My DX Archive: Autumn 1997

SEPTEMBER - October - November 1997 is where we are going back to, for these radio recollections. These logs are broadcasts received on the Short Wave band. Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

September 1997: Short Wave

• 18 September [1997]: 1808 UTC: 5910 kHz: Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal 'Brussels Calling' Colin Clapson 'Belgium Today' Belgian Budget. Wages. Overseas Development Corporation distribute aid. 49m, 163° to South Europe. Franz Vossen 'International Report': Economics. Close of broadcast at 1828 UTC.
• 18 September: 1830 UTC: 5915 kHz: Radio Slovakia International 'Slovakia Today' Slovak President visits Turkey. Slovak Prime Minister meets Slovak Representatives. Slovak Health Minister signs World Health Organisation agreement. Foreign Affairs Minister meets Dutch, Italian and other European Representatives.
• 18 September: 1903 UTC: 6035 kHz: Voice Of America VOA News - Europe Edition. Fighting in Northern Uganda. New York City hosts peace talks for North & South Korea. Report from London - Welsh Referendum. Cardiff will be the home of the assembly, supported by Tony Blair. Scotland voted yes. Ron Davies, Secretary of State for Wales. Conservative party are opposed to devolution. Ian Paisley will not join Northern Ireland peace talks, David Trimble undecided. Counting resumes in Bosnia Election. Strong to fair reception.

Voice of America QSL, September 1997.

• 18 September: 1915 UTC: 7120 kHz: Radio Netherlands 'Newsline' Oslo landmines treaty. Explosion in a Norwegian mine. Mary Robinson holds a press conference in Geneva. Murderers executed in Chechnya. Boris Yeltzin makes a statement. Helmut Kohl (Germany) meets the French President & Prime Minister. Stock Market news. Sterilised women. Weather. Northern Uganda. Egypt. Human rights. English via Madagascar. Good to poor reception. 'Media Network' : 'Digital Impressions' IBC '97 in Amsterdam. English to Africa.
• 20 September: 15 UTC: 6175 kHz: West Coast Radio Ireland Strong reception. Gerard Delaney schedule, Belfast Harp Orchestra with Terence Blackburn 'Down by the Sally Gardens'. Michael Commins meets Eammon Debourca. Music: Foster & Allen, 'The Lonesome Polkas' by Jackie Daley. Gerard Delaney's 'Letter from Ireland': Edward McLicett's Irish Genealogy. Michael Commins talks to Pat Kilburn regarding the 60th anniversary of a disaster in Scotland. Music: Irish National Orchestra. 'Letterbox': USA.
• 27 September: 1215 UTC: 9410 kHz: BBC World Service Strong reception. 'A Jolly Good Show' Dave Lee Travis. 'Pop Pal': Kathleen, Oregon, USA, age 16. Favourite song: Eternal 'Just A Step From Heaven'.
• 27 September: 15 UTC: 6175 kHz: West Coast Radio Ireland Strong reception. Music Special 'Limerick, You're A Lady'. Josef Locke sings 'Galway Bay'. Foster & Allen 'The Rare Old Mountain Dew'. The Dubliners 'Whiskey In The Jar'. All Ireland Football Final: Kerry v Mayo. 'Letter From Ireland': A haunted house. 'Letterbox': France, Saltzburg, Austria, Innsbruck, Austria, Mr Hanson writes from Sweden, Ms Butler writes from Blackheath, London. Letters from Father Gerry French, Glenn Hauser at WWCR, USA! Email: wcri @ claremorris-mayo .ie

October 1997: Short Wave

• 4 October: 1215 UTC: 9410 kHz: BBC World Service Strong reception. 'A Jolly Good Show' Dave Lee Travis. Music by Hanson 'Where's The Love'. Whitney Houston 'Step By Step'. Peter Cetera 'The Glory of Love'. 'Pop Pal' Uganda. Music: Michael Bolton 'Lean On Me'. Stevie Wonder 'I Wish'. R Kelly: 'I Believe I Can Fly'. Skelton transmitting station.
• 10 October: 1912 UTC: 6035 kHz: Voice Of America 'Europe Edition' Anti-landmines campaign wins Nobel peace prize. Chirac hopes all leaders will sign the treaty to ban landmines. Report from Paris. 25th anniversary of 'Bloody Sunday' in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Lockerbie trial: Report from the Hague. VOA English to Africa.

• 10 October: 1934 UTC: 6095 kHz: Polish Radio Warsaw Nazi trial suspect in hospital in France. Italian President resigns. Bosnian elections. Asylum seekers in Russia. New astronaut to join Mir. Taxes. Stock markets. World news summary. Turkey. 49.22m. Poland & The EU. International Refugee Day. Good reception. 'Press Review'.
• 10 October: 1954 UTC: 7250 kHz: Vatican Radio Music: The Beatles 'Money'. Discussion involving parents & teenagers regarding work, money, politics. Ian & Rachel. Message from Pope John Paul II. 'Ask The Abbot' with Abbot Gilbert. 'English to target area MN'.
• 10 October: 2025 UTC: 7325 kHz: BBC World Service to West Europe / North Africa. 'Newshour' Oliver Scott. Strong to good reception.
• 10 October: 2034 UTC: 7375 // 7415 kHz: Voice of America 'Africa World Tonight' VOA Sport: Football news: DC United, Washington DC. Boxing: Lennox Lewis v Ray Mercer, $20 Million.
• 10 October: 2043 UTC: 9410 kHz: BBC World Service 'Newshour'.
• 10 October: 2047 UTC: 9615 kHz: Deutsche Welle 'Spotlight On Sport': Tennis tournaments in the far east, Cologne Marathon. Strong to good reception.

Deutsche Welle QSL, October 1997.

• 10 October: 2057 UTC: 11690 kHz: Radio Canada International News. Fair reception. English to Europe & Africa, Sackville?
• 10 October: 2115 UTC: 12095 kHz: BBC World Service 'World Business Report', 'Britain Today'. Strong to good reception.
• 10 October: 2123 UTC: 11785 // 11865 kHz: Deutsche Welle West Africa // Asia & The Pacific. 'Newslink'. Strong to good reception.
• 10 October: 2133 UTC: 12015 kHz: HCJB, Quito, Ecuador 'Nightsounds': "We should be at peace with ourselves and with God". 25th anniversary of 'Nightsounds'. St Paul's prayer.
• 12 October: 1830 UTC: c.15 MHz: BBC World Service 'A Jolly Good Show' Dave Lee Travis. Elton John 'Candle In The Wind 1997'. a-ha 'Take On Me'. Paul Young 'Come Back & Stay'. 'Pop Pal': Moses C Fernandez, Bruce Hornsby & The Range 'That's Just The Way It Is'. Queen 'Radio Ga Ga'. Email: ws.pop @ bbc.co.uk
• 18 October: 1220 UTC: 9410 kHz: BBC World Service Strong to good reception. 'A Jolly Good Show' Dave Lee Travis. Music: Kiss 'Crazy, Crazy Nights'. 'Dave's Most Wanted' is by Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans 'I'll Be Missing You'. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers 'I Won't Back Down'. 'Pop Pal': Zambia. Rod Stewart 'Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?'. Celine Dion, 'To Love Again'. Gospel music from Sounds of Blackness.

• 18 October: 15 UTC: 6175 kHz: West Coast Radio Ireland Strong reception. Gerard Delaney with frequency information. Music. Michael Commins meets an RTE Radio Producer. WCRI African Service under threat. Michael Commins spoke to Michael Hambly regarding the internet in Ireland. 'Letter From Ireland' with Gerard Delaney. 'Letterbox': Nathalie Casanose in France, Colin Dixon in Canada, listening on 5910 kHz (North American service). Sister Maureen O'Connor in Africa. African service closes next week. E-mail from Tom Winsor in Plymouth. "The clock has reached the hour, from Michael & Gerry, goodbye". Irish national anthem.

November 1997: Short Wave

• 15 November: 1545 UTC: 6175 kHz: West Coast Radio Ireland Strong to good reception. Gerard Delaney 'Letter From Ireland': Union of Great Britain & Ireland. Michael Commins with 'Letterbox'.
• 15 November: 1930 UTC: 5915 kHz: Radio Slovakia International Music on 'Slovakia Today'. News: Slovakian President visits the Vatican. European discussions. Strong reception. 'Slovak Dailies Front Page Review' Journalists protest against VAT levied on press.
• 15 November: 1950 UTC: 6010 kHz: RTE Radio, Ireland. Coverage of the Belgium v Republic of Ireland World Cup qualification football match. Half time score: Belgium 1 - Rep of Ireland 0. Aggregate score: Belgium 2 - Rep of Ireland 1. Strong to good reception. Ad break, other games tonight: Italy v Russia, England 2 (Scholes, Fowler) - Cameroon 0. Ray Houghton scores in second half: 1-1 (Agg: 2-2). Belgium score: 2-1 (3-2 on aggregate to Belgium). 20 minutes remain.
• 15 November: 2027 UTC: 6195 kHz: BBC World Service 'Newshour' Julian Marshall: Lost children in Rwanda.
• 15 November: 2036 UTC: 7170 kHz: Deutsche Welle Strong reception. 'Weekend' Correspondents in London, Holland, France, Sweden. John Lawrenson at Radio E. // 7285 kHz?

Radio Norway International (NRK) QSL, November 1997.

• 15 November: 23 UTC - 2310 UTC: c.7.5 MHz: Radio Norway International Strong to good reception. Norwegian language broadcast: Football results from the English football league. Listeners request programme.

That concludes this visit to Autumn 1997. Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower!

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My AM Archive: April 1997

WELCOME to an extensive post on Reporting From The Fox Tower, of Medium Wave memories from the month of April 1997, including as-it-happened logs of a major breaking news story. First, housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

April 1997: Medium Wave

• 5 April [1997]: 1311 UTC: 567 kHz: RTÉ Radio One : Sport: UK football: Arsenal 3 (Wright, Platt, Bergkamp) - Chelsea 0. Music: Martha Reeves & The Vandellas 'Dancing In The Streets' on 'Saturday Two Til Five' presented by Tony O'Donoghue, strong reception. Snooker: Hendry v Williams. Racing from Aintree. Football: Derry City v Shelbourne.
• 5 April: 1343 UTC: 585 kHz: BBC Radio Scotland Scottish football: Raith Rovers v Celtic. Morton v St Johnstone. Airdrie v Clydebank. Aberdeen v Motherwell.
• 5 April: 1405 UTC: 603 kHz: BBC Radio Four Strong reception, Newcastle-upon-Tyne transmitter. Afternoon play.
• 5 April: 1408 UTC: 612 kHz: RTÉ 2FM : Athlone transmitter. Moderate to strong reception. Lorcan Murray. Music: 'Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel', Spice Girls 'Who Do You Think You Are'. UK football: Aston Villa 0 - Everton 1, Southampton 1 - Nottingham Forest 0, Manchester United 0 - Derby County 0. Music: Orbital 'The Saint'. Breaking news from Aintree: Grand National postponed, bomb warning.

RTE QSL: 5 April 1997

• 5 April: 1439 UTC: 648 kHz: BBC World Service Moderate to good reception via Orfordness transmitter. 'Sportsworld' Live reports from Aintree with Ian Payne and Charlie Brookes. Ian Brown updates the UK football scores: Arsenal 3 - Chelsea 0, Manchester United 0 - Derby County 1. Cricket report. Live at Aintree: Interview with Jenny Pitman. Cricket update. Football scores: Manchester United 0 - Derby County 2, Aston Villa 1 - Everton 1.
• 5 April: 1500 UTC: 666 kHz: BBC Radio York Good to strong reception via Fulford transmitter. 'North Yorkshire Sport' Telephone 01904 641 641, Football at Bootham Crescent, York City v Notts County. Report from Aintree. Goal: York 0 - County 1. Report from Northampton v Scarborough: 0-0. Football round-up: Aston Villa 2 - Everton 1, Manchester United 1 - Derby 2, Arsenal 3 - Chelsea 0. Update from Aintree. Rugby Union report: Harrogate 72 - Clifton 0. Goal: Northampton 1 - Scarborough 0. Return to Aintree for statements. Football: Carlisle United 1 - Fulham 2. Darlington 0 - Doncaster Rovers 2. Traffic Report: A66 closed to all high sided vehicles between Penrith and Scotch Corner.
• 5 April: 1527 UTC: 675 kHz: Radio 10 Gold Strong to good reception via Lopik, Utrecht, Holland, 120 kW, Dutch language: Music: John Miles 'Music'. Men At Work: 'Down Under'. OMD: 'Joan of Arc'. Tight Fit 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'. News bulletin: The Martell Aintree Grand National abandoned following bomb warning. Weather report. Music: Elvis Presley.
• 5 April: 1606 UTC: 693 kHz: BBC Radio Five Live Strong to good reception - via Droitwich? Classified football results: Carlisle United 1 - Fulham 2. [BBC Radio Five Live Aintree podcast: Click HERE]
• 5 April: 1611 UTC: 720 kHz: BBC Radio Four Interview with Shadow Home Secretary Jack Straw regarding Sinn Fein / IRA, possibly responsible for the Aintree bomb warning. Interview with Michael Howard, Home Secretary of the Conservative Government.
• 5 April: 1619 UTC: 756 kHz: BBC Radio Cumbria Strong to good reception via Carlisle. Relay of BBC Radio Five Live: Gary Lineker interviews Des Lynam live at Aintree. Nick Barnes reports from Brunton Park following Carlisle United's 2-1 loss to Fulham, interview with Mervyn Day. Report from Aintree. Football: Barrow v Colwyn Bay. Premier League football results: Manchester United 2 - Derby 3. Report from Southampton - Nottingham Forest. Newcastle 1 - Sunderland 1. Arsenal 3 - Chelsea 0. Aston Villa 3 - Everton 1. Reports from Ian Brown and Alan Green. Report from Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. Round-up of all results from football and Rugby Union.

• 5 April: 1644 UTC: 774 kHz: BBC Radio Leeds Good to strong reception, Farnley transmitter. West Yorkshire Sport: Report regarding Everton Football Club. Coca Cola Cup: Middlesbrough v Leicester City. The 1996 Coca Cola Cup Final was contested by Leeds United and Aston Villa. Classified football results. Report from Aintree. Football reports: Huddersfield Town, Halifax Town. Manchester United v Derby review. Bolton Wanderers promoted to Premier League football. Travel news: M1 motorway Junction 43, M62 Dewsbury, A650 Bradford. 17 UTC News: Aintree Grand National bomb warning, car crash in Leeds. Hull sweet factory takes legal action. Police caution children playing on railway lines. Leader of the Opposition, Tony Blair, releases a statement. Violence in Yemen. Weather report. Music: Lionel Richie 'Night Shift'.
• 5 April: 1718 UTC: 909 kHz: BBC Radio Five Live 'Alan Green's Sportstalk'. Strong to good reception.
• 5 April: 1722 UTC: 1053 kHz: Talk Radio UK Strong to good reception - via Start Point transmitter? Danny Baker, phone-in: Football: Walsall fan travels to the match in an ice cream van! Dave Wood faxed in from London, Rob in Dartford. Ad break: No1 Ska Album, Mail On Sunday, Jammie Dodgers. Postal address: Talk Radio UK, PO Box 2460 LONDON W1A Fax from Helen Jones. Simon in Leicester. Sue in Middlesex.
• 5 April: 1745 UTC: 1062 kHz: Danmarks Radio, Denmark. Strong to good reception. Music: Lisa Stansfield.
• 5 April: 1754 UTC: 1170 kHz: Great North Radio Good to moderate reception. Music: Average White Band 'Let's Go Round Again'. Music: ABBA.

• 12 April: 1430 UTC: 1170 kHz: Great North Radio Music: Wet Wet Wet 'With A Little Help From My Friends'.
• 12 April: 1434 UTC: 1215 kHz: Virgin Radio Strong to good reception. Ad break: All request weekend, Wimpey, 'Fever Pitch' book, Gillette Sensor Excel, British Airways.
• 12 April: 1440 UTC: 1278 kHz: RTÉ Radio 2FM Strong to good reception, transmitter: Dublin / Cork? Presenter: Lorcan Murray? Music: Brannigan 'Self Control'.
• 12 April: 1446 UTC: 1341 UTC: BBC Radio Ulster Football: Cliftonville 1 - Lochall 1 Paul Stokes & Nicky Griffen report from Windsor Park, Belfast. 'Sportsround' programme. Adam Coates is the presenter. Football scores: Sherbourne 1 - Derry 0. Barnsley 2 - Charlton 0, QPR 0 - Sheffield United 0. Rugby: All-Ireland league: Shannon are the holding Champions. Men's hockey: Lisnagarvey lead a match. Football update: Blackburn 1 - Manchester United 2, Arsenal 1 - Leicester 0. Racing: Tony Dobbin. 15 UTC News: Attempted murder of Pope in Bosnia. 'SportSound': Scottish Cup: Celtic 0 - Falkirk 0. Transmitter: Lisnagarvey, strong reception.
• 12 April: 1525 UTC: 1368 kHz: Manx Radio Moderate to good reception via Foxdale. The Afternoon Show Music: Kula Shaker 'Hey Dude'. 'Flightwatch At Ronaldsway Airport'. Music: U2 'Staring At The Sun'. Ad break: The Tile Shop, Isle of Man Post Office, Music: The LA's 'There She Goes'; Paul Weller : 'Peacock Suit'.
• 12 April: 1554 UTC: 1422 kHz: West Coast Radio Ireland Moderate reception. Gentlemen speak of reception reports received by the station.

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