Saturday, June 29, 2019

My DX Archive: October - November 2000

RECOLLECTIONS of radio broadcasts heard during the latter months of the year 2000.
A previous post, detailing what was heard during September 2000, can be found here.
Short Wave radio is still alive and well in the year 2019, and even musicians are interested in what is on the air. The musician Danny Barnes posted a 'How to get started' article on his blog, which you may find interesting.
For the following broadcast logs, housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

October 2000: Short Wave

  • 7 October [2000]: 1922 UTC: 10000 kHz: WWV Time Signal Station, Boulder, Colorado, USA. Strong to good reception. Interference: Cairo?
  • 7 October: 2001 UTC: 11975 kHz: Voice Of America Strong to good reception. English to Africa via Sao Tome. 'VOA News Now: Nightline Africa' with host Ted Roberts. Gambian immigration. Liberia: Report from Monrovia. Recorded phone calls from listeners. 'Nightline Christmas Special' on air Sunday 24 December.
  • 7 October: 2052 UTC: 11990 kHz: Radio Kuwait Strong to good reception 'News In Brief' Yugoslavia. Greece and Turkey work together. Music. English to Europe, America. Station ID, male host "Midnight in Kuwait", reads frequencies, says goodnight, plays National Anthem. Vernacular speech at 21 UTC then off air.
  • 7 October: 2123 UTC: 12095 kHz: BBC World Service English to the Americas via Ascension Island. News: Bomb at race course. Report regarding Bletchley Park Enigma machine. 'British News'. International Football at Wembley Stadium, London: England 0 - Germany 1. Female host. Strong to fair reception.
  • 7 October: 2206 UTC: 13670 kHz: Radio Canada International Good to fair reception. English to the Caribbean, Americas via Sackville, 250 kW transmission. 'World This Weekend' Yugoslavia, gypsies integration into Bulgaria. 'Good Food Box' St Johns, Canada.
Canadian QSL, 7 October 2000.
  • 7 October: 2236 UTC: 13845 kHz: WWCR - 2 Good to fair reception. English to Europe, America via Nashville, TN, USA. Dr Gene Scott, heard until 2243 UTC.
  • 7 October: 2255 UTC: 14670 kHz: CHU Canada: Time Signal Station, good to fair reception, 3 kW transmission. Beep per second, change of tone, male announcement "CHU Canada, [hour], [minute]", double bleeps, announcements in English and French.
November 2000: Short Wave
  • 5 November: 1300 UTC: 11940 kHz: Radio Romania International Strong to good reception. English to Europe: 11940 kHz, 15290 kHz; Canada: 15335 kHz, 17805 kHz. 'Radio Newsreel' is followed by a live broadcast: 'Listeners' Day' Telephone: 00 401 22 3 41 45. Telephone calls and a recorded contribution by Martin Cowin, Cumbria, England.
  • 13 November: 1146 UTC: 14670 kHz: CHU Canada Time Signal Station, interference from Spanish language broadcast. 3 kW transmission. Email: radio.chu @ nrc.ca Reception Slight.
  • 13 November: 1201 UTC: 15155 kHz: Radio France Internationale Strong to good reception. Male broadcaster, news: OPEC oil meeting in Vienna, Climate conference in Holland. Station ID, time check, Presidential election fiasco, US shares fall in Asia. British troops in Sierra Leone. English to Europe, Africa. Murders in Mogadishu.
  • 13 November: 1229 UTC: 15685 kHz: WWCR - 1 Nashville TN USA Strong to good reception. English to Europe, America. Male host: 'Ask WWCR' Two male voices discussing the Principality of Sealand, Prince Roy. Sunspot report at 1244 UTC, sunspotcycle.com
High Adventure - Voice of Hope QSL card.
  • 13 November: 1319 UTC: 15715 kHz: High Adventure Voice of Hope Strong to good reception. English to Africa, Asia via Juilich, Germany. Miss Jones teaches Jenny and Danny about Tom's family who need food, referring to the Bread and Fishes story. UK Fax: 01432 263 408 Jen Grayville, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. 100 kW.
  • 13 November: 1338 UTC: 15745 kHz: WEWN Birmingham AL USA Strong reception. English to Europe, America 'Morning Prayer / Daily Mass (Live)' Male preachers, Female with prayer, Organ music. Email: wewn @ ewtn.com Devotional choir singing. Male with prayer.
  • 13 November: 1359 UTC: 17515 kHz: Vatican Radio Strong to good reception. English to Asia via S. Maria di Galeria, Vatican State. Father Maloney talks of doubts. Close of broadcast.
  • 13 November: 1416 UTC: 17620 kHz: Radio France Internationale Strong to good reception. English to the Middle East, Asia (Slight echo). Male with news: Philippines impeachment, Middle East Peace process. To 1422 UTC.
  • 13 November: 1425 UTC: 17640 kHz: BBC World Service Strong to good reception. BBC World Service - Europe, English to Europe, Northern Africa via Skelton, Woofferton, UK. Female host with technology news on 'Discovery'. Trailer for 'International Check-up'. On air now: 'Essential Guide': Internet dreamers... Male host. To 1432 UTC.
  • 13 November: 1435 UTC: 17680 kHz: Radio France Internationale Strong reception. English to Middle East, Asia. 'Inside Tracks' music programme. Male interviews a trumpet player from New Orleans, USA who is in Lisbon, Portugal. Music to 1444 UTC.
Radio Sweden QSL, 13 November 2000.
  • 13 November: 1454 UTC: 18960 kHz: Radio Sweden Strong to good reception. English to North America. 'Sport Scan' Football awards, male host. Female report: MTV Euro Music Awards. Music: Andreas Johnson 'People'. 'Sixty Degrees North' via Hörby transmitter. Email: radiosweden @ sr.se Signature tune.
  • 13 November: 1609 UTC: 21470 kHz: BBC World Service Good to fair reception. BBC World Service - Africa East, English to East, South Africa via Cyprus. Female hosts a discussion programme.
  • 13 November: 1622 UTC: 21525 kHz: WYFR Okeechobee FL USA Good to fair reception. English to Europe, Africa via Okeechobee, Florida, USA. Male host with details of how to read the bible. Email: shortwave @ familyradio.com To 1635 UTC.
  • 13 November: 1711 UTC: 3935 kHz: Laser Hot Hits Good to fair reception. English, male host. Music: Mary Mary 'Shackles / Praise You', station ID, music: 'Jazz Carnival'. Postal address for Canada, Paul Johnson on air, also on 6220 kHz. 1726 UTC.
Thank you for reading this post, which I hope you have enjoyed!

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Sunday, June 23, 2019

Season 2019/20: New Season Fixtures, New Season Kits!


SUNDAY, May 5 was the final post of the 2018/19 football season, seven weeks later, Season 2019/20 is a matter of  six weeks away!
For the Carlisle United Football Club 2019/20 fixtures, click here.
For the new kits, take a look at the following post from United's Facebook page:


Reporting From The Fox Tower will keep you updated on United's progress throughout the forthcoming season - Stay with this blog for regular posts.

Monday, June 17, 2019

My DX Archive: September 2000

AUTUMN of the year 2000 is where the next pick of radio logs comes from, this post looking at what I heard in September of that year.
The previous post, My DX Archive: Summer 2000, can be read here.
For the following broadcast logs, housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

September 2000: Short Wave

Notes: CHU (Canada) Time Signal Station, Frequencies & power: 3330 kHz - 3 kW, 7335 kHz - 10 kW (or try 7355 kHz), 14670 kHz - 3 kW. CHU broadcasts 24 hours. ([Information credit:] British DX Club)

"You can send reception reports (not forgetting reply postage) to: BBC Atlantic Relay Station, English Bay, ASCENSION ISLAND, South Atlantic Ocean. Tel: 4458 / 4533. Fax: 6117". (BDXC)

  • 10 September [2000]: 1445 UTC: 17810 kHz: RTE Sport Special - All Ireland Gaelic Hurling Final. English to Africa // 13720 kHz to North America, 15360 kHz to Australasia, 15240 kHz to Central & South America, 15270 kHz to South East Asia. Good to fair reception. Male commentator, hectic speech. Co-channel interference. 1500 UTC.
The Roberts R881, pictured, working 11615 kHz, some time ago.
  • 17 September: 1628 UTC: 11605 kHz: Feba Radio English to Asia. Signature tune, Female host "This is Feba Radio". Co-channel interference is Israel Radio, Romanian & Hungarian to Central Europe on 11605 kHz. Fair to poor reception. Male speech: 'Biblical genealogy' Creation of the Universe, 'give thanks each day'.
  • 22 September: 2034 UTC: 7325 kHz: Wales Radio International Good to fair reception. English to Europe via Skelton 'Celtic Notes' Jenny O'Brien. Male talks of a Church. Music from Sain. Jenny O'Brien interviews lady regarding Wrexham, Welsh names (Jones), research. The Drovers Inn, Public House. Literature.
  • 22 September: 2100 UTC: 7325 kHz: Global Sound Kitchen Good to fair reception. English to Europe via Skelton // 3955 kHz, 6140 kHz - "Best reception on 3955 kHz!" Music: Rise, Ettienne French hip hop, drum 'n' bass. www.globalsoundkitchen.com [Website no longer active]
  • 29 September: 1808 UTC: 7100 kHz: Two male operators on CB.
  • 29 September: 1817 UTC: 7300 kHz: Voice of Russia World Service Fair reception 'Commonwealth Update' Female reporter: 'Friendship Society'. Islam in politics. Visit from US delegation: Shirley Hunter, Jeffrey Thomas. Finally: Helicopter rescue, 26T helicopter, male reporter. Music. Email: letters @ vor.ru (English to Europe) To 1834 UTC.
  • 29 September: 1839 UTC: 7345 kHz: Radio Slovakia International Fair reception. Female reporter, communities in Slovakia. English to West Europe via Rimavská Sóbota (2 x 250 kW transmitters), Velké Kostol'any (100 kW transmitter). Email: englishsection @ slovakradio.sk To 1858 UTC.
Radio Slovakia QSL, September 2000.
  • 29 September: 1924 UTC: 9400 kHz: Radio Bulgaria 'Keyword Bulgaria' Strong to good reception. Programme content: Minerals. 'The Sofia Initiative'. Station ID. Report: Confederation of Independent Trade Unions. Poverty. English to Europe. Email: rbul @ nationalradio.bg 'Time Out For Music'. 1942 UTC.
  • 29 September: 1945 UTC: 9410 kHz: BBC World Service Europe. Strong to good reception. English to Europe, North Africa via Cyprus. Male reporter visits the Indian Subcontinent. 'Calcutta Stories: Essential Guide'. Email: worldservice.letters @ bbc.co.uk 20 UTC: 'Newshour'.
  • 29 September: 2014 UTC: 9500 kHz: Radio Australia Strong to good reception. English to Asia, Australia via Shepparton, Australia. 'Pacific Beat - Week In Review' male host, New Zealand in talks with China, Japanese tourism links with North Mariana Islands, public service in the Cook Islands. Pacific Islands Festival 2000 at New Caledonia.
  • 29 September: 2051 UTC: 9650 kHz: All India Radio Good reception. English to Europe, Middle East, Australia. Music, ID, music. 21 UTC: News.
  • 29 September: 2108 UTC: 9760 kHz: Voice Of America Good to poor reception. English to Europe, North Africa, Middle East via Woofferton, Shropshire, UK. 'VOA News Now' Denmark votes 'No' to European Union. Interview regarding the British currency with Michael Portillo (Conservative Party). Sport: Athletics (1500 metres race).
  • 29 September: 2136 UTC: 9990 kHz: Radio Cairo (Egypt) Good reception. English to Europe. News. To 2134 UTC.
Homer loves his radio!
  • 29 September: 2150 UTC: 10000 kHz: WWV Time Signal Station, Boulder, Colorado, USA. Strong to good reception.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post, thank you for your support of Reporting From The Fox Tower!

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Saturday, June 8, 2019

Wallpaper of the Week: Portraits of Gloria


REPORTING From The Fox Tower introduced Gloria Mills in late 2018, following her appearances on the television game shows Cash Trapped, broadcast on ITV, and The Button, broadcast on BBC.

Follow the Gloria thread from previous posts on this blog:
Hallowe'en 2018: Introducing Gloria. [Posted 31 October 2018]
Introducing Gloria: Majorca! [Posted 4 November 2018]
Portraits of Gloria: Part 1 [Posted 18 November 2018]
Portraits of Gloria: Part 2 [Posted 9 December 2018]

Follow Gloria on social media: Twitter and Instagram.

Images of Gloria Mills, September 2018. Gloria Mills is the owner of these images.
😍

Sunday, June 2, 2019

My DX Archive: Summer 2000

JUNE-July-August of the Year 2000 is our destination for this selection of broadcasts heard on the Short Wave radio band.
The previous post, My DX Archive: Spring 2000, can be read here.
For the following broadcast logs, housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

June 2000: Short Wave

  • 4 June [2000]: 1820 UTC: 5805 kHz: Radio Free London Good to poor[-ish] reception. Male operator, music: Monkees 'Last Train To Clarkesville', Beatles 'Paperback Writer', Tremeloes 'Here Comes My Baby' operator unable to answer phone. 1973 Mungo Jerry, Swinging Blue Jeans 'Hippy Hippy Shake'/'Good Golly Miss Molly'. Telephone: 07930 11 34 30 Email: RFL @ England .com 101b Kings Cross Rd, London WC1X 9LP
A4 sized Global Sound Kitchen QSL verification card, May 2000.
Notes: Global Sound Kitchen www.globalsoundkitchen.com/cooking.html [Website no longer active] Space D and Lady Sophia Telephone 0207 453 1610 Email: studio @ globalsoundkitchen.com Post: Claire Marshall, G-One Ltd, 50 Lisson Street LONDON NW1 5DF (Weekends on Shortwave).

July 2000: Short Wave
  • 19 July: 1939 UTC: 2350 kHz: Radio Sweden Fair reception. Interview regarding medical negligence, weather. 'Money Matters' share issues in Sweden. 'Sixty Degrees North' Interview with a web developer. Chris Boswell closes the show. [Spurious broadcast?]
  • 19 July: 20:04 UTC: 2395 kHz: Voice of America Good to fair reception. VOA-Africa report from Monrovia, Liberia. Nelson Mandela hosts meeting. United Nations report lack of food in Angola. Report from Geneva. Financial help for Zambia. White farmers quit Zimbabwe. Money to fight AIDS. [Spurious broadcast?]
  • 19 July: 2025 UTC: 2530 kHz: BBC World Service Good to fair reception 'Newshour' Male speaks of Queen Mother's Birthday. Business news: oil. Headlines at 2030 UTC: Middle East meeting at Camp David, Korean summit regarding missiles. Nelson Mandela speaks of Burundi. Madrid protests against ETA. [Spurious broadcast?]
  • 19 July: 2132 UTC: 3915 kHz: BBC World Service Fair to poor reception. English to East and South East Asia and Australia via Kranji, Singapore. BBC Sport: Tour de France, Open Golf.
  • 19 July: 2140 UTC: 3975 kHz: Radio Budapest Strong to good reception 'Hungary Today' Abortion laws in Hungary. Currency exchange rates. Michael Flatley performs 'Feet of Flames' in Budapest. Music: 'Riverdance'.
Radio Budapest sticker.
August 2000: Short Wave
  • 17 August: 1923 UTC: 4950 kHz: Voice of America Good to fair reception. English to Africa via Sao Tome, 'African Perspectives' Sport: Football World Cup 2002 Qualifier: USA 7 [Seven] - Barbados 0. ID, 'Ocean Report'. 1930 UTC: 'World Of Music'.
  • 17 August: 1954 UTC: 5000 kHz: WWV Boulder, Colorado USA. Strong to good reception. Time Signal station, co-channel interference from Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal, ID signal and music.
  • 17 August: 2026 UTC: 5995 kHz: Radio Canada International Good to fair reception. English to Europe and North Africa via Skelton, 'Spectrum' Medical charges. News headlines. Rabbi in North America. E-Coli scare, closure of Scotia Bank. Lobster dispute.
  • 17 August: 2100 UTC: 6195 kHz: BBC World Service English to Europe and North Africa via Rampisham, Dorset, UK. News: Sunken Russian Submarine. Echo from 6195 BBC Cyprus!
  • 18 August: 2045 UTC: 7325 kHz: Wales Radio International Good reception 'Celtic Notes' Jenny O'Brien, Wales Tourist Board competition, Philip Evans interview, Tourism in Wales. Interview regarding the Welsh language. Mr Thomas. Music: 'The Incredibles' www.flaigh.com / www.sain.com SA41 3QD
  • 18 August: 2059 UTC: 7325 kHz // 3955 kHz, 6140 kHz and 1215 kHz (Medium Wave) Virgin Radio relay on Shortwave! To Europe via Skelton, Cumbria, England. Virgin in place of Global Sound Kitchen? Change at 2125 kHz [sic - UTC]: Global Sound Kitchen.
  • 18 August: 2130 UTC: 11680 kHz: BBC World Service Strong to good reception. English to South Atlantic via Rampisham, Dorset, UK. 'Calling the Falklands' Repair of a submarine in Gibraltar, interview with a representative of Greenpeace. Interview with Professor Martin Palmer regarding global warming. Letter for auction from Scott and Evans, Himalayan Expedition.
  • 18 August: 2148 UTC: 7325 kHz: Global Sound Kitchen Strong to good reception. English to Europe via Skelton, Cumbria, England. Also broadcast on 3955 kHz and 6140 kHz from Skelton.
  • 27 August: 1725 UTC: 5805 kHz: Radio Free London Music. Signal: fair, English to Europe, music. Also 1801 UTC, fair to poor reception. Address, phone, email. Music: Beatles 'All You Need Is Love'. Aztec Camera 'Somewhere In My Heart'.
I hope you have enjoyed this look back to the Summer of the year 2000.

It is with great sadness that the Border Television and BBC Radio Cumbria broadcaster, John Myers, has died at the age of sixty. For a tribute from BBC Cumbria, click here.

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