’m hoping January will be a lot better than December has been for FM. [Same here David – FM DX can be an exhausting frenzy when it happens for me! BC]

IAN DONALDSON

Victoria, Australia: reports to DX Dialog that he has been hearing Radio Fiji 558 and credits the new KAZ antenna for his success. [Well done Ian, not easy away from the eastern seaboard! I would suggest your next targets are the reactivated PNG on 900, Tonga 1017 and Kiribati 1440. BC]

STU FORSYTH

Upper Mangawhai: “I have now moved my aerial to the other side of the section and things have certainly improved, at least I can hear something. Just to be sure, I turned off the Sky dish, internet and wifi repeaters in the house. On SW it is quite good. I listened for 3 consecutive nights and conditions progressively improved. Reception is still not great and certainly not what is expected at the top of the cycle. I think back 11 years and it is nowhere near as good. The farmer having a portable electric fence going across the road didn’t help either! However, there were one or two I hadn’t heard before, so I was happy with that. I shall chase the Mexican on 970 again!  I am going to move my second EWE and have it pointing directly north. You never know, the signals from an Alaskan might fall onto it!” [Thanks Stu – your contribution much appreciated. BC]

BRYAN CLARK

Lower Mangawhai: conditions for MW DX have improved somewhat as the trail items will show, though noise levels are still annoying. Pleasing to hear Grenada once again and I continue to monitor the myriad of signals on 1400 most nights in the hope something new will show us.

Broadcast Trail

Trail times & dates are in UTC/GMT – 13 hours behind NZ Daylight Savings Time.

Member loggings made on remote New Zealand-based receivers are indicated with a symbol after the frequency.

# A hash after the frequency indicates loggings made on League remote receiver at Mangawhai (Lower Northland)

with EWE antenna to Northeast.

c after the frequency indicates loggings made on League remote receiver at Hinahina (Catlins Coast, Otago) with EWE antenna to South or Central America.

* after the frequency indicates reception made by an overseas member.

a approximate. Frequency for station is well off its nominal channel

v frequency of station varied during reception.

CWIS Reception in NZ is Confirmed With Internet Stream of station.

BCM Bryan Clark, Mangawhai w/WinRadio G33DDC SDR & EWEs to NE, E, NW.

SMF Stu Forsyth listening on the League’s SDR2 at Mangawhai w/NE EWE.

6000817USA KOGO San Diego CA possibly w/talk 22/1. Poor SMF

6800842USA KNBR San Francisco CA fair w/talk & CBS Sports Radio id 24/1. SMF

6900844HAWAII KHNR Honolulu fair w/talk // web 24/1. SMF

7500820USA KXTG Portland OR possibly w/talk. Poor 22/1. SMF

7700820USA KKOB Albuquerque NM presumed w/talk - poor/ fair 22/1. SMF

8200848USA WBAP Fort Worth TX fair w/talk. ID for Red Eye Radio at 0850. Little QRM from 819. 24/1. SMF

8600852MEXICO XEMO Tijuana fair with SS mx 24/1. SMF

8800814USA/HAWAII? Music & talk mixing here, poor-fair. KRVN or KHCM are the most likely ones 23/1. SMF

9700855MEXICO XERFR, Mexico DF, poor but dominant on freq mixed w/talk. Faded up and down CWIS 24/1. SMF

10200822USA KTNQ Los Angeles CA poor/ fair, audible but swamped by 1026 22/1. SMF

10400857HAWAII KHLT Honolulu good w/religious song 24/1. SMF

10500858USA KTCT San Mateo CA good w/ESPN advts 24/1. SMF

10700902USA KNX Los Angeles CA fair w/nx & talk 24/1. SMF

11100817USA KFAB Omaha NE fair-poor with talk 23/1. SMF

11200823USA KPNW Eugene OR fair w/talk format 24/1. SMF

11400904USA KHTK Sacramento CA fair with sports. 24/1 SMF

11500825USA KEIB Los Angeles CA poor with talk. 23/1 SMF

11700826USA KTSB Tulsa OK fair with talk. 23/1 SMF

11900827USA KEX Portland OR, fair with talk. 23/1 SMF

12000828USA WOAI San Antonio TX fair w/talk. Good id at 0830 23/1. SMF

12700829HAWAII KNDI presumed w/mx – fair/ poor. 24/1 SMF

13100825USA KTCK Dallas TX w/ Fox Sports Radio mentions, poor 10/1. BCM

13100833USA KAPL Phoenix OR talk CWIS. Poor-fair 24/1. SMF

13600810USA KKMO Tacoma WA w/lively Latin mx CWIS 5/1. BCM

14000732USA KVTO Berkeley CA dominant in pile-up w/CC songs 7/1. BCM

14000851USA KCYK Yuma AZ up w/popular C&W vocals 9/1. BCM

14000900GRENADA Harbour Light of the Windwards, opens w/ hymns, message “Pastor Wayne Kirk with the Nugget of Truth for today” steady reception, peaking fair, loggable past 0930 13/1. BCM

14000905USA KUNO CORPUS Christi TX popped up briefly o/ KVTO w/EE call letters 15/1. BCM [Thanks Sutts for ID help]

14000852USA UNID w/Dionne Warwick’s “Walk on By” 21/1. BCM

14100923MEXICO Non-stop Mexican vocals on 1409.998m 12/1. Likely to be the only XE on frequency now – XEBS, which now relays XEPH 590 “Sabrosita” BCM

14200906HAWAII KKEA Honolulu – good w/sports nx 24/1. SMF

15000839HAWAII KHKA Honolulu poor w/sports talk 24/1 SMF

15400827USA/HAWAII KPMC/KREA both fair with KK talk – can’t tell which is which! 23/1 SMF

15800836USA KBLA Santa Monica CA, fair with talk. 24/1 SMF

1600a 0800UNID w/variable freq 1599.981 to 1599.973 over multiple nights from 19/1. David Crawford listening in Florida has it both day & night. He suspects it might be from Puerto Rico. BCM

16100848CANADA CHHA Toronto ON fair w/non-stop Latin vocals past 0907, apart from brief SS annct 0900 5/1. BCM

16400840USA KDIA Vallejo CA fair with talk 23/1. SMF

16700840MEXICO XEFCR Focus Radio, Reynosa w/popular Latin vocals CWIS on unique 1670.039m offset. 24/1. BCM

CATCH OF THE MONTH

Harbour Light of the Windwards, Carriacou, Grenada, West Indies was heard on 1400 KHz by Bryan Clark at 0900UTC on 13 January 2023.

PACIFIC ASIAN LOG

The January 2023 edition of the Pacific Asian Log (PAL) is now available for download at https://www.radioheritage.com/ (click on the link at the top centre of the page).

First issued in 2001, The PAL lists medium wave and domestic shortwave broadcasting stations in southern and eastern Asia and the Pacific. It lists nearly 5000 stations in over 50 countries, with frequencies, call signs, locations, power, networks, websites, streaming audio, schedules, languages, formats, networks and other information.

Comments and updates from users are welcome and encouraged. They can be sent to portzerbt@gmail.com. (via ICDX)

TV/FM News & DX

with Paul Rawdon, Christchurch

email hello@radiodx.com subject “TV/FM News & DX”

Welcome to the February instalment, to date band activity has been very quiet. It would appear that an increase in solar activity has impacted on propagation.

The falloff in activity has not only impacted DX on the FM frequencies but the 6 metre band as well. There is still some time left for a last minute increase in activity before the season comes to an end but I wouldn’t be holding my breath.

Upon checking through my logbook I found that activity this season was slightly ahead of 1987/88 when I recorded only one FM opening. All is not bleak; when the band has been open it has given some good results.

Trail

DAVE HEADLAND

Maheno, North Otago is first and reports the following:

Unfortunately a very disappointing season for FM DX with very few notable openings heard. No short hop DX from the North Island made it in aside from a brief 15 minute opening in late December.

On a positive note I still have a good part of the major 6 hour opening into Australia late on Christmas day (which went until 3am!) to go through on my recordings so that’s something to look forward to. One of the many benefits that come with these modern day radios.

I can only say that I hope the next DX season will be an improvement on what we had this year and that it’s not a sign of things to come due to climate change. It’s not just the trans-Tasman DX that has been lacking, as the Aussies have also commented that it has been the worst FM DX season they can recall.

2x 8 element FM antennas

Airspy HF+ Discovery and SDR Play RSPsx receivers

6/01/23

2158 UTCFaith FM Lord Howe Island 87.6 with ID on the hour and location announced as “Lord Howe Island’s very own Faith FM”. Fair to poor

90.3 showing a few minutes later

Thanks Dave, there are still some good loggings there. Quality rather than quantity.

PAUL ORMANDY

Oamaru, reports only one opening:

87.62321Faith FM, Lord Howe Island thanks to a tip from David Headland who earlier heard a local ID

87.62357River FM, Western Sydney, country mxd Hindi station 87.60233Gold FM, Fiji with oldies pops, Madonna, Commodores

FM, Sydney, trance/dance mx

Norfolk Island, in stereo!, ID by Sam Neil!

102.32332 2ROX Port McQuarrie, "Hits"

102.523342MBS Sydney, classical

102.923352KKO Newcastle "Triple M"

103.223362CBA Sydney

103.723402NUR Newcastle

104.323422EEE Batemans Bay/Moruya

104.523432GOS Gosford

105.323442NEW Newcastle

105.523452SBS Canberra, Indonesian

105.723462JJJ Sydney

106.123452ABCFM Newcastle

106.923462XXX Newcastle "Hit 106"

107.723472GGO Gosford

107.923512ICE Lithgow "Move”

Thanks Paul, Lord Howe Island would be a new one for the WRTH.

BRYAN CLARK

Mangawhai reports: Well a disappointing FM DX season overall for me. Most significant was the distinct lack of domestic tropo observations and only hearing Tonga on a couple of days.

A few new Aussies heard, and what I believe to be CGTN Vanuatu

103.0 again this year. I do wonder though whether China has an English language outlet closer to us, eg Fiji as I've not been able to hear other Vanuatu frequencies at the same time.

0017 UTC – Australia: 87.8 religious preaching briefly, mixed with Spanish, likely Austral FM, Sydney. At 0039 pop oldies came up, possibly Newy FM Newcastle. Something on 87.6 at the same time.

88.5 ABC FM Gold Coast w/classical at 0048; 92.1 2MFM Sydney in Arabic at 0049; 94.5 ABC Local Radio Lismore w/cricket w/UNID mx maybe 2EC, mixed at 0050; 95.3 ABC-FM Lismore; 103.9, 103.2 2CBA

Sydney w/classical, 101.7, 100.9 2ZZZ Lismore at 0055 adverts for Lismore & Byron Bay; 99.9 rock mx at 0056 Triple J Upper Namoi w/ promo for ‘You’re listening to Summer Lunch, Triple J’ at 0104.

0238 UTC – Australia: 90.9 ABC talk, 91.5 too, but nothing else heard.

0633 UTC – Australia: 90.9 traces of rap mx; 92.5 ABC NewsRadio

NE Tasmania strong; 91.7, 89.7 NewsRadio poor, 94.1 ABC National

NE Tasmania w/talk at 0657 then ABC promos, theme & nx; 93.3 ABC classical NE Tassie at 0701; 90.9 Triple J Tassie on ABC news; 91.7 ABC Local Radio, Northeast Tasmania w/cricket; 107.3 7XXX

Hobart w/Harvey Norman ad & Triple M promo at 0728; 107.7 UNID poor on talk w/occ rock mx up, maybe 7DDD Devonport.

0801 – Australia: 101.7 7HO-FM Hobart ident, 93.9 7ABC-FM Hobart w/ABC News, 92.5 “BBC Hardtalk” interview on ABC NewsRadio, NE Tasmania again.

28-12-22

0250 UTC – NZ: 92.4 Nga Iwi FM, Thames over SENZ, 95.4 Radio Tainui at 0256, 98.8 Life FM Whangarei much stronger these days –power increase?

1922 - Hamilton (Ruru transmitter site) opening - 97.0 Newstalk ZB, 89.8 ZM fairm, 92.2 More FM weak, 96.2 poor on peaks. At 1939 0 97.2 ident for “Coromandel’s More FM”; at 2137 LPFM 87.6 West Coast Radio weak // 87.9 fair.

2137 – NZ: 87.6 LPFM here eventually identified as West Coast Radio, West Auckland // 87.9 Kaipara.

30/12/22

0113 UTC – 91.5 w/French talk, references to Wallis et Futuna, audible for about 8 mins. Back briefly at 0131. No other usual New Caledonia frequencies hrd, so where was this coming from?

31/12/22

0013 UTC – Australia: 94.5 with talk; 95.3 talk here briefly.

0029 – New Caledonia: 88.0 FF songs briefly; 89.5 at 0042; 89.0 at 0105 – 2 transmitters slightly out of sync; 88.0 // 88.5 // 89.0 // 90.0 over

NZL // 91.0 over NZL; 92.5 France Inter on nx – RDS reading 1ERE F201

YNT HCE // 93.0; 96.0 at 0112 exc RDS FE77 DJIDO // 97.0; 100.0 // 100.4 strong over NZL RDS RRB – FE33- at 0114; 101.0 FF nx vgd, also showing FE33; 102.0 Radio Djiido ident 0116 // 103.0 w/RDS FE77

DJIIDO; 88.0 w/echo effect at 0118; 99.0 at 0122 – FF over Radio Hauraki; 98.0 at 0144 signal improved using SDR# FM Canceller; 97.4 fair @ 0155; 92.5 France Inter ident after t6ime pips // 93.0.

0208 – Possibly Vanuatu, w/ EE short story from China’s International Service (CGTN?) at vgd level, no sign of Djiido 103.0 hrd earlier and still audible on its // 102.0.

0216 – Fiji: 102.6 Bula FM in Fijian.

0242 – New Caledonia: 88.0, 96.0 // 97.0; 101.0 UNID strong on classical mx for several minutes – who?; 102.0 // 103.0 // 96.0 // 97.0 Djiido on all frequencies; 93.0 France Inter vgd 0309 but no trace now on 92.5.

0525 UTC – New Caledonia still coming through on 88.0.

0654 – Australia: 88.3 classical, 89.1, 89.9 ABC Local radio on cricket, 90.7. All faded around 0701.

3/01/23

0352 UTC – 97.2 traces of SENZ Taranaki.

1922 – NZL With steady rain falling locally, LPFMs from Whangarei all doing well – 87.8 usual open carrier, 88.0, 88.3, 106.9, 107.3 & 107.7 w/ heavy rock, id as “The Generator”. Mangawhai local Star LPFM on 88.2 exhibiting spurious carriers on 88.1 and 88.3.

4/01/23

0330 UTC – Unplanned power outage at Auckland’s Skytower means all FM transmitters located there are off the air. As a result I was able to log 92.6 The Sound, 90.2 Newstalk ZB, 89.4 UNID w/occasional audio, 88.6 tentatively The Edge, 95.0 talk here // 95.6. Skytower transmitters returned to air at 0423:30.

2138 UTC – Australia: 89.7 ABC Newsradio in strongly; 100.9 traces but otherwise nothing else.

2244 – 99.3 classical music up briefly; 96.1 w/talk at 2249 but soon lost.

5/01/23

0305 UTC – 94.4 strong carrier and bursts of distorted audio, subsequently identified as More FM. Reported to More FM Whangarei Office and sorted by next day when hrd w/good signals at 0645.

1945 – NZL 89.7 some bursts of classical music here, likely RNZ Concert via aircraft or meteor scatter.

2241 – good tropo conditions in Northland w/rarely hrd 97.1 Te Hiku, Kaitaia fair for some time; also 89.6 Coast, Russell at poor level at 2320.

6/01/23

0648 UTC – Hepburn Maps showing strong tropo over Northland and this reflected in my best reception to date of 92.0 The Sound, Kerikeri with local advtg; traces of 95.2 More FM from 0701; 89.6 Coast Russell poor at 0726.

2249 – Australia: 92.5, 92.3 ABC Local radio on cricket; 91.5 several mixed; 90.7 talk; 87.6 pop mx format recorded from 2255 (as Dave H in North Otago hearing Lord Howe Island religious station here today!). Accented EE commercials 2259 and a “Classic Hits” ID at 2305 so likely I was hearing Fiji which I confirmed on 87.6 a day later.

2325 – 90.7, 91.7, 92.3, 92.5, 92.7 Horse racing, 94.1, 94.5 cricket; 94.7 ABC NewsRadio, Manning River Qld w/sports news at 2327; 87.6 more idents for Gold FM Fiji, mentions of a live broadcast from a sports ground?

7/01/23

0006 UTC – 90.7 ABC NewsRadio, Triple J 91.5, 92.3 cricket, 92.7 racing, 94.5 weak, 95.5 live cricket briefly, probably ABC Local Radio Manning River Qld , 97.1 ABC National, Manning River w/”Magic Show”, 97.5 Aussie mixed NZL, 97.9 classical, 98.7 classical, 99.5 ABC National, 100.5 talker, 101.9 cricket, 102.1 rock music, 102.3 rock music, 102.9 rock, 103.5 classical, 103.7 Greg Kay on 2NUR Newcastle at 0015.

0017 – Fiji: More of 87.6 “Gold FM” ident, advts & promos on unlisted channel, faded 0018.

0040 – Australia: 92.7, 94.7, 95.3 pops, ID as “Smooth 95.3”; 89.9 UNID w/non-stop pops from 0256.

0328 UTC – New Caledonia 92.5 France Inter strong // 93.0, multiple idents, pops & FF chat; RNC Premiere on 88.0 // 89.0 // 90.0 // 91.0, also 89.5 in at 0344; other New Cals on 95.0, 96.0, 97.0, 102.0, 103.0.

Fiji: 92.0 // 92.2 Viti FM in Fijian, 92.8 Radio Fiji 1 in Fijian, 100.0 // 100.4

Radio Fiji Gold

11/01/23

0317 UTC – Fiji: 92.0 Viti-FM excellent // 92.2 briefly hrd.

19/01/23

2213 UTC – Australia: 90.7 ABC NewsRadio Grafton/Kempsey, 92.3 2MRR-FM w/country song, but soon faded. 90.7 came back briefly at 2306.

Thanks Bryan, activity might have been quiet but still some interesting stuff there.

DAVE SMALL

On holiday from the UK and staying in Houhora in the Far North has had some great loggings despite the quietness of the season

He comments:

Not a very good season. I have not heard anything from the South Island, and no strong tropo either, just modest openings from Hamilton and Auckland. I often hear AKL with very weak signals, but nothing worth logging. I still have three weeks up here before I return to the UK. Hopefully there will be some activity during that time.

Equipment used:

5 Element horizontal (rotatable) at approx 8m a.g.l. RX’s: Sony XDR; TEF6686; Airspy Discovery; RSP1a. + t-g-n ULNA.

All times are UTC. I have included the RDS info where possible.

26/12/2022

Following on from the huge Aussie opening which faded out here at 01:30UTC, I had a short opening from TAS at quite good strength.

92.907:052D5F triple_j 7JJJ, Hobart, (Mt Wellington)

90.907:077JJJ, North East Tasmania

94.107:097ABCRN, North East Tasmania

92.507:107PNN, “ABC News”, North East Tasmania

93.907:127ABCFM, Hobart

96.107:147THE, Hobart Varied Vocs

99.707:167997 7RGS, Scottsdale, (Mt Horror)

101.707:187017 7HO_FM_ 7HHO, Hobart (Mt Wellington)

104.307:19 704 Vision__ Hobart, (Mt Wellington)

105.707:207SBSFM, Hobart (Tent)

91.707:227NT, Northeast TAS

Later on the 26th, it was the Gold Coast mixing with NCL.

93.322:524933 SBSRadio 4SBSFM, Brisbane (Mt Coot)

88.722:544ABCFM, Nambour (Dulong Rd/ Thrushs Rd)

88.522:544ABCFM, Gold Coast (Tamborine Mtn)

89.322:574CRB, Gold Coast (Tamborine Mtn)

91.123:0042A4 4MCY, “Hot FM”, Nambour

90.323:034SCR, ABC Qld, Nambour (Dulong Rd/ Thrushs Rd) 88.023:35FE09 La_1ere // 89.5/ 90.0/ 91.0/ 92.0/ 93.023:40F201 _INTER_ 2 Listed, Noumea Likely

93.523:45F000 NRJnc___ Noumea, (Mt Coffyn) 93.723:464ABCFM, Gympie

“ABC News”, Gympie, (Black Mtn) 97.723:474PNN, “ABC News”, Wide Bay, (Woowoonga NP)

103.5

96.023:50FE77 _DJIIDO_ //97.0/ 97.4/ 102.0/ 103.0

95.023:52F666 OCEANE__ Dumbea (Noumea)

27/12/2022

Just three ABC Gold Coast stations at good strength but nothing else.

90.321:444SCR, ABC Queensland, Nambour

93.721:464ABCFM, Gympie (Black Mountain)

88.721:484ABCFM, Nambour (Dulong Rd/ Thrushs Rd)

30/12/2022

Gold Coast for 7 minutes.

90.922:554909 Sea90.9_ 4SEA, Gold Coast (Tamborine Mtn)

92.523:004925 92.5_MMM 4GLD, Gold Coast, (Mt Tamborine)

89.323:024CRB, Gold Coast (Tamborine Mtn)

31/12/2022

Gold Coast & NSW plus a few from NCL.

89.323:024CRB, Gold Coast (Tamborine Mtn)

94.500:184PNN, “ABC News”, Gympie, (Black Mountain)

95.300:202ABCFM, Richmond/ Tweed (Nightcap)

96.900:222ABCRN, Richmond/ Tweed (Nightcap)

98.500:232PNN, Richmond/ Tweed (Nightcap)

96.100:242JJJ, Richmond/ Tweed (Nightcap)

88.700:274ABCFM, Nambour (Dulong Rd/ Thrushs Rd)

90.300:384SCR, ABC Queensland, Nambour

89.500:43FE09 La_1ere La 1ERE. 2 Listed. NCL

94.900:45423F River949 4MIX, Ipswich (Lark Hill)

91.100:4742A4 911HotFM 4MCY, Nambour (Bald Knob)

89.300:504CRB, Gold Coast (Tamborine Mtn)

90.100:524ABCRN, Gold Coast (Lower Beechmont)

95.001:10F666 OCEANE__ Dumbea Reggae

93.502:45F000 NRJnc___ Noumea, (Mt Coffyn)

97.402:47FE77 _DJIIDO_ Noumea (Tour de Montravel)

93.002:55F201 _INTER_ Noumea (Mt Coffyn) 2 Listed.

92.504:30F201 France Inter. Unid TX, NCL

100.004:33FE33 _R_R_B__ R Rythme Bleu, (6 Listed)

02/01/2023

Mainly QLD & NSW at good strengths for 2 hours.

88.900:5210A1 BWD_FM__ 2BRW, Braidwood

90.901:392PNN, ABC News, Knights Hill, Illawarra

88.702:094ABCFM, Nambour (Dulong Rd/ Thrushs Rd)

93.702:104ABCFM, Gympie (Black Mountain)

89.302:134CRB, Gold Coast (Tamborine Mtn)

92.502:284925 92.5_MMM 4GLD, Gold Coast, (Mt Tamborine)

92.902:2954C4 ABC_Clas 2ABCFM, Sydney (Gore Hill)

93.302:304933 SBSRadio 4SBSFM, Brisbane (Mt Coot)

94.502:315001 2FBI, Sydney (Gore Hill)

95.302:32295B smoothfm 2PTV, Sydney (Gore Hill)

96.102:34 3712 2ONE, Katoomba, (Wentworth Hills)

97.302:35471B KIIS97.3_ 4BFM, Brisbane, (Mt Coot)

97.702:36297C SBSRadio 2SBSFM, Sydney (Gore Hill)

101.702:3736EC WSFM1017 2UUS, Sydney (Artarmon)

102.502:382056 2MBS, “Fine Music”, Sydney (2 TX’s Listed)

102.702:392ABCFM, Central Tablelands, (Mt Canobolas)

102.902:414029 1029-HOT 4HTB, “Hot Tomato”, Gold Coast (Tamborine Mtn)

103.202:422CBA, “Hope1032”, Sydney (Artarmon)

104.102:44 2041 2DayFM__ 2DAY, Sydney (Artarmon)

88.302:462UUS, “WSFM”, Camden (Razorback Range)

88.502:484ABCFM, Gold Coast (Tamborine Mtn)

96.902:502969 Nova_969 2SYD, Sydney (Gore Hill)

87.602;56Vision. Many TX’s

105.302:5743FF 4BBB, “Hit 105”, Brisbane (Mt Coot)

96.902:582ABCRN, Richmond/ Tweed (Nardi Mtn)

104.502:594045 TRIPLE_M 4MMM, Brisbane (Mt Coot)

98.903:03 4089 4AAA, Brisbane (Mt Coot)

89.703:054897 4TAB, Beaudesert (Birnam)

90.903:074909 Sea90.9_ 4SEA, Gold Coast (Mt Tamborine)

91.903:094007 4RGD, “Hit”, Warwick (Southern Downs)

100.903:112480 ZZZ_FM__ 2ZZZ, Lismore (Nightcap)

101.703:134ABCFM, Southern Downs (Passchendaele State Forest)

101.903:152019 ##ra##se 2PAR, Paradise FM, Ballina

radiodx.com

103.303.174JJJ, Southern Downs (Passchendaele State Forest)

98.503.302PNN, ABC News, Richmond/ Tweed (Nightcap)

03/01/2023

TAS at modest strength for half an hour.

90.923:107JJJ, North East Tasmania

91.723:107NT, Northeast Tasmania

92.523:117PNN, “ABC News”, North East Tasmania

92.923:127JJJ, Hobart, (Mt Wellington)

94.123:147ABCRN, North East Tasmania

93.323:167ABCFM, North East Tasmania

93.923:177ABCFM, Hobart

99.723:187997 _Chi 7RGS, Scottsdale, (Mt Horror)

100.923:357009 7TTT, Hobart ID & Ads

04/01/2023

Just three strong Sydney stations.

92.900:4354C4 ABC_Clas 2ABCFM, Sydney (Gore Hill)

94.500:455001 2FBI, Sydney (Gore Hill)

96.900:482969 Nova_969 2SYD, Sydney (Gore Hill)

04/01/2023

A fairly weak opening to south NSW. Only 4BRZ heard from QLD.

89.722:122PNN, Bega/ Cooma (Brown Mtn)

96.122:152963 XLFM96.1 2XL, Cooma Talk

90.922:302PNN, ABC News, Knights Hill, Illawarra

97.322:322ILA, ABC Illawarra, (Knights Hill)

98.122:342981 _i98FM__2WIN, Wollongong, (Knights Hill)

98.922:362JJJ, Illawarra, (Knights Hill)

100.622:384BRZ, (Tambourine Mtn)

92.322:45Kix Country, Hervey Bay, (Booral)

88.323:222ABCFM, Southwest Slopes, (Mt Ulandra)

89.123:242ABCRN, Southwest Slopes, (Mt Ulandra)

radiodx.com

90.723.252JJJ, Southwest Slopes/ Riverina

89.923.262RVR, ABC Riverina, Southwest Slopes/ Riverina

93.523.28293C EAGLE_FM 2SNO, Goulburn, (Mt Grey)

94.323.30Sky Sport, Goulburn, (Nightcap NP)

91.123.421CMS, Canberra, (Telstra Tower)

06/01/2023

My best opening of the season to TAS, followed by NSW, but nothing heard from VIC.

90.922:037JJJ, Northeast Tasmania

92.522:047PNN, “ABC News”, North East Tasmania

94.122:057ABCRN, North East Tasmania

95.722:077957 __7SD___ 7SD, Scottsdale (Mt Horror)

91.722:087NT, Northeast Tasmania 92.122:097SD, St HelensRock MX //95.7

2D5F triple_j 7JJJ, Hobart, (Mt Wellington) 93.322:117ABCFM, North East Tasmania

93.722:127BOD, Star FM, St Helens 93.922:13 54C4 ABC_CFM_ 7ABCFM, Hobart (Mt Wellington)

97.322:147NT, Weldborough

98.522.207BOD, BichenoSt Helens Ads; Pop

98.922.227AD, Devonport 99.722.23 7997 _Chilli_ 7RGS, Scottsdale, (Mt Horror)

100.923.24 7009 Hit100.9 7TTT, Hobart (Mt Wellington)

101.723.25 7017 7HO_FM__ 7HO, Hobart (Mt Wellington)

102.723.267NT. (2TX Listed: St Mary’s Likely)

88.923.282423 2RE_88.92RE, “Super Radio Network”, Taree 98.723.302ABCFM, Manning River, (Middle Brother NP)

96.723.312ABCFM, Upper Namoi (Kaputar)

97.923.322ABCFM, Grafton/Kempsey (Mt Moombil Rd)

95.522.382MRR, ABC Coffs & Mid North Coast, Manning River

94.722.402PNN, ABC News, Manning River, (Middle Brother NP)

103.522.447RGS, Chilli FM, St Mary’s (South Sister Lookout)

105.722.467057 SBSRadio 7SBSFM, Hobart (Mt Wellington)

102.322:50202D Hit102.32ROX, Port Macquarie, (Mt Cairncross)

101.522:52002B GLFM____ 2GL, Great Lakes FM, Cabbage Tree Mountain

97.722:54297C 2SBSFM, Sydney (Gore Hill)

93.922:5554C4 ABC_CFM_ 7ABCFM, Hobart (Mt Wellington)

92.922:562D5F triple_j 7JJJ, Hobart, (Mt Wellington)

92.722:572KY, Sky Sports R, Port Macquarie/ Mt Cairncross

92.322:582MRR, ABC Mid North Coast. Grafton/Kempsey

90.723:002PNN, ABC News, Grafton/Kempsey (Mt Moombil Rd)

106.923:032069 Hit106.9 2XXX, “Hit 106.9”, Newcastle (Mt Sugarloaf)

102.123:042JJJ, Newcastle (Mt Sugarloaf)

101.923:062NWR, ABC Northwest NSW, Armidale

99.723:082304 Rhema997 2PMQ, Rhema FM, Port Macquarie (Cairncross)

103.723:15103B 2NURFM__ 2NUR, Newcastle (Mt Sugarloaf)

90.523:202098 2HD_FM__ 2HD, “Super R Network”, Lake Macquarie

98.123:252981 2VLY, Power FM, Muswellbrook.

107.723:302077 Triple_M2GGO, GosfordID & Rock Oldies

104.923:332049 TRIPLE_M_ 2MMM, Sydney (2 TX’s)

104.523:352045 STAR1045 2GOS, Gosford (Mt Penang)

104.123:372041 2DayFM__ 2DAY, Sydney (Artarmon)

102.923:382029 Triple_M2KKO, Triple M, Newcastle (Mt Sugarloaf)

102.523:39 2056 Fine_Mus2MBS, “Fine Music”, Sydney (2 TX’s Listed)

102.123:442JJJ, Newcastle (Mt Sugarloaf)

101.723:45 36EC WSFM1017 2UUS, Sydney (Artarmon)

101.323:462013 Hit101.3 2CFM, Gosford WX

100.523:482PNN, Batemans Bay/ Moruya (Wandera Mtn)

96.123:483712 CADA96.1 2ONE, Katoomba, (Wentworth Hills)

90.923:502PNN, ABC News, Knights Hill, Illawarra

92.123:51292E 2MFM, Muslim Comm. R, Sydney. (2 TX’s)

92.923:52 54C4 ABC_Clas 2ABCFM, Sydney (Gore Hill)

94.523:535001 2FBI, Sydney (Gore Hill)

95.323:54295B smoothfm2PTV, Sydney (Gore Hill)

95.723:5554C4 2ABCFM, Illawarra, (Knights Hill)

96.323:562JJJ, Manning River, (Middle Brother NP)

96.523:572UUL, Wave FM, Wollongong (Knights Hill)

96.923:582969 Nova_969 2SYD, Sydney (Gore Hill)

97.523:592315 2HD_97.5 2HD, “Super Radio”, Port Stephens

radiodx.com

97.723:59297C SBSRadio 2SBSFM, Sydney (Gore Hill)

07/01/2023

A short but fairly strong opening to NCL.

88.003:31FE09 La_1ere_ // 88.5; 89.0; 89.5; 90.5; 91.0 100.003:32FE33 _R_R_B__ //98.0; 99.0; 100.4; 101.0 96.003:33FE77 _DJIIDO_ //97.4; 98.5; 102.0; 103.0

93.003:35F201 _INTER__ //92.5

93.503:36F000 NRJnc___

95.003:37F666 OCEANE__

10/01/2023

A good Aussie opening which ended with 35 minutes of Fiji.

90.923:204909 Sea90.9_ 4SEA, Gold Coast (Mt Tamborine)

92.323:212MRR, ABC Mid North Coast, Grafton/ Kempsey

92.523:224925 92.5_MMM 4GLD, Gold Coast, (Mt Tamborine)

88.523:234ABCFM, Gold Coast (Tamborine Mtn)

90.723:242PNN, ABC News, Grafton/Kempsey (Mt Moombil Rd)

97.323:27471B KIIS97.3_ 4BFM, Brisbane, (Mt Coot)\

91.323:31291C C91.3_FM 2MAC, Campbeltown, (Mt Hercules)

94.523:324PNN, ABC News, Gympie, (Black Mountain)

87.823:33Radio Austral, Fairfield

95.323:34295B smoothfm 2PTV, Sydney (Gore Hill)

97.723:36297C SBSRadio 2SBSFM, Sydney (Gore Hill)

91.923:384007 4RGD, “Hit”, Warwick (Southern Downs)

91.923:381WAY, Canberra, (Wamboin)

94.523:405001 2FBI, Sydney (Gore Hill)

96.123:413712 CADA96.1 2ONE, Katoomba, (Wentworth Hills)

97.323:422ILA, ABC Illawarra, (Knights Hill)

98.123:44 2981 _i98FM__ 2WIN, Wollongong, (Knights Hill)

98.523:462PNN, ABC News, Richmond/ Tweed (Nightcap)

98.923:472JJJ, Illawarra, (Knights Hill)

99.323:491993 FM99.3__ 2NSB, Northside Radio, Chatswood, Sydney

99.923:502999 SWR_99.9 2SWR, Blacktown (Western Sydney)

107.723:512077 Triple_M 2GGO, Gosford Pop

107.323:52207E 2SER, Sydney, (Ultimo University of Technology)

106.523:532A1A KIIS1065 2WSM, KIIS FM, Sydney (Gore Hill)

106.123:542ABC FM, “Classic”, Newcastle (Mt Sugarloaf)

105.723:552D5F triple_j 2JJJ, Sydney (Gore Hill)

104.923:562049 TRIPLE_M_ 2MMM, Sydney (2 TX’s)

104.923:562PNN, ABC News, Muswellbrook

104.523:572045 STAR1045 2GOS, Gosford (Mt Penang)

103.200:00275C Hope1032 2CBA, Sydney (Artarmon)

102.900:012029 Triple_M 2KKO, Triple M, Newcastle (Mt Sugarloaf)

102.500:012056 Fine_Mus 2MBS, “Fine Music”, Sydney (2 TX’s Listed)

102.100:022JJJ, Newcastle (Mt Sugarloaf)

101.700:0336EC WSFM1017 2UUS, Sydney (Artarmon)

101.300:032013 Hit101.3 2CFM, Gosford Pop

100.500:042PNN, Batemans Bay/ Moruya (Wandera Mtn) 99.700:052304 Rhema997 2PMQ, Rhema FM, Port Macquarie (Cairncross)

98.100:062981 POWER-FM 2VLY, Power FM, Muswellbrook.

96.700:072ABCFM, Upper Namoi (Kaputar)

94.100:082941 _Country_ 2CCM, “Today’s Country 94one”, Gosford (Dynmic PS)

93.700:0929CE Koorie_FM 2LND, Sydney (CBD 50kw or Redfern

2kw)

92.900:1054C4 ABC_Clas 2ABCFM, Sydney (Gore Hill)

90.900:112PNN, ABC News, Illawarra

90.500:132098 2HD_FM__ 2HD, “Super R Network”, Lake Macquarie

105.300:152053 NEWFM___ Newcastle (Mt Sugarloaf)

106.900:172069 Hit106.9 2XXX, “Hit 106.9”, Newcastle (Mt Sugarloaf)

88.900:192423 2RE_88.9 2RE, “Super Radio Network”, Taree

93.300:222SNR, Gosford ID “93.3 FM”, Oldies

93.500:252PM, “FM 93.5”, “Super R Network”, Port Macquarie.

94.700:282PNN, ABC News, Manning River, (Middle Brother NP)

97.100:302ABCRN, Manning River, (Middle Brother NP)

101.500:32002B GLFM___ 2GL, Great Lakes FM, Cabbage Tree Mountain

95.900:352WPR, ABC Western Plains, Dubbo City

95.100:362PNN, ABC News, Port Stephens (Gan Gan)

97.900:502ABCFM, Grafton/Kempsey (Mt Moombil Rd)

92.900:522340 92.9_TAM 2TTT, Tamworth

92.700:542KY, Sky Sports R, Port Macquarie/ Mt Cairncross

98.700:562ABCFM, Manning River, (Middle Brother NP)

93.301:00FFFF Triple_B 2BBB, “Triple B”, Dorrigo (Dynamic PS)

91.501:022PNN, ABC News, Southwest Slopes/ East Riverina.

102.301:05202D Hit102.3 2ROX, Port Macquarie, (Mt Cairncross)

106.301:07206A Triple_M 2CFS, Coffs Harbour

91.501:252JJJ, Grafton/Kempsey (Mt Moombil Rd)

99.501:352ABCRN, Grafton/Kempsey (Mt Moombil Rd)

92.101:392ARM, Armidale, (Community Radio Tower)

radiodx.com

100.702:002ABCRN, Upper Namoi, (Mt Kaputar)

101.902:052NWR, ABC Northwest NSW, Armidale

104.102:071041 CHYFM___ 2CHY, Coffs Harbour

105.502:092055 Hit105.5 2CSF, Coffs Harbour

92.102:10292E 2MFM, Muslim Comm. R, Sydney. (2 TX’s)

102.702:122PNN, ABC News, Armidale

91.302:202MAX, Narrabri

93.002:565201 Radio Fiji 1, Suva

88.202:58BBC World Service, Suva, Fiji

97.603:00Radio Mirchi, Ba/ Coral Coast

97.803:005203 Mirchi__ Radio Mirchi, Suva

98.603:039604 Legend_N Legend FM, Suva

100.003:05Radio Fiji Gold, Ba/ Coral Coast

100.203:075204 Gold____ Radio Fiji Gold, Suva

102.603:205205 Bula_FM_ Suva

92.003:259603 Viti_FM_ Suva

96.003:269601 FM96____ Sigatoka

92.803:28Radio Fiji 1, Ba/ Coral Coast

92.203:299603 VitiFM_ Suva

93.803:30Mix FM, Suva

96.203:32FM96, Suva

Thanks Dave, it may have been a quiet season but at least you’ve managed to have some success. Have a safe journey home.

Well, that’s the lot for this month, taking into account the poor season the loggings represent quality rather than quantity. Stay safe, take care.

SW Bandwatch

with Ian Wells, Dunedin

Thanks again to my support crew, whose names appear above the tables of loggings. New contributors are always welcome to join this elite team –you just need to tell us what you’ve been listening to.

Remember to show loggings as tentative (tent) if you don’t get a clear ID, or if there’s doubt about the logging, and provide as much detail as you can, including date and language, while keeping your notes concise.

NZ-based remote SDR’s used for your loggings are indicated by this symbol beside the frequency:

# = Mangawhai, Northland SDR2 (NE direction)

c = Hinahina, Catlins SDR3 (Easterly direction)

If there’s no symbol, you were using your own radio or SDR equipment, and your own aerial. Also:

“a” by the frequency indicates the station was slightly off its allocated frequency.

“v” by the frequency indicates varying frequency during the broadcast

“h” by the frequency indicates reception of a harmonic of the true frequency in use.

“U” by the frequency indicates reception using USB mode is recommended

Many common languages are abbreviated –

email hello@radiodx.com subject “SW Bandwatch” radiodx.com

AA=Arabic, CC=Chinese, EE=English, FF=French, GG=German, JJ=Japanese, PP=Portuguese, RR=Russian, SS=Spanish. Others are usually spelled out in full.

FREQ SDR TIME DETAILS

3910#0841NTH KOREA/STH KOREA, V of the People (tent) over Nth Korea jamming with noise 12/1, KAB

3925#0836JAPAN, R Nikkei 1, good in JJ, 12/1, KAB

3945#0836VANUATU, R Vanuatu v good in in EE & Bislama w/local music, 12/1,KAB

4985#0833BRAZIL, R Brasil Central, good in PP, local music 12/1, KAB

5025#0750CUBA, R Rebelde good in SS 12/1, KAB

50401840VANUATU R Vanuatu good w/clear signal, Christian instrumentals, anthem & morning devotions, deteriorating w/daylight but still readable 1855 14/1. BCM

50450724NORFOLK ISLAND Radio DX test, vgd signals, IDs spoken by Glenn Hauser. Same content as last years tests plus the latest edition of Glenn's 'World of Radio' DX prgm. Quick QSL response from Nick Hacko 13/1

BCM

50451048NORFOLK ISLAND Radio DX signal poor under local noise in EE 14/1 JJD

58950619TAJIKISTAN BBC WS good in KK 5/1 BC

59350729USA, WWCR University Network vg in EE usual relig prgms 3/1, KAB

59551715ROMANIA RRI fair in Italian 28/12 BC

59751632OMAN, BBC WS Fair/good in Pashto. 11/1 SMF also BC

59851747CHINA CRI fair in Swahili 28/12 BC

60001849FRANCE NHK World Radio fair in JJ 11/1 BC

60750831ALASKA KNLS good in EE religion 12/1 BC

6110u1734ETHIOPIA R Fana good in Amharic in USB 5/1 BC

61500750BRAZIL R Saturno reactivated (weekends only?). fair in PP on 6150.038m, pops, anncts, time checks, ID 0816 followed past 0830 22/1 but absent next day. BCM

FREQ SDR TIME DETAILS

69310730SPAIN (Europirate) Indy Radio weak in SS followed past 0820 also noted from 1701 weak/improving 6/1 BCM

71101708ETHIOPIA R Ethiopia fair in Amharic 5/1 BC

72550718NIGERIA, V of N, poor, v weak speech but from a tip from HCDX (T). (Clearer audio but muffled from KiwiSDR EA8BFK, Canary Is), 3/1, KAB

72650612ENGLAND, BBC WS fair/poor but clear in EE 22/1 SMF

72850615SAO TOME, BBC WS poor but clear in EE // 15490 via Vatican better 22/1 SMF

73600620ROMANIA, RRI excellent in FF (heavy FF accent, hard to follow) 22/1 SMF

74500532FRANCE, NHK World Radio fair in FF with nx. 16/1 SMF

75051840KUWAIT R Farda fair in Farsi 13/1 BC

75301840KUWAIT Deewa Radio fair in Pashto 13/1 BC

93551843THAILAND Deewa Radio good in Pashto 20/12 BC

94051636TAIWAN, R Taiwan Int. Excellent in EE 11/1 SMF

94851848ENGLAND VOA good in Amharic 20/12 BC

96201922INDIA, AIR Bengaluru, Indian music, MA in AA, ID then off at 19:30, 11/1, KAB

9650#0757GUINEA, R Guinea (tent) poor, weak audio in FF 14/1, KAB

9665a0801BRAZIL Voz Missionaria strong on 9665.384m in PP w/lively gospel songs // website. No trace on 49m though strong carrier on 5940.83, 5/1 BCM

96701825GERMANY Channel 292 fair in EE, Brother Stair from 1903 22/1 BCM

96901937SPAIN, REE, v good in SS, 11/1, KAB

97000535TURKEY, VoT Excellent in TT to Central Europe with TT mx // 11660 not as good 16/1 SMF also BC

FREQ SDR TIME DETAILS

97201735ROMANIA, RRI DRM in FF. Great signal but it kept dropping out. 11/1 SMF

97301814VIETNAM VOV good in SS 28/12 BC

97900610FRANCE, RFI vg in FF // 5925 to West Africa fair 22/1 SMF also KAB

98001948PHILIPPINES, VOA good but noisy in KK, 11/1, KAB

98600620GERMANY, AWR good in EE to West Africa. //11640 excellent 22/1 SMF

98700733ENGLAND KBS World Radio, fair but noisy in KK, 3/1, KAB

99150453MADAGASCAR BBC WS relay fair in EE until abrupt close 0459 2/1 BCM

115400540UZBEKISTAN – Denge Welat with Kurdish talk and some music. Initially thought it was mixed with TT jammer, but when it peaked, it appeared not to be.

11550 was better 16/1 SMF

116101835THAILAND VOA very good in EE for Africa 22/1 JJD also BC

116500401MADAGASCAR, R Tazamuj, fair but noisy in AA 10/1 SMF

117202115USA, VOA v good in EE, music prgm, 13/1 KAB

117451918SAUDI ARABIA Al Azm Radio Jeddah good in AA 19/1 BC

11750a0429BRAZIL Voz Missionaria weak but improving on new or reactivated freq, 11749.615m w/PP gospel song format, confirmed by // reception from EA8BFK SDR in Canary Islands 6/1. Missing from 31m this date/ time. Best on LSB as China opens on 11750 at 0600. BCM

118101925UAE BBC WS fair in EE 4/1 BC

FREQ SDR TIME DETAILS

118250405MADAGASCAR, African Pathways R fair/ good 10/1

SMF

119851900SRI LANKA AWR poor in AA at opening 22/1 JJD

120402018KUWAIT VOA in Kirundi(?) 18/1 BC

120950648VATICAN BBC WS good in Hausa 10/1 BC

136701930MADAGASCAR R Feda fair in AA 22/1 JJD

137600355MADAGASCAR, New Life Station fair with Gospel song in EE then abruptly off at 0359 10/1 SMF

151301935FRANCE NHK World Radio good in JJ 22/1 JJD

151401940CUBA (tent) R Habana scheduled, poor, unable to catch any detail 22/1 JJD

154101915ALGERIA R Algerienne poor but improving in AA Koran 22/1 JJD also BC

155552048USA WJHR Milton FM poor in USB in EE religion. 2101 ident & email address, then more preaching. 22/1.

BCM

156650410CHINA CRI fair in RR 3/1 BC

157302016USA VOA Greenville good in FF 7/1 BC

157702023USA WRMI fair in EE religion 19/1 BC

17530 #0748THAILAND, R Farda (tent), excellent, listed in Persian 14/1, KAB

176002003ALGERIA R Algerienne poor in AA prayers 4/1 BC

17755 #0346TAIWAN, Mizzima Radio (tent) poor in Burmese w/ music 14/1, KAB

17810 #0342JAPAN, NHK R Japan, v good in JJ, 14/1, KAB

17865 #0338PHILIPPINES, VOA, fair in Tibetan - no jamming // 21610, 21785, 14/1, KAB

21530 #0311TAIWAN, SOH, poor in CC, no jamming // 21490, 21800, 18900, 18970 12/1, KAB

Please add the appropriate reference by the frequency if you heard the station using the league’s New Zealand-based SDR facilities. If you’ve heard it using an SDR, others may also be able to.

LOCAL CONTRIBUTORS FLYING THE NEW ZEALAND FLAG

BCBrian CarrChristchurch

WinRadio G33DDC Excalibur Pro, Airspy hf+, EWE antenna, 76ft long wire

BCMBryan Clark Mangawhai

WinRadio G33DDC Excalibur Pro & AOR7030+ receivers with EWE directional antennas to North, Central & South America

JJDJohn Durham

TaurangaAirspy HF Discovery. Eavesdropper Trap dipole

SDRPlay Pro2. loop with LA ++ Amp. & Diamond SG507

SMFStu ForsythMangawhai

WinRadio G33DDC 5M EWE

OVERSEAS CONTRIBUTIONS

Items reported here may not be audible in New Zealand on the frequencies or at the times listed.

FREQ TIME DETAILS (heard in Europe)

4750 1804 BANGLADESH, Bangladesh Betar fair in EE 14/1 MM

4775 0008 PERU, R Tarma, poor in PP 15/1 MM

48850507BRAZIL, R Clube do Pará, “Clube da Madrugada” fair in PP 15/1 MM

4985 0514 BRAZIL, R Brasil Central “Madrugada Musical” poor in PP 15/1 MM

5938.20550BRAZIL, Voz Missionaria, fair in PP, religious songs and talks 15/1 MM

59951852MALI, R Mali poor in EE “English Magazine” 14/1 MM

60500446ECUADOR, HCJB fair in SS, talks, Ecuadorian songs 15/1 MM

FREQ TIME DETAILS

(heard in Europe)

60700524CANADA, CFRX poor in EE, news 15/1 MM

61151740CONGO, R Congo poor in FF talks, news, id 14/1 MM

61802045BRAZIL, R Nacional da Amazonia fair in PP, soccer, live matches 14/1 MM

61850516MEXICO, R Educación poor in SS, talks, Mexican songs, id 15/1 MM

72600646VANUATU, R Vanuatu very poor, talks, songs 15/1 MM

9550.12104BRAZIL, R Voa Bontade poor in PP religious talks 14/1 MM

9819.12001BRAZIL, R 9 de Julho poor in PP, religious talks, id 14/1 MM

11754.91952BRAZIL, Voz Missionaria, fair in PP religious songs and talks 14/1 MM

117801942BRAZIL, R Nacional da Amazonia fair in PP, soccer, live matches 14/1 MM

118151940BRAZIL, R Brasil Central, fair in PP Brazilian songs 14/1 MM

118350747VANUATU, R Vanuatu, poor in EE, talks, Island songs 15/1 MM

120850900MONGOLIA, Voice of Mongolia poor in EE, news, talks 15/1 MM

151901630BRAZIL, R Inconfidencia poor in PP, talks, Brazilian songs 14/1 MM

154101648ALGERIA, R Algerienne good in AA, Arabic songs, news 14/1 MM

(heard in USA)

59300146VATICAN BBC WS poor in Dari 31/12 until close 0159 31/12 RDA

7255.90634NIGERIA (tent) Voice of Nigeria noted very poor in (presumed) Hausa. Not there on subsequent days 31/12 RDA

FREQ TIME DETAILS

(heard in USA)

73050112USA Vatican Radio via Greenville fair in PP 31/12

RDA

73800059INDIA AIR Bengaluru good in Sindhi until abruptly off 0129 19/1 RDA

95000052ALGERIA R Algerienne fair in AA 17/1 RDA

115701443NORTHERN MARIANAS VOA poor in KK until off 1457 11/1 RDA

118100041NORTH KOREA KBS World Radio poor in SS 12/1

RDA

118150041BRAZIL R Brasil Central fair in PP good ID 0100 18/1 RDA

118300601ASCENSION ISLAND BBC WS poor in EE 2/1 RDA

137500046THAILAND Voice of Thailand fair in Thai until off 0059 19/1 RDA

OVERSEAS CONTRIBUTORS

MMManuel Mendez

Lugo, Spain

Tecsun S-8800, cable antenna, 8 meters

RDARick D’Angelo

Wyomissing, PA, USA

Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B, Eton E1, Eton E5, Alpha Delta DX

Sloper, RF Systems Mini-Windom, Datong FL3, JPS ANC-4

SW Report

with John Durham, Tauranga

email hello@radiodx.com subject “SW Report”

Appreciation

Long standing member John Durham has indicated that after 27 years as a DX Times section editor, that this would be his last SW Report.

John, on behalf of the membership and the current and previous Chief Editors, I thank you for your service to the DX Times and members over all those years and we know that you will continue with your membership of the league.

Arthur De Maine - President

Listening Tips

ARMENIA

Trans World Radio India in English on 9965 kHz via CJSC Yerevan, January 16 1430-1500 on 9965 ERV 300 kW / 100 deg to SoAs English

Mon-Fri. Very good via SDR So Phisal, Thailand

TWR India relay FEBA Radio Pakistan in Urdu on 9965 kHz via CJSC Yerevan, January 16 1500-1530 on 9965 ERV 300 kW / 100 deg to SoAs

Urdu Daily. Very good via SDR So Phisal, Thailand

(Via HCDX SWLDXBulgaria News, January 16)

AUSTRIA

Reception of Radio Pravda dlja Rossii in Russian on 9745 kHz via ORS Moosbrunn, January 14 1500-1600 on 9745 MOS 100 kW / 055 deg to EaEu Russian Sat. Very good signal via SDR Heimiswil Switzerland .

(Via HCDX SWLDXBulgaria News, January 13,14)

BRAZIL

ZYE855 Radio Legiao da Boa Vontade on 9550.1v kHz via Porto Alegre, January 22: from 0945 on 9550vPTA 010 kW / non-dir to BRA Portuguese. Very good signal via SDR Pardinho SP, BRA

(Via HCDX SWLDXBulgaria News, January 21-23)

Radio Voz Missinaria 11749.651 kHz Jan 6 at 0721 UT, new frequency, S6/S7 vs HNL with music, way off nominal 11750 kHz just like it has been below v9665 and v5940 kHz. 9665v is now OFF, so is it the same transmitter and cannot be on both at once? Nor any trace of 5939- kHz for several weeks now.

Wolfgang Bueschel also tracked the 25mb chann. wobbling all over the place.Tnx to Celio Romais-BRA who first reported the new frequency. It seems11750 had been allocated to RVM many years ago, but not even in WRTH 2005

(Via WWDXC & Glenn Hauser-OK-USA, via NASWA Electronic Flashsheet #1082 Jan 8)

CHILE

Tests as reported by Claudio Galaz.

9585. RCW- Test. Jan 14. 0300-0348 Id and music. 35333.

(Via Claudio Galaz, Receiver: Xhdata D808 Antenna: Long Wire, QTH: Barraza Bajo, IV Región, Chile)

9585. RCW- Test. Jan 14. 0400-0410. Id and music. 35433. (Claudio Galaz, Receiver: Xhdata D-808; Antenna: Long Wire, QTH: Barraza Bajo, IV Región, Chile)

(Via HCDX Claudio Galaz. Chile)

CHINA (TAIWAN)

Reception of RBS Voice of the Revival of Korea on 5900 kHz via Tamsui, January 13: 1400-1428 on 5900 TSH 300 kW / 352 deg to NEAs Korean Tue/Fri. Very good via SDR So Phisal,Thai.

(Via HCDX SWLDXBulgaria News, January 13,14)

INDIA

All India Radio External Service in Dari on 9950 kHz via Bengaluru, January 15 1330-1500 on 9950 BGL 500 kW / 300 deg to WeAs Dari. Good via SDR So Phisal, Thailan

(Via HCDX SWLDXBulgaria News & DX RE MIX NEWS # 1278, January 15)

MALI

5995, Radio Mali, Bamako, 1852-1905, 14-01, English program “English Magazine”, at 1903 African songs. Strong QRM on 6000. From 1852 to 1900 best on 5994 to avoid strong QRM from NHK Japan via Issoudun on 6000, at 1900 NHK closed down and Mali was heard much better. 32432.

(Via HCDX Manuel Méndez Lugo, Spain)

MEXICO

6185, Radio Educación, Ciudad de México, 0516-0820, 15-01, Spanish, comments about the political situation in Brazil, LatinAmerican songs, Mexican songs “Rancheras”, id. “Radio Educación”, classical music. From 0800 strong QRM from Radio Nacional da Amazonia on

(Via HCDX Manuel Méndez Lugo, Spain)

NETHERLANDS

5955, Sunlite Radio, Westdorpe, 0715-0737, 15-01, songs in English, id. “Sunlite”. 35433.

(Via HCDX Manuel Méndez Lugo, Spain)

PALAU

Hope Radio on 9965 kHz & 9930 kHz via T8WH Angel 5 Medorn & T8WH Angel 5 Medorn, January 17 till 0850 on 9965 HBN 100 kW / 345 deg to NEAs English. Good signal via SDR So Phisal in Thailand, from 0851 on 9930 HBN 100 kW / 318 deg to EaAs Music test. Very good via SDR So Phisal in Thailand

(Via HCDX SWLDXBulgaria News, January 17)

PERU

Radio. Logos, 4810. from Chazuta, reactived. (Via Claudio Galaz via Hard-Core-DX

PHILIPPINES

Very good signal of FEBC in Makassarese on 15580 kHz via Bocaue, January 120900-1000 on 15580 BOC 100 kW / 185 deg to SEAs Makassarese via SDR So Phisal in Thailand.

(Via HCDX SWLDXBulgaria News, January 12,13,)

United Kingdom

Radio Ndarason International in French on 7425 kHz via ENC-DMS

Woofferton, January 14 from 0544 on 7425 WOF 250 kW / 158 deg to WeAf French. Fair/good via SDR Heimiswil, Switzerland.

(Via HCDX SWLDXBulgaria News, January 13,14)

USA

9265, WINB, Red Lyon, Pennsylvania, 1935-1946, 14-01, English, religious comments. 35433.

(Via HCDX Manuel Méndez Lugo, Spain)

UZBEKISTAN

Bible Voice Broadcasting in English on 11800 kHz via MBR Tashkent, January 14 1200-1230 on 11800 TAC 100 kW / 090 deg to EaAs English Sat. Good via SDR So Phisal Thailand

(Via HCDX SWLDXBulgaria News, January 13,14)

VIETNAM

Voice of Vietnam 5 External Service in English on 9840 & 12020 kHz via Sontay, January 17 1330-1358 on 9840 SON 100 kW / 057 deg to EaAs English. Good signal via SDR So Phisal in Thailand, 1330-1358 on 12020 SON 100 kW / 057 deg to EaAs English. Very good signal via SDR So Phisal in Thailand.

(Via HCDX SWLDXBulgaria News, January 17)

Shortwave News

ARGENTINA

LRA36 ANTARCTICA

This year is very important for LRA36. During the month of February, the shortwave transmission and radiating system will be evaluated and measured in order to provide a NEW SHORTWAVE TRANSMITTER to the beloved Antarctic transmitter, and the 10 KW CCA transmitter will also be returned to the mainland for repair.

A new antenna will also be installed for the FM signal on 96.7 MHz,which will broadcast with a power of 250 watts (currently it runs with 25).

We look forward to your comments and reception reports at ira36nacional@gmail.com IG: lra36radionacional FB: Arcangel San Gabriel - Antarctica

We appreciate the further diffusion of this information". Signed by Adrián Korol, RAE, Argentina, via Facebook and Whatsapp group messages, translated and slightly edited from original writing in Spanish, by Horacio Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, CX3BZ, Jan. 18, 2023).

( Via HCDX (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

WTWW George cleaning up Ted's mess at WTWW.

George McClintock, of the real WTWW, has sent me a number of comments as he and son have been trying to get WTWW back in proper operation, most of them accompanied by photographic evidence, each 3 or 4 or 5 MB in size so not practical to include here. But his comments in chrono order:

Sent: 11/16/2022 7:32:04 PM CST. Subject: WTWW: bird sucked up. A bird sucked up in # 1 transmitter stack blower inside the transmitter building ... now dead.

Sent: 11/27/2022 5:30:05 PM CST. Subject: WTWW: rusted air filters.Rusted air filters in the Harris SW100 # 3 transmitter.

WTWW: Air conditioners - a mess. The # 2 air conditioner has runwithout filters and the others are dirty. Dirt everywhere. George McClintock 11-27-2022.

WTWW: transmitter # 1 problems. Dirty chain belt inside the matching unit and not lubricated. Not even connected to the transmitter at all.

John McClintock and myself were unable to find the top cover that is missing. Both panel plates were lift off by Ted/David. They tried to operate # 1 transmitter with them off. John McClintock attaching them back on. George McClintock 11-29-2022

Sent: 12/4/2022 2:50:15 PM CST. WTWW: burnt power modules found. 5 burnt #1 transmitter power modules found in a box striped of parts. Power module under repair. lacking 1/8 amp fuses which are order to be delivered Tuesday.

WTWW: water maintenance by Ted. Note dirt in plastic water container from # 2 transmitter boiler (tube socket). This is the level ofDavid/ Ted's water maintenance. George McClintock 12-8-2022

WTWW: matching unit fix. John McClintock rewiring motor correctlyMatching device of transmitter # 1. Top found to # 1 matching unit.George McClintock 12-8-2022.

WTWW: stuck door. Door # 2 transmitter would not open. Locking mechanism was upside down and backwards. Door now opens as it should. It took 2 hours to get it right. George McClintock 12-9-2022

WTWW: TOTAL COLLAPSE.

Taking every WTWW problem into account, it is my opinion that the entire transmitting facility was the verge of a total collapse. This is typical of the remaining power cards after a clean up and before adding the switcher module. 4 more module are burned up also. We are short 7 burned up or otherwise power modules for transmitter # 1.A number of small control cards are also missing and what I have are severely damaged. George McClintock 12-16-2022

WTWW: Resin fill up. John McClintock and Jason, placing Resin into water cleaning tank for transmitter # 1. The old resin was as hard as concrete. Ted never changed the resin. Tank pipe was very dirty and water could not pass through to be cleaned up. George McClintock 12-16-22

WTWW: a little humor - very little - Harris SW100 transmitter #3 George McClintock 12-23-2022

WTWW: #2 full power. All modules are up and running (all 48 lights). The # 2 transmitter is now capable of running 105 KW of power. Switching modules were found in the junk pile that Ted thought were bad,but not so, and were used to get the transmitter up to full power.

The #1 transmitter will now run 80kW, however 12 of the modules are missing and only 4 burned up remain and are being repaired as of now. Burned up as they are makes it very difficult and time consuming to fix them. George McClintock 12-31-2022 (via Glenn Hauser-OK-USA, wor Jan 4)

INDONESIA

RRI shortwave broadcast requests in A23 season from March 26:

3325 1700 0600 54E PGA 40 0 0 700 2603-291023 Eng INS RRI

4750 0200 0500 51,54E JAK 3 0 0 700 2603-291023 Eng INS RRI

7290 0500 0800 51 NAB 1 0 0 700 2603-291023 Eng INS RRI

Note the low transmitting power of Nabire 1, Jakarta Cimanggis 3 or Palang Karaya 40 kW; - and antenna type ITU #700 i.e. 'Curtain antenna, arrays of horizontal half-wave dipoles, centre fed, without reflector.. ' (Via WWDXC Jan 25)

MOLDOVA (?) / PRIDNESTROVIA

The unidentified station playing non-stop disco version of USSR National Anthem in Russian and mentioned in the weeklies RUS-DX #1220 news in English and RUS-DX PLUS #594 in Russian, is the same, first observed on Oct 14, 2022 at *0400-0500* UT on 9900 kHz (till 0430 UT over Iran), changing in B22 season the bc time to 0500-0600 UT etc.

Only Baltic States, Ukraine and Moldova and Pridnestrovye (from ex soviet states now) have DST and in B22 UTC+2 hours that rather the transmitter is from Grigoriopol Maiac Pridnestrovie and the signal here is powerhouse label. ( Via Rumen Pankov-BUL,via WWDXC BC-DX TopNews Jan 19)

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 (Via WWDXC Top News)

radiodx.com

Remote Listening

with Dene Lynneberg, Wellington

email hello@radiodx.com subject “Remote Listening”

Some news just in from Terry Colgan of Texas Radio Shortwave. Terry says:

TRSW has three events on its calendar where I intend to mention your organization on the air and add your logo to our QSL.

Here’s what I have:

• April 23 - New Zealand Radio DX League

• August 27 - International Radio Club of America + DecalcoMania

• September 10 - European DX Council.

Depending on our broadcast schedule, these dates may be outside the event but are close. The shows will go out to our North American listeners on 5950 kHz and European listeners on 15770 kHz.

I realize that TRSW doesn’t need permission to recognize your organization, but that’s not how I do things. I hope you like this idea, but if you don’t want me to do this, let me know immediately, and I’ll remove you from the calendar.

I’m sure none of our DX League members would object to this gesture, but if anyone does, let me know and I’ll pass their concerns on to Terry.

Unfortunately at the current time TRSW has a policy of not confirming reports logged on remote receivers but they do have an exception for reports made on the NZRXL’s 2 remote receivers.

I have been monitoring TRSW’s transmissions on 5950 kHz and 15770 kHz but so far signals are not propagating to New Zealand at their transmission times.

Hopefully propagation might improve in time by April 23rd.

Mailbag

Into the mailbag now and we have a contribution from Ken Baird who says he missed sending any notes last month for some unknown reason but he has made up for it by listening on the Fenu-Radio in Switzerland, his go to receiver when reception is not so good at home. (Thanks Ken)

Your Ed (Pukerua Bay) has QSLs in from Texas Radio Shortwave via WRMI 5950 for New Year Show broadcast, All India Radio Ahmedabad 837 DRM and 846 AM, Radio Carpathia via Channel 292 9670 and Radio Brenda Lee via Radio Spaceshuttle (Finland) 9290

Reports are out to the following: Vatican Radio (live broadcast of Emeritus Pope Benedict XV1’s funeral) 15565, 17525, 17790, Radio Brenda Lee 92890, CJYQ 930, WBIX 1260 CFMB 1280 and WEGP 12390.

eQSL from Radio Brenda Lee on 9290 kHz. Unfortunately they managed to spell New Zealand as New Zwaland. Still a QSL is still a QSL

Bandwatch

REMOTE RECEIVERS

1 = Twente SDR located at Enschede, Netherlands using a mini-whip antenna (PAR0DT design): 2 = Kiwi SDR located at Bjargtangar, Westfjords, Iceland using a 22 metre vertical mast antenna: 3 = SA4BNA’s Kiwi SDR located at Arvika, Sweden using a 100 meter beverage antenna: 4 = Kiwi SDR Fenu-Radio Switzerland using a Datong AD370 active dipole 6m above ground.

KHZ

SDR UTC DETAILS

93020538CANADA: CJYQ St John‘s Newfoundland fair-good with country music and ids Jingles as “New Country 930” 27/01 DL

1260 20502USA: WBIX Nossa Radio USA, Boston. Fair-good in Portuguese with spoken programme interspersed with frequent id jingles 27/01 DL

1280 20609CANADA: CFMB, Montreal good with instrumental music and frequency ids in English such as “The world’s best instrumentals only on CFMB 1280”

1390 20538USA: WEGP Presque Isle Maine fair-good with Relevant Radio programme “Trending with Timmerie” & several promos for Relevant Radio programmes 26/01 DL

3955 40011GERMANY: Channel 292 via Rohrbach-Waal excellent with music program 2/01 KAB

3995 40008GERMANY: HCJB via Weenermoor fair with programme in German 02/01 KAB

4905 42351BRAZIL: R Relógio Federal, San Gonçalo good in Portuguese w/soft spoken female, 2359 UTC piano music time pips. Id then new programme 01/01 KAB soft FA in PP.

KHZ SDR UTC DETAILS

5130 40004USA: The Overcomer Ministry via WBCQ Monticello, Maine very poor with spoken religious programme in English 02/01 KAB

5875 42341TAJIKISTAN: Radio Free Asia via Dushanbe very good with spoken programme in Tibetan and free of any jamming 01/01 KAB

5900 42328BULGARIA: Overcomer Ministry via Kostinbrod very good in English. Male speaker with religious rant and male choir in background 01/01 KAB

7460 42122TURKEY: Voice of Turkey via Emirler, men singing, This frequency in use at this time by VOT, CNR1jammer, Denge Welat, SOH so all drowned out by VOT jamming Denge Welat at the Fenu Radio receiver site 030/1 KAB

9265 40021USA: WINB via Red Lion, PA. Excellent in English with “Call to Worship” 01/01 KAB

9290 30748FINLAND: Radio Brenda Lee via Spaceshuttle Radio International (unknown location) fair in English with oldie pops such as Tornadoes (Telstar) Chuck Berry (Maybellene) but frequent interference from data type transmission 17/01 DL

9395 40037USA: WRMI via Okeechobee, Florida, poor(noisy), in English with programme about One World Government - problems (T) 02/01 KAB

9455 42121KUWAIT: Radio Free Asia via Sulaibiyah good Chinese with flute /Chinese music (T), 03/01 KAB

9670 40027THAILAND: Voice of America via Ban Dung good signal with males talking in Tibetan Mixed with CNR1 jamming in Chinese, a complete shambles (T), 01/01 KAB

KHZ SDR UTC DETAILS

9745 42129CHINA: CNR7 Great Bay Radio via Kashi very good in Chinese with pleasant Chinese music and vocals

03/01 KAB

9880 40040THAILAND: Voice of America via Ban Dong spoken programme with comments in Chinese comment in CC (T) 02/01 KAB

15565 10818VATICAN STATE: Vatican Radio via Santa Maria di Galeria very good with live broadcast of funeral of Pope Benedict XVI with French commentary 05/01 DL

17525L10818VATICAN STATE: Vatican Radio via Santa Maria di Galeria good but suffered splash from Radio Farda on 17530kHz. Best on LSB with live broadcast of funeral of Pope Benedict XVI with English commentary 05/01 DL

17790 10818VATICAN STATE: Vatican Radio via Santa Maria di Galeria very good with live broadcast of funeral of Pope Benedict XVI with Arabic commentary 05/01 DL

CONTRIBUTORS

DL = Dene Lynneberg, Pukerua Bay

KAB = Ken Baird

Well that wraps it up for another month. Look forward to your contributions for next month. Meanwhile good dx on all those online sdrs wherever they may be located.

Utilities

with Arthur DeMaine, Ashburton

email hello@radiodx.com subject “Utilities”

Thanks to Jim, Ken and my small contribution we have a good list of loggings for this month.

A short while ago I added a SDRplay RSP to my collection of SDRs. Have just started using it here at home and my first comment is I really like the SDRuno software that is used with the RSPdx.

Personally I found this software easier to load than the SDRsharp software. More comments to follow after I use RSPdx more in the coming months.

FREQUTCDETAILS OF TRANSMISSION

62242035S/V Tintin with position report to Taupo Maritime Radio. Off Farewell Spit. Trip report followed - heading to Dusky Sound. Very good. 01/01. JS

62301810VMW with gale warning for southern areas. Off at 1812 "End of transmission from VMW." Very good. 08/01 JS

65011704 USCG NOJ Kodiak Alaska with 'Iron Mike' High Seas weather forecasts. Rain and snow showers in many areas. Good. 16/1 JS

66221620 Shannon Radio with SELCAL check and "Secondary 5649". Poor - fair. 30/12 JS

66221620Navy Yankee Delta 22 to Shanwick Radio with position report. Shanwick replied with “secondary 5649” and “have a great day” poor – fair 30/12. JS

radiodx.com

FREQUTCDETAILS OF TRANSMISSION

66761640THAILAND Bangkok Volmet with met reports for Ho Chi Minh, Yangong, etc. Very good (sounded like it was next door). 23/1 JS

71720726NZ ZK1CEA Steve looking for QSLs. Worked VK/VL station but I did not get his callsign, LSB 3/1 KAB

82911905RCC Australia with Pan Pan regarding missing yacht. Ending with "This is RCC Australia, Victor India Charlie standing by." Very good. 08/01 JS

82912258S/V Chameleon with position report to Taupo Maritime Radio. Good. 01/01 JS

88431556Hawaiian 254 reporting in to San Francisco Radio. Good. SF replied with primary, secondary frequencies and SELCAL check. Very good. 15/1 JS

88671632Hawaiian 452 with position report to San Francisco. Both aircraft and San Francisco very good. 07/01 JS

88791730United 569 with position report to Mumbai Radio. Good. 12/1 JS

89030845Qantas 34 with Toyko giving flight level of 270 good 4/01 ABD

112531754UK Military One Information Broadcast (RAF Volmet) with met reports for Baghdad International Airport, Bahrain International, etc Good. 17/1 JS

122872201INTL Ship Station Ch 1220, fair but no traffic most of the time(T), 3/1, KAB

123202206INTL Ship Station CH 1232, good tone marker, no traffic, (T) 3/1, KAB

123652210AUSTRALIA, Queensland, Charleville Meteo fair with MA giving Australian weather in EE, 3/1 KAB

132610828Jetstar 220 calling Auckland. good 2/01 ABD

132610840Qantas 137 calling Brisbane requesting higher flight level good ABD

FREQUTCDETAILS OF TRANSMISSION

132640835IRELAND Shannon volmet woman with ID “This is Shannon volmet” fair 1/01 ABD

132641654IRELAND Shannon Volmet with met report for Amsterdam followed by "This is Shannon Volmet, Shannon Volmet." Fair - good. 31/12 JS

132820843JAPAN Tokyo volmet woman with met reports noisy fair

1/01 ABD

13282 0846 HONG KONG Volmet male with met reports. noisy poor

1/01 ABD

CONTRIBUTORS

ADKArthur De Maine – Karitane: Receiver AirSpy HF+ Discovery, Antenna MLA30+

KABKen Baird Wainuiomata: Receiver PL880, Antenna 10m wire, 4m vertical.

JSJim Stewart – Auckland: Receivers Kenwood R-5000, Sangean

ATS-909 Uniden UBCT8 & UDC72XLT, Antennas Wellbrook

ALA1530 active magnetic loop, Diamond D130J discone.

Taupo Maritime Radio ZLM