My DX Archive: Winter 1998-99

THE previous DX Archive post, Autumn 1998, was composed in the aftermath of Storm Erik. Is it a coincidence that this post is being composed as we await the arrival of Storm Freya?
Housekeeping notes: This post features logs of radio broadcasts heard on the Short Wave radio band, December 1998 - February 1999. Short Wave Listeners [SWLs] are also known as DXers. Learn about the hobby of DXing in this well written Wikipedia article here. Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

December 1998: Short Wave

• 18 December [1998]: 1912 UTC: 5850 kHz: Radio Bulgaria Strong reception; German language broadcast.

Radio Bulgaria verification card, Winter 1998-99.

• 18 December: 1930 UTC: 6055 kHz: Radio Slovakia International Pete Miller hosts 'Slovakia Today'. News with Martina: Slovakia municipal elections. General Prosecutor resigns. Strong to good reception. 'Topical Issue' Iraq attacks. Education.
• 18 December: 1958 UTC: 6125 kHz: Merlin Network One Skelton transmission; Strong to good reception. CIX competition, satellite broadcasts information. 'Media Zoo' trailer, 'Prize Time' trailer, Johnny Reece 'Album Zone' trailer. Close at 20 UTC.
• 18 December: 2026 UTC: 6195 kHz: BBC World Service American correspondent reflects on President Clinton and President Nixon. Basra oil refinery hit in Iraqi attack. 'Newshour' Strong to moderate reception. Business news, World news.
• 18 December: 2038 UTC: 7535 // 7545 kHz: Radio Bulgaria 'Keyword Bulgaria' Iraq air strikes. Children singing Christmas songs. Strong to good reception.
• 18 December: 2050 UTC: 7250 kHz: Vatican Radio Pope John Paul appeals for peace in the Middle East. UN relief workers, comment from Jim Douglas 'Voices In The Wilderness' Senate for the Church of Oceania. 'Rights or Wrongs' Phillippa Hitchen. Sexual abuse. Geoffrey Robinson comments. English to Europe, Zone 'M' and 'N'. Strong to fair reception.
• 18 December: 2120 UTC: 7350 kHz: Voice of Russia 'An Extraordinary Year' Veronica. 'The Silence of God' Monsignor Robert Sarno. 'Moscow Mailbag' Joe Adamov. Strong to good reception. News in Brief at 2130 UTC: Air strikes. Clinton impeachment. 'Jazz Show' Carl Watts. Arthur O'Malley writes from Ireland.

Voice of Russia [Radio Moscow] QSL, December 1998.

• 18 December: 2140 UTC: 7325 kHz: BBC World Service Strong to good reception. 'People & Politics' Iraqi air strikes, General Augusto Pinochet.
• 18 December: 2147 UTC: 7415 kHz: Voice of America 'News Now' Live coverage of the Clinton impeachment debate in the House of Representatives. Vote takes place on Saturday. Business news. Art Review. Strong to good reception. English to Africa VOA News Now Schedule B. Oscars. Roger Daltrey as 'Scrooge'. 'On This Day In History'. Frequency information.
• 18 December: 2223 UTC: 7545 kHz: Radio Bulgaria 'Events & Developments'. Christmas music. Strong to good reception.

January 1999: Short Wave

• 2 January [1999]: 0958 UTC: 5825 kHz: EWTN - Global Catholic Radio - WEWN 'Life Issues' trailer. 'Off The Shelf' Mark and Christine. WEWN English to North America (& Europe?). Fair to poor reception.
• 2 January: 1026 UTC: 5850 kHz: Sunrise Radio Strong to good reception; English to Europe via Juilich, Germany. 'Sunrise Radio Swapshop' broadcast in English & Asian vernacular.
• 2 January: 1030 UTC: 5975 kHz: High Adventure Voice of Hope Strong reception; English to Europe via Juilich, Germany, 100 kW. 'Challenge Ministries' John 3:16. Song by Harvey. 'Good News World'.

High Adventure Ministries QSL, January 1999.

• 2 January: 1134 UTC: 9855 kHz: Radio Netherlands News: Cuba, Iraq, Algeria, Indonesia. English via Wertachtal, Germany. Howard Shannon reads the news and weather. James MacDonald and Chris Chambers host 'Europe Unzipped': Euro currency, Cyprus, violence in Kosovo. Strong to good reception; Interference: Digital data noise. Prostitution in Sweden.
• 2 January: 1213 UTC: 9410 kHz: BBC World Service 'A Jolly Good Show' Dave Lee Travis, the final ever edition of the show. Music: DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince 'Summertime'. English to Europe, Middle East and EurAsia. 'Most Wanted': Celine Dion 'My Heart Will Go On'. Strong to good reception. Oasis 'Whatever'. 'Pop Pal': Nigeria. 'Dave's Choice': James Brown.
• 2 January: 1338 UTC: 9715 kHz: Radio Tashkent English to Asia, news: introduction of the Euro currency, New Year parties. Music. Radio Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Good reception. Wishes for a Happy New Year.
• 2 January: 1402 UTC: 11690 kHz: Radio Jordan 'News at 3 minutes past 4, Jordan time'. Flooding. 'A Way of Life - Aspects of Islam': The purpose of prayer'. English to North America and Western Europe. Strong to good reception. Interference: Digital data traffic, natural disturbance. 'From The Holy Qo'ran'.
• 2 January: 1435 UTC: 11915 kHz: Radio Canada International News: Hong Kong fraud, weather, sport: National Hockey League. 'Venture Canada' Benjamin O'Hare - Burn. English via Sines, Portugal to Europe, Africa, Middle East. Strong to moderate reception. Electronic cash cards: Mondex. Dr David Jones. Canadian bankruptcy. Falling productivity. 'Review Of The Week'.
• 2 January: 1503 UTC: 11940 kHz: BBC World Service News headlines: President Fidel Castro of Cuba proclaims his 40th anniversary of reign. Canadian avalanche. Thai scientists to clone elephant. Euro trading. Martin Fookes 'Sportsworld' English to Africa. Cricket.

• 2 January: 1530 UTC: 15565 kHz: BBC World Service English to Northern Europe 'Sportsworld' Durham athletics. Strong to good reception. FA Cup scores: Newcastle United 0 - Crystal Palace 1, Southampton 0 - Fulham 1 (Steve Hayward), Leicester City 2 - Birmingham City 0, Coventry City 1 - Macclesfield Town 0, Oldham Athletic 0 - Chelsea 0, report from Alan Green.
• 23 January: 1204 UTC: 9410 kHz: BBC World Service 'Wright Round The World' Steve Wright. Music: Boo Radleys 'Wake Up Boo!' Telephone call from Japan, Clifford in Sydney, Australia. Contact Producer Alan Rowett: 0171 379 4565. Music: Sheryl Crow 'There Goes The Neighbourhood', Queen: 'You're My Best Friend'. News stories from around the World.

February 1999: Short Wave

• 14 February: 0708 UTC: 5825 kHz: EWTN WEWN Global Catholic Radio. Strong to good reception. 'The Beatitudes' Paul 4:4-7.
• 14 February: 0801 UTC: 5915 // 6055 kHz: Radio Slovakia International German to Western Europe. Good reception.
• 14 February: 0845 UTC: 7325 kHz: BBC World Service English to West Europe, North Africa including Canary Isles. Strong to good reception. 'From Our Own Correspondent' Owen Bennett-Jones.
• 14 February: 0855 UTC: 7535 kHz: Sentinel Radio PO Box 1254 BOSTON MA USA. Christian Science. 0900 UTC: German 'Bibellektion' via WSHB, Cypress Creek, SC (South Carolina) USA. Strong to good reception. MA: Massachusetts.

[WSHB] Sentinel Radio QSL, February 1999.

• 14 February: 0935 UTC: 9820 kHz: Radio Netherlands Weather: freezing temperatures, icy rain, snow. 'Sincerely Yours': Veronica Wilson & Louise Williams. Valentine's Day. Correspondence from messrs Williams in UK and Andrews in USA. Good reception. Bonaire Relay. Correspondence from Paul Peacock. Contact details: Mail, telephone, e-mail. Letter from Quebec, Canada.
• 14 February: 1006 UTC: 9915 kHz: Merlin Network One English via Woofferton, UK. Good to strong reception. 'Media Zoo' phone call to editor of Radio Magazine: Jobs in media: Breakfast presenter: BFBS / SSVC. Worldwide weather check. Talk Radio. Interference: Radio Netherlands in Dutch. Pirate Radio in Israel. The passing of King Hussein of Jordan. Amateur radio.
• 14 February: 1048 UTC: 13660 kHz: Merlin Network One English via Skelton, UK. Music. Mike Flanders, Vine Music, Vine Court, 7 Eve Street. Strong reception. Ads.
• 14 February: 1105 UTC: 15700 kHz: Radio Bulgaria Broadcast to Europe, strong to good reception. News in German.
• 14 February: 1112 UTC: 17630 kHz: Merlin Network One Rampisham transmission, with echo. Good reception. 'Media Zoo' Station ID CD's.
• 14 February: 1115 UTC: 17640 kHz: BBC World Service Echo on broadcast to Europe, CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States, formerly USSR), North Africa including Canary Isles. Good reception. 'Newsdesk' President Clinton.

That concludes the logs from the winter of 1998-99. Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower. Enjoy your day!

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