Showing posts with label Vatican Radio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vatican Radio. Show all posts

Thursday, January 12, 2023

My Short Wave Archive: October 2010

 ST EDWARD's Day, Wednesday 13 October, 2010, an evening of listening to Short Wave radio broadcasts, as shared here.

The previous post featuring Short Wave broadcasts, My Short Wave Archive: August 2010, 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.

October 2010 : Short Wave
  • [Wednesday] 13 October [2010]: 2111 UTC: 3915 kHz: BBC World Service  Measured, clear speech, male host with male guest in English.
    Fair to poor reception, English to East and South East Asia via Kranji, Singapore.
    Logged to 2124 UTC.
  • 13 October: 2128 UTC: 3955 kHz: KBS World Radio  Seafood and natural remedies of medicine from fish. Rice and abalone (mollusc) as an example. 'Happy Cooking'.
    Female host announces KBS Radio website, broadcast schedule (2100 UTC: 3955 kHz; 0230 UTC: 9460 kHz DRM; 1430 UTC: 9460 kHz), via World Radio Network website, via KBS website. Announces postal address for Seoul, Korea.  'Goodbye everyone'.
    Off air at 2132 UTC.
    Strong to good reception, English to Europe via Skelton, Cumbria, UK (VT).
  • 13 October: 2219 UTC: 3985 kHz: Voice of Croatia  News: Government declassified documents regarding gas distribution business in Croatia. Sale of Austrian bank to Bavarian bank, links to the Croatian national bank.
    Good reception.
    International news: Chilean miners are being released after being trapped in a collapsed mine for 69 days at 700 metres (below ground). Meetings between Israel and Croat dignitaries in Zagreb. ID.
    Sport: Tennis: Shanghai Masters. Weather reports. ID.
    Genealogy programme: Ethnic roots.
    English to Europe and America.
    Headlines with Chris Bushell on 'Croatia Today'.
    Announcements: Croatian Radio via satellite and broadcast schedule (MW: 1134 kHz; Short Wave: 7375 kHz to Australia? 11675 kHz. Europe: 3985 kHz, 6130 kHz, 7170 kHz), also via the Voice of Croatia website.
    English broadcast off air at 2233 UTC.
  • 13 October: 2247 UTC: 4005 kHz: Vatican Radio  Female and male in conversation, English, speech regarding Nigerian Catholic man, interview. Bad audio.
    Fair (to poor) reception. English to Europe.
    Female host, with passages of speech by male.
    ID at 2300 UTC. Announcement of Vatican Radio website, music, interval signal.
    Spanish language broadcast.
    Logged to 2305 UTC.
Vatican Radio QSL card, verifying reception on 13 October 2010.

Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower!

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

My Short Wave Archive: December 2009

 WELCOME to memories of international radio broadcasts, heard on the Short Wave radio band, on the 4th Sunday in Advent, 2009.


The previous post featuring Short Wave broadcasts, My Short Wave Archive: October 2009, 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.

December 2009 : Short Wave
  • [Sunday] 20 December [2009]: 1014 UTC: 15575 kHz: BBC World Service  Good to fair reception. English to Middle East via Cyprus.
    News programme includes dogs stolen to order and pregnant female soldiers in Iraq.
    Logged to 1025 UTC.
  • 20 December: 1033 UTC: 15585 kHz: Radio Exterior de Espana  Excellent to good reception.
    Two or three males speaking of football. Spanish language. Speech by female.
    Spanish to Europe.
    Logged to 1050 UTC.
  • 20 December: 1100 UTC: 15595 kHz: Vatican Radio  ID. Good to fair reception.
    Angelus (Liturgy) with The Pope to 1115 UTC.
    Angelus was broadcast to Asia and Europe 1st Programme. ID, music.
    Logged to 1120 UTC.
  • 20 December: 1126 UTC: 15650 kHz: Voice of Greece  Music from the 'Greek In Style' music programme to Europe, Middle East, Asia,
    Good to fair reception.
    Logged to 1138 UTC.
Verification card from The Voice of Greece.
[Lunch Break at 1200 UTC]
  • 20 December: 1249 UTC: 17760 kHz: Radio Romania International  Music: 'Corinthian Swan'.
    Excellent to fair reception.
    Next piece of music: 'Playing in the Snow'.  'All That Jazz' is the name of the show.  Music: 'Jingle Bell Sleigh'.
    English to Europe and Africa.
    Close of programme, close of transmission at 1255 UTC.
  • 20 December: 1346 UTC: 11675 kHz: Polish Radio External Service  Excellent to good reception, English to Europe via Moosbrunn, Austria.
    Male and female speak of the Christmas traditions in Poland, including visits from Santa Claus with presents for the children and the Christmas meals, including the Carp and the keeping of the Carp until the day of the meal. Soups and preparation of Christmas Eve dishes.  With Best Wishes for 2010.  English Section of the External Service.
    Web contact details. Music.
    Logged to 1400 UTC.
A log for Radio Station WWV Boulder CO USA on 5000 kHz was noted, though also noted as unlistenable due to noise on the band.

Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower!

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

My Short Wave Archive: December 2008

 AN extended break has been taken, during which I hope you have enjoyed the Summer of 2022.

Welcome to a post listing Short Wave radio broadcasts, heard December 2008.

The previous post featuring Short Wave broadcasts, My Short Wave Archive: October 2008, 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.

December 2008 : Short Wave
  • [Monday] 15 December [2008]: 2108 UTC: 4975 kHz: Vatican Radio  Female host, in conversation with a lady who lost her daughter to cancer. Also conversing with friends and carers.
    Female also speaks with Daniel, representing the Christian Aid charity. Daniel speaks of work undertaken by the charity, including working with the people of Bangladesh, following flooding.
    Good reception.
    Broadcast comes to a close at 2120 UTC.
  • 15 December: 2128 UTC: 5000 kHz: WWV  Boulder  CO  USA  Time signal station.
    Excellent to fair reception.
    One second ticks with rapid-fire ticks, alternating with longer tones and continuous tones.
    Deterioration of signal at 2131 UTC.
Spurious out of band broadcasts: Radio Romania International in English; Mighty KBC in English from Holland; Radio Serbia in English [See QSL from The International Radio Serbia below].

QSL from The International Radio Serbia.

  • 15 December: 2223 UTC: 6055 kHz: The Mighty KBC  Holland, via Sitkunai, Lithuania.
    Wolfman Jack on the air.
    Excellent to fair reception.
    Rock music. Ad for the Isle of Bute, Scotland. Ad for KBC Import.
    ID. Wolfman Jack signing off.
    Close of broadcast at 2230 UTC.
Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower!

Sunday, June 26, 2022

My Short Wave Archive: October 2008

 MEMORIES of international radio broadcasts, heard October 2008, as part of the My Short Wave Archive thread, previously known as the My DX Archive thread.

The previous post featuring Short Wave broadcasts, My Short Wave Archive: Summer 2008, 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.

October 2008 : Short Wave
  • [Saturday] 4 October [2008]: 1622 UTC: 4005 kHz: Vatican Radio  Female voice in English, male speech with a report regarding South Africa and Zimbabwe: "No foreign aid going into Zimbabwe".
    Female presents a report regarding Iran.
    Fair to poor reception.
    Europe 1st Programme, English.
    Music, male and female speech, deteriorating reception.
    Male presents a report regarding Church.
    Female closes the broadcast with a direction to the website: vaticanradio . org
    Vatican Radio broadcast in Slovenian language commences.
    Logged to 1635 UTC.
  • 4 October: 1643 UTC: 4025 kHz: Laser Hot Hits  Music: Simply Red 'A New Flame'.
    Male speech, ID and frequency announcement from the presenter, with listener feedback.
    Music.
    Good reception, English to Europe.
    Music from 1969; "Delving in to the 60s a lot".
    Listener support from Southampton. Interference from other broadcasters.
    Presenter gives contact email and website address: laserhothits . co . uk
    Music from the "Big L Fab 40" - 60s music.
    Reminder of email address and international telephone number.
    Recording of a Big L broadcast, August 14th...
    Music: The Beach Boys.
    Reminder of contact details: Mobile telephone number, email address.
    Logged to 1705 UTC.
  • 4 October: 1746 UTC: 4635 kHz: Radio Tajikistan International  Excellent to good reception, male and female speech.
A Radio Tajikistan International envelope, December 1997.

  • 4 October: 2050 UTC: 4780 kHz: Radio Djibouti  Music.
  • 4 October: 2057 UTC: 4845 kHz: Radio Mauritania  Music.
    Good to fair reception.
    Music: Male vocalist.
    Male speech at 21 UTC, music.
  • 4 October: 2118 UTC: 4975 kHz: Voice of Russia  Speech.
    Good reception.
    Logged to 2133 UTC.
Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower!

Friday, June 24, 2022

My Short Wave Archive: Summer 2008

 TRANSCRIBED from my original notes, here are pieces of news, notes and logs of radio broadcasts heard on the Short Wave band during June and August 2008.

The previous post featuring Short Wave broadcasts, My Short Wave Archive: March 2008, 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.

[ June 2008: 'News & notes from the internet!' : Postal address for National Radio Company of Ukraine - Radio Ukraine International, 26 Khreschatyk St, KYIV 01001  Ukraine
E-mail: English section: vsru @ nrcu . gov . ua ]

June 2008 : Short Wave
  • [Saturday] 21 June [2008]: 1900 UTC: 5955 kHz: Radio Nederland Wereldomroep  Live commentary from Euro 2008 [football] Quarter Final: Holland v Russia. Dutch language.
    Excellent to good reception.
    Logged to 1925 UTC.
Radio Nederland Wereldomroep postcard.
 August 2008 : Short Wave
  • [Thursday] 21 August [2008]: 2130 UTC: 2805 kHz: A spurious broadcast from Radio Sweden!
    Musical ID interval signal 'To The Wide Wide World', followed by intro by George Wood
    .
  • 21 August: 2205 UTC: 3985 kHz: Voice of Croatia  Female speech, male speech, music.
    Spanish language broadcast.
    Logged to 2220 UTC.
  • 21 August: 2230 UTC: 4005 kHz: Vatican Radio  Interval signal, English Feature programme with Philippa Hitchen. Tenth anniversary of Omagh bombing, 15 August 1998. Lydia O'Kane interview.
    Good reception.
    English Feature programme to Europe, Europe 1st Programme.
    Bishop Seamus Heggarty.
    Logged to 2240 UTC.
Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower!

Sunday, January 24, 2021

My AM Archive: October 2007

 OCTOBER 2007 is the next post in the My AM Archive thread; a continual thread of my Medium Wave logbooks, bringing them online for posterity, and for other like-minded radio listeners to enjoy.

Logs of Short Wave broadcasts are also on this blog, under the My DX Archive thread.

The previous post in this thread, My AM Archive: Summer 2007, 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.

October 2007 : Medium Wave
  • [Tuesday] 30 October [2007]: 2120 - 2145 UTC: 1530 kHz: Vatican Radio  150 / 450 kW; Good to fair reception via Santa Maria di Galeria [Vatican City]. Clear ID signal of Vatican Radio, male speech in Spanish language via Europe 1st Programme. Arabic Service on air at 2140 UTC.
  • 30 October: 2205 - 2215 UTC: 1539 kHz: Evangeliums Rundfunk  700 / 120 kW; Good to fair reception via Mainflingen, D [Germany]. Male speech in German language, with female host. Music, young voices singing 'Joy - all over the world'. Male host introduces report regarding tsunami in East Asia, female speaks of memories of tsunami in Thailand. Emotional speech.
    [Notes: Evangeliums - Rundfunk postal address:
    Evangeliums - Rundfunk Deutschland e.V., Berliner Ring 62, 35576 Wetzlar GERMANY
    Tel 06441 957-0  Fax 06441 957-120  E-Mail info at erf . de ]
  • 30 October: 2224 - 2245 UTC: 1548 kHz: Magic  Good to fair reception via Liverpool or Sheffield. 'Magic Moments' with Norman: "Who had a 1979 hit with 'Up The Junction'..." Music: 10cc 'I'm Not In Love', Bobby Darin 'Dream Lover', Dr Hook 'Sylvia's Mother', Bad Company 'Can't Get Enough', Michael Jackson 'Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough'.
A post from October 2007, detailing the above at time of reception, can be found here.

T
hank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower!

📻

Sunday, January 19, 2020

My DX Archive: Spring 2003

MARCH and May 2003 are the months from which these memories of radio broadcasts originate from. Memories of broadcasts from Winter 2002-03 can be found at the foot of the previous post, titled Magnificat.
The following broadcasts were heard on the Shortwave radio band.
Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

March 2003: Shortwave

  • 7 March [2003]: 2058 UTC: 5900 kHz: Radio Prague // 5930 kHz. Strong to fair reception. English to Europe // Asia, Australasia. 21 UTC broadcast with Jan Bellinger. News: Czech Republic has a new President. Rob Cameron with in depth look at news: Human rights commissioner attacked. Student sets himself alight in Prague.
  • 7 March: 2134 UTC: 5950 kHz: Voice of Russia English to Europe, America. 'The Jazz Show' Good to fair reception.
May 2003: Shortwave

  • 18 May: 0656 UTC: 6075 kHz: Deutsche Welle Strong to good reception. German language. Visit of Queen Elizabeth II. 0700 UTC News.
  • 18 May: 0747 UTC: 6140 kHz: Deutsche Welle 'Concert Hour' Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Strong to good reception.
  • 18 May: 0756 UTC: 6155 kHz: Radio Austria International Fair reception. German to Europe via Moosbrunn. Male and female hosts. ID. Signature tune. News at 0800 UTC: Casablanca, Washington. Snippet of speech by President Bush. To 0804 UTC.
  • 18 May: 0948 UTC: 9605 kHz: Voice of the Mediterranean Female host mentions Malta, music. Good reception. 'News Review' in the Maltese language to 10 UTC, 10 UTC 'Valletta Calling' French broadcast. To 1008 UTC.
  • 18 May: 1430 UTC: 9645 kHz: Vatican Radio Interval signature music 'Christus Vincit', Europe 1st Programme, Music programme, operatic male vocalists, Italian. Strong to good reception.
  • 18 May: 1522 UTC: 11660 kHz: Radio Australia Female host, Margaret Thursby, speaks to a male guest regarding East Timor. Good to fair reception.
  • 18 May: 1625 UTC: 11660 kHz: Radio Australia Male host with a male guest discussing university education. Good to fair reception. Interference from oriental / Chinese music, opening chimes of Radio Netherlands and birdcall of RAI - Italy.
  • 18 May: 1655 UTC: 12080 kHz: VOA Special English Voice of America Special English to Africa via Botswana. Female and male hosts, 'Fuller's geodesic dome'. Fair reception. 'People in America' to 17 UTC. 17 UTC: Portuguese service.
Thank you so much for once again visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower.
I do hope you are enjoying these posts, looking back to the days when shortwave broadcasts were heard from all over the world - Some still are.
I hope these posts also provide a fitting tribute to some of the stations, presenters, transmission sites no longer on air - Voice of the Mediterranean [VoM], as featured in this post, was based in Malta, originally broadcasting via a Deutsche Welle facility on Malta, until that closed in the mid 1990's. The above broadcast from VoM was most likely to have been heard via transmitters in Rome.
Broadcasts from Malta fell silent early 2004, but I do hope the texts and images from the likes of VoM in these posts do give you a feel for those broadcasts.

📻

Sunday, January 7, 2018

Festive Frequencies 2017 - 2018

WELCOME to this first post on Reporting From The Fox Tower of 2018, taking a look at the log of radio broadcasts received on Christmas Eve (Sunday 24), New Year's Eve (Sunday 31 December 2017) and the first logged broadcast of 2018 (Monday 1 January).
[Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz), transmission powers in watts and kiloWatts (kW)]

Short Wave: Sunday 24 December 2017

  • 24 December: 1450 UTC: 9810 kHz: Radio Romania International. Strong to good reception, 300 kW via Galbeni, Romania. Romanian speech: Female speech, music with male vocalist, male speech giving frequencies and an ID for Radio Romania International. Music to the top of the hour, birdcall (bird song), top of the hour pips, male speech, brief music, female speech, news? Gathering of world leaders, including Prince Charles and President Macron of France? Medal was mentioned. Music, female vocalist. Female speech, male speech on phone. To 1508 UTC.
  • 24 December: 1521 UTC: 9840 kHz: World Harvest Radio International, USA. Good to poor reception, English to Europe, Africa and the Americas, via WHRI Angel 2, Cypress Creek, South Carolina, USA. Music in the English language, audible male and female speech, female speaks of relationships being restored, David in a relationship with Lord Jesus Christ. Male wishes listeners a 'Very Merry Christmas', female says 'Keep Christ in Christmas'. ID for World Harvest Radio, web and email addresses. New programme: 'Christian Crusaders', male speech, prayer. Music: Christmas hymns: 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!' Reading from the scriptures, broadcast interrupted by noise. To 1538 UTC.
  • 24 December: 1559 UTC: 9880 kHz: China Radio International. Strong to good reception, English to Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia, via Nanning, Guangxi, China. Reception is excellent! News: China's amphibious aircraft has completed first test flight, can carry water to combat fires. Plans to develop hydrogen energy cells in China. Car plants in China. Tourist ship collides with stone-carrying barge. Fire in Philippino furniture store. Tropical storm death toll rises. Officers dismissed due to terror groups in Turkey. South Korean fire in sports centre parking lot. 'Chinese Theatre' involved in daily life of China: Wild China, through the eyes of photographers. To 1614 UTC.
  • 24 December: 1629 UTC: 11560 kHz: All India Radio. Strong to good reception. Upbeat 'music hall' style song, female speech. 1630 UTC news bulletin? Pakistan, Islamabad, Kashmir. Music with male vocals. Dari? To the Indian Subcontinent? To 1645 UTC.
  • 24 December: 1653 UTC: 11625 kHz: Vatican Radio. Poor reception, 250 kW via Talata-Volonondry, Madagascar. English broadcast: Male speech on a very distorted channel: "God is desperate for you to hear his word", music: 'Away In A Manger' played on the piano. Speech. Interval signal to 1700 UTC: New broadcast: 250 kW via Santa Maria di Galeria: Male speech in the French language, giving frequencies. To 1708 UTC.
  • 24 December: 1743 UTC: 11930 kHz: Radio Marti, USA. Poor reception, 250 kW via Greenville B, USA. Spanish language speech by a female and male, break for music, male speech continues. Female speech, heavy noise. To 1750 UTC.
  • 24 December: 1820 UTC: 13845 kHz: WWCR, USA. Moderate to poor reception, English to Europe and America via WWCR-3, Nashville, Tennessee. University Network: Pastor Melissa Scott speaks about the relationship between the Earth and the Lord. Points to think about. Heavy noise. Bible references. Reminder of the points spoken about. Reading the Bible from cover to cover gives a true reflection of events. "Proof of Cain to be able to be harmful to his brother". Be obedient. 'God's place in Jesus' scriptures'. To 1832 UTC.

Medium Wave: Sunday 31 December 2017

  • 31 December: 1914 UTC: 1431 kHz: Smooth Radio, Essex / Berkshire, UK. Moderate to poor reception. Music: Madonna 'Borderline', male speech, music: John Legend 'All Of Me', Andy Williams 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You', 'Street Life', severe noise. Smooth Radio via Essex (350 watts) / Berkshire (140 watts). To 1930 UTC.
  • 31 December: 2004 UTC: 1449 kHz: BBC Radio Four, UK. Good to poor reception, heavy interference and noise. Male speaks about a dance and how his father taught him to dance. The father was a military man, who died. Male speaks with an Australian / New Zealand accent - Actor Russell Crowe? BBC Radio Four via Redmoss, Aberdeen, 2 kW. To 2013 UTC.
  • 31 December: 2028 UTC: 1458 kHz: Gold - Manchester, UK. Good to poor reception. Music: Cyndi Lauper 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun', 'New Year's Eve party' ID. 5 kW via Ashton Moss, Manchester. Music: 'Venus' [Co-channel reception of BBC Radio Newcastle] ID for Gold, music: 'Just Hold On', ID, T-Rex 'I Love To Boogie', 'Sweet Talking Guy'. To 2044 UTC.
  • 31 December: 2050 UTC: 1467 kHz: Trans World Radio - Europe. Good to moderate reception, 1000 kW via Roumoules, France. Continuous male speech, Polish language? Speech including tentative ID and frequencies, speech continues past the top of the hour. Female speech and music? Interval signal / Off air / News bulletin? To 2106 [21:11] UTC.
  • 31 December: 2123 UTC: 1485 kHz: SER, Spain. Moderate to poor reception [Co-channel male speech in English, speaking of an 'album of the week'], male and female speech in Spanish language - SER Radio Melilla, 5 kW via Melilla, the Spanish autonomous city, on the border of Morocco. To 2132 UTC.
    Google Maps image of Melilla, on the Moroccan border.
[Other DX notes: 31 December: 2145 UTC: 1503 kHz: Broadcasts included speech and music - Obliterated by noise. Music: Dance music. Most likely to be RNE Radio 5 or BBC Radio Stoke. To 2156 UTC.]
  • 31 December: 2237 UTC: 1530 kHz: Pulse 2, UK. Good to poor reception. Music: Bon Jovi 'Livin' On A Prayer', Ike & Tina Turner 'Disco Inferno', Tiffany 'I Think We're Alone Now', Michael Jackson 'Billie Jean'. 740 watts via Vicars Lot, Huddersfield. To 2302 UTC.
  • 31 December: 2308 UTC: 1548 kHz: Forth 2, UK. Strong to moderate reception. Music: Irene Cara 'Fame', 'Last Night A DJ Saved My Life', male speech: "Good evening..."[Laughter], music: R Dean Taylor 'Ghost In My House', Men Without Hats 'Safety Dance', Electric Light Orchestra. Male speech on Forth 2, Colinswell, Edinburgh: ID 'The Greatest Hits for Edinburgh, Lothian and Fife, this is Forth 2'. Music: The Weather Girls 'It's Raining Men', ID, D:Ream 'Things Can Only Get Better'. Forth 2: 2.2 kW via Colinswell, Edinburgh. Male host with contact details. Music: Bee Gees 'You Should Be Dancing', ID, Whitney Houston 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody'. To 2344 UTC.
  • 31 December: 2346 UTC: 1557 kHz: Smooth Radio, UK. Strong to moderate reception, via Kings Heath, Northampton (760 watts) or Veals Farm, Southampton (500 watts). Music: Stevie Wonder 'I Just Called To Say I Love You', male speech with time check [12 minutes to Midnight], "This show continues to one o'clock". Ad break, music: Chicago 'If You Leave Me Now', Toni Braxton 'Unbreak My Heart'. Smooth Love Songs hands over to Big Ben - The Midnight chimes from Big Ben - "Happy New Year, from Smooth Radio". Music: Foreigner 'I Want To Know What Love Is', Rod Stewart 'I Don't Want To Talk About It'. ID: "Your relaxing music mix, Smooth Radio". Music: George Michael 'Jesus To A Child', Richard Marx 'Right Here Waiting'. To 00:16 UTC.

Medium Wave: Monday 1 January 2018
  • 1 January: 00:25 UTC: 1566 kHz: BBC Somerset, UK. Good to poor reception, 1 kW via Taunton, Somerset. Male speech "...In the west of England". Music: McFadden and Whitehead, male speech, music: Chic 'Le Freak', speech, music, male speech "Across the west country, thanks for joining us, whatever you are doing...". Music: Bee Gees 'Night Fever'. To 00:50 UTC.
Thanks for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower!

📻

Sunday, February 12, 2017

January + February 2017 on air

MID February and it is a Six Nations Sunday, a tournament which this blog has reflected upon (briefly) over past years. Spoiler alert: Ireland and England won on Saturday; Scotland v France is underway, five minutes played, no score.

I have had a couple of evenings listening to the Roberts R881 over the first six weeks of this year, here are the logs of what I heard on Short Wave and, to begin, Medium Wave. Notes: Time in UTC (GMT), frequency in kiloHertz (kHz), power in kiloWatt (kW) or MegaWatt (MW).

January 2017: Medium Wave.
  • 25 January: 1812 UTC: 540 kHz: MR Kossuth Radio, Hungary. Good to strong reception, 2 MW via Solt, Hungary. 'Sports World' covering a Women's volleyball Cup match.
  • 25 January: 1906 UTC: 549 kHz: Jil FM, Algeria. Good to strong reception, up to 600 kW via Sidi Hamadouche, Algeria. Music and speech, French and Arabic services.
  • 25 January: 1935 UTC: 567 kHz: RNE Radio 5, Spain. Moderate to poor reception, up to 100 kW via Murcia, Spain. Male and female speech, Spanish.
  • 25 January: 1958 UTC: 585 kHz: BBC Radio Scotland, UK. Good to strong reception, 2 kW via Dumfries, Scotland. Football! Heart of Midlothian v Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup - GOAL Hearts 0 - Raith Rovers 1 (Deflected goal). Also playing: Celtic 0 - St Johnstone 0.
  • 25 January: 2018 UTC: 585 kHz: RNE Radio Nacional, Spain. Good to strong reception, up to 100 kW via Madrid, Spain. MORE football! Celta Vigo v Real Madrid - Male commentators mention Bale, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, referee blows his whistle. Isco. [Full Time: 2-2]
  • 25 January: 2036 UTC: 603 kHz: BBC Radio 4, UK. Good to strong reception. 2 kW via Wrekenton, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England. 'Future Proofing': How sport plays its part in society. Link into the 'Four Thought' programme.
  • 25 January: 2108 UTC: 621 kHz: RTBF International, Belgium. Strong to moderate reception, 300 kW via Wavre, Belgium. 'Viva Sports' Male speech, presumably at a football fixture. Mentions of 'goalkeeper', 'El Classico', 'Anderlecht'. Full Time? Male in quiet studio reading football scores. Music: Clean Bandit 'Rockabye'.
  • 25 January: 2148 UTC: 639 kHz: RNE Radio Nacional, Spain. Good to strong reception, up to 600 kW via various transmission sites. Football: Celta Vigo v Real Madrid - Male commentary. Full Time? Highlights package.
  • 25 January: 2209 UTC: 639 kHz: CRo2 Dvojka, Czech Republic. Good to moderate reception, 1500 kW via Prague. 'Night Micro forum' with Marie Retková. Female conversation, music: Frank Sinatra 'Strangers In The Night'. Conversation continues.

February 2017: Short Wave.
  • 2 February: 1201 UTC: 9430 kHz: FEBC International, Philippines. Moderate reception, 100 kW to Asia, via Bocaue, Philippines. Music, top of the hour idents in various languages, music. Chinese - Mandarin language.
  • 2 February: 1240 UTC: 9560 kHz: Vatican Radio, Vatican City, The Vatican. Poor reception, 250 kW to Asia + Oceania via Philippines. Chinese language programme, female and male speech. ID signal.
  • 2 February: 1312 UTC: 9645 kHz: Reach Beyond Australia, Australia. Moderate to poor reception, English language to Asia, via Kununurra, Australia. 'Hope for the Heart' programme with male and female voices.
  • 2 February: 1345 UTC: 9740 kHz: BBC World Service, UK. Moderate to poor reception, female speech at length, male on telephone. English to East + South East Asia via Kranji, Singapore.
  • 2 February: 1452 UTC: 9880 kHz: China Radio International, China. Good to moderate reception, 100 kW via Nanning, China. Cambodian language - Music, female speech, ID sequence, off air at 1457 UTC.
  • 2 February: 1509 UTC: 9900 kHz: Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iran. Moderate to poor reception, 500 kW via Sirjan, Iran. Hindi language - Very muffled speech, heavy propagation. Music, female speech. [Online as 'ParsToday']
  • 2 February: 1532 UTC: 9920 kHz: BBC World Service, UK. Good to moderate reception, 250 kW via Nakhon Sawan, Thailand. Urdu language: Female speech, translating an American English male, translating an English speaking female.
  • 2 February: 1555 UTC: 11635 kHz: BBC World Service, UK. Poor reception. 250 kW via Kranji, Singapore. Urdu language: Female in studio, with male on phone. Music, female speech. Off air at 1559 UTC.
  • 2 February: 1606 UTC: 11725 kHz: China Radio International, China. Poor reception. 150 kW via Cerrik, Albania. Arabic language: Flamboyant music, male speech, extended music.
  • 2 February: 1617 UTC: 11735 kHz: Either Zanzibar Broadcasting Corporation, Zanzibar [50 kW via Dole, Zanzibar, Swahili language] Or Rádio Trans Mundial, Brazil [50 kW via Santa Maria - Camobi, Brazil, Portuguese language]. Moderate reception, male speech, music.
  • 2 February: 1632 UTC: 11815 kHz: Voice of Turkey, Turkey. Strong to moderate reception, 500 kW via Emirler, Turkey. Turkish language, male speech, music.
  • 2 February: 1639 UTC: 11900 kHz: Voice of America, USA. Moderate to poor reception, English to Africa via Sentech, Meyerton, South Africa. Female and male presentation team of 'South Sudan In Focus'.
  • 2 February: 1736 UTC: 11930 kHz: Radio Marti, USA. Moderate to poor reception, Spanish to Cuba via Greenville, North Carolina, USA. Strong speech from a male, with female speech too.
  • 2 February: 1750 UTC: 11945 kHz: NHK World Radio, Japan. Good to strong reception, 250 kW via Issoudun, France. Music: Earth, Wind & Fire 'Boogie Wonderland', Japanese speech, music. Female speech, male speech, ID, time signal for 1800 UTC, ID. Male speech: News bulletin. Female speech.
  • 2 February: 1828 UTC: 11975 kHz: BBC World Service, UK. Good reception, 250 kW to Africa, via Ascension Island. French language service, male speech, ID as 'BBC Afrique', ID set to music - Off air at 1829 UTC.
  • 2 February: 1835 UTC: 12075 kHz: Voice of America, USA. Strong to moderate reception. French language service to Africa, via Botswana. Male and female speech, with idents.
  • 2 February: 1854 UTC: 12160 kHz: WWCR 2, USA. Poor reception, 100 kW via Nashville, Tennessee, USA. English language: Male voice with web address, music, female speech.
  • 2 February: 1925 UTC: 15400 kHz: BBC World Service, UK. Good to strong reception, English to West + Central Africa via Ascension Island - Football! Ghana v Cameroon in the African Cup of Nations - Live commentary from the Stade de Franceville, half an hour played. Ghana corner, dispossessed, Cameroon corner - 30 yard shot on goal, Ghana 'keeper punches the ball out. 0-0 on 30 minutes in the Semi-Final. Ghana have a shot on goal - Wide of the post.
That completes the logs for January and February - Much more comprehensive than I thought! I hope you have found this post informative and interesting. Until the next time - Enjoy.

📻

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

September Short Wave Results

AFTER an early start on the morning of Sunday 18 September for the Rugby World Cup, I spent most of the day listening to the Short Wave band of the Roberts R881. The following list of broadcasts I received includes times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kHz (kiloHertz) and a link to the broadcasters websites:


  • 1139 UTC, 6075 kHz : Deutsche Welle, German language to Europe via Rampisham transmitter site, UK. 'Magazine' programme, Sport programme: Bundesliga football. 1200 UTC news: Afghanistan. Deutsche Welle website.
  • 1332 UTC, 6190 kHz : Deutschlandfunk, German language to Europe via Berlin, 17 kW (kiloWatts). Classical choir music. Deutschlandfunk website.
  • 1405 UTC, 6295 kHz : Jack Van Impe Ministries, English language to Europe via Reflections Europe, Republic of Ireland. Religious ministry. Reflections Europe website and Jack Van Impe Ministries website.
  • 1439 UTC, 6305 kHz : Radio Merlin International, English language to Europe, via the Netherlands? Music: Transvision Vamp, The Real Thing, Beats International, Derek & The Dominoes, The Specials, Gary Newman & Tubeway Army, The Love Affair. Radio Merlin International website.
  • 1550 UTC, 6930 kHz : Irish Music Radio, English language to Europe, via West Coast Ireland? Music: Amelie, The Bee Gees, David Guetta. Irish Music Radio email address.
  • 1639 UTC, 7250 kHz : Vatican Radio, Slovenian language to Europe via Santa Maria di Galeria, Vatican State.Male speech, act of worship, male speech, music, female speech. Vatican Radio website.
  • 1800 UTC, 7275 kHz : Radio Exterior de Espana, Spanish language to Europe. 'Tablero Deportivo V (5)'. Spanish football commentaries. Radio Exterior de Espana website.
  • 1840 UTC, 7290 kHz : The Overcomer Ministry [Brother R G Stair], English language to Europe, Middle East via Nexus-IRRS [Italian Radio Relay Service], Slovakian/Romanian transmitter site. Religious ministry. Nexus-IRRS website and The Overcomer Ministry website.
  • 1922 UTC, 7400 kHz : Radio Bulgaria, German language to Europe. Male speech, female speech, female guest on telephone. Radio Bulgaria website.
  • 1945 UTC, 7485 kHz : Voice of America, VOA Special English to Middle East via Iranawila, Sri Lanka. 'Words and their stories', 'People in America'. Voice of America website.


Sunday was a rather good day with the radio!

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Christmas Eve DX 2010 and a Boxing Day Birthday

THE evening of Friday 24 December 2010 was spent listening to the Tropical and HF bands of my Short Wave radio, here are the broadcasts I heard, with links to the broadcasters webpages (Times in UTC/GMT; Frequencies in kHz):

THE Boxing Day Birthday is the 28th Birthday of Carlisle's finest, Miss Roxanne Pallett:

Happy Birthday Roxy, I hope you have had a great day!

Finally, The Ashes cricket series is under way. Give England a helping hand by voting 3-1 England on the ABC Grandstand Sport poll HERE. Show your support for England to win the Ashes in Australia!

That's the over... Enjoy Christmas and the New Year 2011!

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Tropical Band DX, October 2010

TUNING the lowest frequencies of the Short Wave band, the Tropical band, produced the following results on the evening of Wednesday, 13 October, 2010 (Times in UTC, frequencies in kHz) :

  • 2110 - 2125 UTC, 3915 kHz : BBC World Service, English to East and South East Asia via Kranji, Singapore.
  • 2125 - 2135 UTC, 3955 kHz : KBS World Radio, English to Europe via Skelton, Cumbria, UK (VT Group transmitting station).
  • 2220 - 2235 UTC, 3985 kHz : Voice of Croatia, English to Europe and America. 'Croatia Today' with Chris Bushell (Website in Croatian).
  • 2245 - 2305 UTC, 4005 kHz : Vatican Radio, English to Europe (Website is Europe 1st Programme schedule).

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Short Wave DX: April 2010

HERE is a list of what I heard on the Short Wave radio band, on the evening of Thursday 8 April 2010. All times in GMT / UTC, all frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Enjoy!
  • 1849 UTC, 7520 kHz : Radio Tirana, Albania. English to Europe and America. Website.
  • 1904 UTC, 7550 kHz : All India Radio, General Overseas Service. English to Europe and Africa. Website.
  • 1925 UTC, 7570 kHz : Radio Thailand. News, Business news. English to Europe via Udon Thani, Thailand. Website.
  • 20:00 UTC, 9490 kHz : Family Radio. "Send an email to international@familyradio.com to receive our card", Off air.
  • 2018 UTC, 9645 kHz : Vatican Radio. "Visit us [online]".
  • 2033 UTC, 11610 kHz : Radio Netherlands Worldwide, Hilversum, Holland. English to West Africa via Kigali, Rwanda. "Visit our website". 'Earth Beat' programme, 'Reloaded' programme. Radio Netherlands Worldwide is also on Facebook and Twitter.
Finally, may I bring back some memories of the much missed 'Long Wave Giant' Atlantic 252 - How many of you had, or still have, a sticker from them, as featured below?

Monday, December 31, 2007

100th post - Happy New Year!

WELCOME to the one hundredth post on Reporting From The Fox Tower, may I wish you and yours a Happy New Year for 2008.

Last year's logs - Medium Wave logs, December 2007:

Thursday 27 December 2007:

1650 GMT, 1557 kHz, France Info, Nice, France. Website. (This site is in the French language).

1718 GMT, 1575 kHz, Voice of Russia in German language via Berg transmiter, Germany. Website. (English language site).

1743 GMT, 1584 kHz, BBC Radio Nottingham, Clipstone transmitter. Drivetime, Alan Clifford. Website.

1800 GMT, 1584 kHz, Tay AM, Perth, Scotland. Friarton Road transmitter. Six o'clock news. Richard Allen. Website.

1812 GMT, 1602 kHz, Radio Vitoria, Vitoria, E (Spain). Website. (This site is in the Spanish language).

1834 GMT, 1611 kHz, Vatican Radio, Europe 2nd Programme: Lithuanian & Latvian language programmes. Website. (Vatican Radio website in English).

That's all for now, take care!

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Listening list, October 2007

I FINALLY did get around to spending an hour and a half with my radio on the medium wave band and heard the following:

Tuesday 30 October 2007:

2120 GMT, 1530 kHz, Vatican Radio, Santa Maria di Galeria transmitters, Vatican City. Europe 1st Programme, English at tune-in (2120 GMT), launch of Spanish broadcast for twenty minutes followed by Arabic service programme.

2205 GMT, 1539 kHz, Evangeliums Rundfunk, Mainflingen transmitter, Germany. German language religion based programme, young voices singing 'Joy - all over the world'? Report from a lady of memories of the Thailand Tsunami.

2224 GMT, 1548 kHz, Magic, unconfirmed as Magic 1548 Liverpool or Magic AM Sheffield.

That's it for October, November will see a visit to the short waves, I hope!