My Short Wave Archive: March 2015

 INTERNATIONAL radio broadcasts, heard via Short Wave, received Tuesday, March 10, 2015.

The previous post of the thread, My Short Wave Archive: January 2015, can be found here.

Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

Receiver used: Roberts R881.

March 2015 : Short Wave

• [Tuesday] 10 March [2015]: 2057 UTC: 15490 kHz: Radio Exterior de Espana  Spanish language football commentary, via the new scheduled broadcast on this frequency, 19 - 23 UTC, Monday to Friday, to Middle East / Asia.
  Fair to poor reception.
  Coverage of Real Madrid v Shalke, which is being played tonight, UEFA Champions League Round of 16, Leg 2 of 2. The score is 3-3 on 67 minutes (5-3 on aggregate).
  Programme: Tablero deportivo via Radio Nacional de Espana. [Programme website]
  Logged to 2113 UTC.
  [Record of the match from UEFA can be found here]
  
  

  

  Assignment editors discuss the latest story developments in the VOA newsroom in Washington, D.C.

• 10 March: 2119 UTC: 15580 kHz: "Music - LOUD music - on Short Wave!"  Voice of America  Female vocalist, singing in English, the track was Ariana Grande 'The Only One'. Male host with news the family of Marvin Gaye are suing Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams for plagiarising a Marvin Gaye song for 'Blurred Lines' - Playing now.
  [Link: Marvin Gaye estate vs Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams]
  Music: Rihanna 'Don't Stop The Music'.
  Strong to good reception. English to Africa via Greenville, NC, USA (IBB site).
  Music: Mark Ronson 'Uptown Funk'.
  Programme: 'Border Crossings' / 'Top 10' show. Presenter: Larry London. Music: Fergie 'LA Love'. One Direction 'Little Things'.
  Logged to 2139 UTC.
• 10 March: 2143 UTC: 15610 kHz: WEWN  Birmingham AL [USA]  English language broadcast with a studio based female holding a telephone interview with a male guest; Studio based male holds a telephone interview with a male regarding persecution of Christians in Libya.
  WEWN (EWTN - Catholic programming) to Europe and Middle East. Good reception.
  Programme: 'Kresta in the Afternoon' "brought to you from Catholic Business Pages dot com" [sic].  Live broadcast; Close of the show prior to the top of the hour.
  IDs for EWTN Radio WEWN, broadcasting from Birmingham AL.
  Announcement of frequency for this hour: 15610 kHz for 2200 UTC.
  'News Link': The Vatican. Statement from Pope Francis.
  Now on air, for the next two hours: 'Catholic Answers Live'.
  Logged to 2200 UTC.
• 10 March: 2209 UTC: 15770 kHz: "Speech carries over the airwaves from Okeechobee, FL, USA"
  WRMI  World Radio Miami International  - The broadcast is the voice of Brother Stair on the Overcomer Ministry, broadcasting from Okeechobee to Europe and America. Includes a break for music.
  Fair reception.
  English to Europe and America via Okeechobee FL USA.
  Brother Stair talking about the Second World War, the Japanese attack on the American base Pearl Harbour. Break for music. Continued speech.
  Logged to 2221 UTC.

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Remembering Steve Wright MBE

 HIS Life was dedicated to radio, remembering Steve Wright MBE.

Steve Wright's first broadcast was in his High School days; broadcasting a show over the school's speaker system from a store cupboard.  After leaving school, he volunteered on hospital radio, before first joining the BBC as a gramaphone library clerk in 1970.

Steve also worked as a journalist and reporter for LBC, London, 1975, before joining Radio 210, Reading, 1976.  In 1979, Steve joined Radio Luxembourg, though would leave 'The Station of the Stars' to rejoin the BBC, January 1980, where he broadcast Saturday shows on BBC Radio 1.

His first television appearance on Top of the Pops was in 1980, where he would be a regular host until 1989.

Steve Wright in the Afternoon first went on air October 1981, introducing the listeners of BBC Radio 1 to the zoo radio format and 'The afternoon posse'.

31 August 1990: Steve Wright in the Afternoon interview with George Michael.

Steve Wright in the Afternoon would be a fixture at BBC Radio 1 for 12 years, during which time Steve and the posse had success on the UK singles chart - Inspired by the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Arnee and the Terminaters reached number five on the UK singles chart with 'I'll Be Back' ('The Dancefloor Devastation Kick-Up'), 1991.

The last show was broadcast Christmas Eve 1993.

Changes to the schedule at BBC Radio 1 saw Steve and the posse move to the Breakfast show, January 1994, whilst also presenting the television show Steve Wright's People Show on BBC One, 1994-1995.

Wright would leave the BBC to join Talk Radio UK (which broadcast on the medium wave frequencies vacated by BBC Radio 1, 1053 kHz and 1089 kHz), where he presented Steve Wright's Talk Show.

Steve rejoined the BBC in the Spring of 1996, presenting Steve Wright's Saturday Show (which aired until 1999) and Steve Wright's Sunday Love Songs for BBC Radio 2.  Top of the Pops 2, scripted and narrated by Steve, went on air on BBC Television in 1997, running to 2008.

BBC World Service brought us Wright Around The World on Saturdays, from January 1999 to October 2003.  Enjoy a sample of Wright Around The World, BBC World Service, courtesy of Ilya B.

 

BBC Radio 2 revived Steve Wright in the Afternoon on July 5, 1999, which replaced Ed Stewart's afternoon programme. Wright's on-air team was Tim Smith, Janey Lee Grace and The Old Woman (Joyce Frost), the show also brought us factoids - Pieces of information we never knew we needed.

Steve Wright in the Afternoon was on the air for 23 years, broadcast for the final time September 30, 2022. The last song on the playlist was Queen 'Radio Ga Ga'.

Steve Wright was awarded an MBE for services to radio in the 2024 New Year Honours List.

'Sunday Love Songs' last aired the day before Wright's death, a Valentine's Day special recorded two days earlier.

Steve succeeded Paul Gambaccini as presenter of Pick of the Pops October 2023, Wright's last Pick of the Pops aired February 10, 2024.

Steve Wright MBE died February 12, 2024.

Steve Wright in the Afternoon Opening Theme BBC Radio 2

Radio Technicolour

Source credit: 31 August 1990: Steve Wright in the Afternoon interview with George Michael picture from the book Radio 1's Classic Interviews Edited by Jeff Simpson, published by BBC Books, 1992. Picture © BBC.

Steve Wright MBE obituary inspired by British DX Club Communication Monthly Journal of the British DX Club Edition 592 March 2024 (pages 17-18).

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My Short Wave Archive: January 2015

 GREETINGS, welcome to memories of Short Wave radio broadcasts heard Sunday, January 4, 2015.

The previous post of the thread, My Short Wave Archive: May 2014, can be found here.

Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

Receiver used: Roberts R881.

January 2015 : Short Wave

• [Sunday] 4 January [2015]: 1237 UTC: 10000 kHz: WWV Boulder, Colorado, USA.
  Fluctuating signal, good to fair reception [Time signal station].
  To 1249 UTC.
• 4 January: 1252 UTC: 11520 kHz: WEWN Birmingham AL (USA)  Music, followed by speech from male, thanking listeners for tuning to WEWN - Part of the EWTN Network - confirming we are listening to WEWN, reminder to retune to 15 MHz for the next broadcast starting very soon. Signing off this frequency - Frequency closed.
  Fair reception, English language broadcast to Europe and Middle East on an alternative frequency.
  Frequency closed at 1257 UTC.
• 4 January: 1324 UTC: 11640 kHz: "Classical music programme - with speech between pieces - Speech from a male, which I believe to be Chinese. Has a slight lilt of French, too! Oh, I am so confused. I think this could be an Unidentified for me, but did sound most like Chinese. Lovely music, though."
  Fair reception, logged to 1332 UTC.
  [Most likely to have been China Radio International]

EWTN [WEWN] QSL, September 2012.

•    4 January: 1335 UTC: 11730 kHz: "I can hear a broadcast, drowned out by noise - Jammed broadcast?"
  Logged to 1339 UTC.
  [Possibly Radio Free Asia]
• 4 January: 1352 UTC: 12085 kHz: Radio Australia  Male speaking of multi-cultural communities in Australia and speaking of the same in South Africa. Corresponding speech from male guest [in studio] - or on telephone.
  Female with news headlines at 1400 UTC, including sport - Tennis results and the weather.
  New programme now on air, music from The Who 'My Generation' used to illustrate piece, about a child and grandparent. Programme about generations.
  Focus on the life of a priest in World War One at the Vatican.
  Fair reception, English language to Asia and Austaralasia via Shepparton (Australia).
  Logged to 1417 UTC.
• 4 January: 1450 UTC: 12115 kHz: Reach Beyond Australia  Females with verses from the Bible. 'Cynthia found her home in Christ'. Female continues with a reading. Bible references. Continuing to 'Spread the word'. Reading from Corinthians II.
  1500 UTC: ID? The broadcast that has just ended was 'Words To Live By'.
  On air now: Male speech.
  Fair reception; Logged to 1510 UTC.
  
• 4 January: 1523 UTC: 13845 kHz: WWCR-3 Nashville TN USA  Female speaking of God, on a broadcast with propagation. The vocation of following Christ to God.
  This is University Network via WWCR-3 Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
  English language to Europe and America.
  Fair to poor reception; "Not very audible."
  Logged to 1535 UTC.
• 4 January: 1554 UTC: 15420 kHz: BBC World Service  Male speech in English "One final thing", "Thank you Andrew" Speech being lost in the propagation. ID at 1557 UTC during a promo.
  1600 UTC: Time pips, news headline: Events in Nigeria.
  'Sportsworld' with Caroline and guest Mark Lawrenson. Football: FA Cup Third Round weekend: Manchester City v Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa v Blackpool. Mark Lawrenson gives his reaction to the fixtures. Live match commentary coming up from Huish Park in the third round of the FA Cup: Yeovil Town versus Manchester United. Also playing today: Chelsea v Watford, Stoke v Wrexham. Southampton also play today.
  Fair to poor reception.
  Sheffield United have beaten Queen's Park Rangers.
  English to Africa (East and South Africa) via Seychelles.
  Loss of reception at 1617 UTC; regained at 1620 UTC, with a report from Huish Park: 0 - 0 at half time.
  Logged to 1637 UTC.

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My Short Wave Archive: May 2014

 FRIENDS, welcome to another post of the continuous thread of memories of radio broadcasts, heard via Short Wave Radio.

The previous post of the thread, My Short Wave Archive: March 2014, can be found here.

This post brings memories of Short Wave radio broadcasts heard Saturday, May 24, 2014.

Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

Receiver used: Roberts R881.

May 2014 : Short Wave

• [Saturday] 24 May [2014]: 2258 UTC: 9855 kHz: "I hear English language voices - Radio Australia was listed on this frequency during the previous hour, unless the schedule has changed and they continue on this frequency - Co-channel interference too? [Man-made interference and noise] Will refer back following a look at the Radio Australia schedule online."
  To 2305 UTC.
• 24 May: 2312 UTC: 9965 kHz: Music "with that mystical influence" - Radio Cairo broadcasting English to America. Time pips for 15 minutes past the hour. Female voice - Station ID for Radio Cairo. Female speech. Speech regarding Russia - Speech becomes distorted. Poor reception. Speech includes "Government leaders".
  To 2322 UTC.
• 24 May: 2327 UTC: 10000 kHz: "The unmistakeable broadcast from the Time Signal station" WWV Boulder, Colorado, USA. Fair reception. Time pips.
  To 2329 UTC.

"Closing this DX at 2330 UTC on the frequency of 10000 kHz Short Wave.  A reminder that Eden FM launches on 107.5 FM on Friday 20 June 2014.

Football results from today: Championship Play-Off final at Wembley Stadium: QPR 1 - Derby County 0.

Champions League final in Lisbon: Real Madrid 4 - Athletico Madrid 1. Goodnight; 2335 UTC."

Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower!

My Short Wave Archive: March 2014

 EXTENDED warm wishes to another post of the continuous thread of memories of radio broadcasts, heard via Short Wave Radio.

The previous post of the thread, My Short Wave Archive: May 2013, can be found here.

This post brings memories of Short Wave radio broadcasts heard Thursday, March 27, 2014.

Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

Receiver used: Roberts R881.

March 2014 : Short Wave

• [Thursday] 27 March [2014]: 1615 UTC: 7265 kHz: China Radio International  Male speech, followed by ID - Presumed China Radio International, broadcasting in Russian? Fair reception.
  Female speech, news broadcast? Speech regarding François Hollande, President of France.
  Logged to 1620 UTC.
• 27 March: 1632 UTC: 9410 kHz: BBC World Service  Football speech - European football - On the BBC World Service. Football season is coming to a close - Bayern Munich are Champions of Germany, Paris Saint-Germain favourites to be Champions of France, Juventus favourites to be Champions of Italy? [Real] Madrid and Barcelona lead the charge to the title in Spain.
  Fair reception, English language to South Asia via Kranji, Singapore.
  Premiership title race in England lead by Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea.
  World reaction to football news on 'Sport Today', presented by Ian Payne.
  Logged to 1650 UTC.
• 27 March: 1654 UTC: 9435 kHz: China Radio International  Learn to speak Chinese on China Radio International. "I won't go to the company today". "Supermarket".
  Excellent to good reception, English language via Kashi, China.
  Programme comes to a close with the announcement of the contact email address.
  Off air at 1658 UTC.
• 27 March: 1712 UTC: 9500 kHz: Radio Australia  Music programme, broadcast is parallel to 12085 kHz. Music programme with a selection of tango tunes, such as 'Blind Man's Ally'. Male host.
  Fair reception, English to Asia and Australia via Shepparton, Victoria, Australia.
  'Daily Planet' programme: 'Tangalo' were the featured band (Link on the Radio Australia website).
  Logged to 1730 UTC.
  [Short Break]
  [1755 UTC: 9500 kHz: Broadcaster playing the piece of music 'Puffing Billy' by Eric Coates! (Railway nostalgia music).]

[Break]

• 27 March: 2245 UTC: 9575 kHz: Medi 1 Morocco  High tempo music with African flavour, speech, clips of music by Dire Straits, Santana, Michael Jackson, speech in French language.
  Female speech, ID as 'Medi Un' - This is Medi 1, Morocco.
  Good reception.
  Male speech, French language, "Come with us" in English language, speech in French, music: Bob Marley 'Is This Love' on the 'Album Story' programme (Link on the Medi 1 Radio website).
  Logged to 2255 UTC.
• 27 March: 2309 UTC: 9855 kHz: Radio Australia  Female host meets a Samoan cricket team, who were talking about community interaction with the teams and the history of cricket in Samoa.
  Fair reception, English to Asia and Australia via Al Dhabbaya, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
  One of the visiting cricketers has brought a cricket bat into the studio.
  Logged to 2325 UTC.

Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower!

My Short Wave Archive: May 2013

 DEAR Friends, thank you for returning to a continuous thread of memories of radio broadcasts, heard via Short Wave Radio. 

The previous post of the thread, My Short Wave Archive: March 2013, can be found here.

This post brings memories of Short Wave radio broadcasts heard Monday, May 27, 2013.

What is Short Wave Radio?

Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

Receiver used: Roberts R881.

May 2013 : Short Wave

• [Monday] 27 May [2013]: 1948 UTC: 5950 kHz: Voice Of Tigray Revolution  [Addis Ababa, Ethiopia]  British DX Club shows this broadcast on air with Horn of Africa music at this time.
  Fair to poor reception.
  Continuous music.
  Logged as a tentative reception to 1954 UTC.
• 27 May: 2000 UTC: 5960 kHz: China Radio International  'Beyond Beijing' (Male voice ID) News: China creates links with Germany, links with the USA and a visit to the USA. European political ministers gather to discuss Syria. Chinese man sentenced following murder of baby. Statistics show businesses in profit. Membership cards are discussed by Chinese political parties. News by Rebecca Hume.
  'China Drive' presented by Mark Griffiths. Topic of conversation: designers. Weather: Beijing: cloud. Shanghai: rain. Hong Kong: rain. World weather outlook for Tokyo, Sydney, London. Health: World Health Organisation reports a health gap between developed and developing countries has narrowed.
  Strong to good reception.
  English to Europe, Middle East, Africa via Albania.
  Logged to 2013 UTC.
• 27 May: 2030 UTC: 6080 kHz: Voice Of America  Male host with IDs for Voice Of America.
  'Africa Beat' contact details include an email address. Music from Nigeria.
  Strong to fair reception.
  English to Africa via Botswana.
  Logged to 2040 UTC.

[Cup of tea break]

Original notes logging International Radio Serbia, Monday, May 27, 2013, 2058-2116 UTC, 6100 kHz.
Good to fair reception, English to Europe via Bosnia-Herzegovina.

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My Short Wave Archive: March 2013

 CONTINUING the thread of memories of radio broadcasts, heard via Short Wave Radio, takes us back to March 2013. Coincidentally, this post, bringing the first logs of 2013, is composed on the first day of 2024.

The previous post of the thread, My Short Wave Archive: September 2012, can be found here.

This post brings memories of Short Wave radio broadcasts heard Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

Receiver used: Roberts R881.

March 2013 : Short Wave

• [Saturday] 16 March [2013]: 2057 UTC: 2325 kHz: Australian Domestic Radio Services  Flute and whistle music, very low reception [Presumed].
  Logged to 2100 UTC.
• 16 March: 2207 UTC: 3415 kHz: Shannon Volmet, Ireland.  Female voice with weather reports: wind and visibility reports.(Based at Shannon airport, I believe).
  Good reception (Off channel: 3413 kHz).
  Logged to 2215 UTC.

Irish Aviation Authority Shannon Aeradio [Shannon Volmet] QSL card.
Photographer: John Power.

• 16 March: 2237 UTC: 3905 kHz: Radio Alice, Netherlands.  Music: The Clash 'Should I Stay Or Should I Go'. Iggy Pop 'Lust For Life'. ID: "On short wave, this is Radio Alice from the Netherlands". AC/DC 'Whole Lotta Rosie'. ID. Van Halen 'Jump'. Strong to good reception.
  Logged to 2250 UTC.
• 16 March: 2322 UTC: 5000 kHz: WWV Boulder CO [USA]  Rapid-fire 'ticks' from the Time Signal station.
• 16 March: 2329 UTC: 5050 kHz: WWRB Manchester TN [USA]  'DX Corner' The history of IRRS, broadcasting from Milan, which relaunched as Nexus-IBA in 1990. Content regarding BBC, CRI [China Radio International], VOA [Voice of America], UN Radio, UNESCO Radio.
  Strong to good reception, via Global-II transmitter-antenna, serving Australia.
  China has been condemned for jamming shortwave broadcasts. Australian Broadcasting Corporation has launched a new news-based website. 'DX Corner' broadcast closes - 'Back in 2 weeks time'.
  Logged to 2350 UTC.

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