Sunday, February 25, 2018

Season 2017/18: The Season So Far - Part 7

FEBRUARY has been quite a busy month for Carlisle United Football Club, the fixtures for the month have been concluded and the look ahead to the springtime fixtures of March and April are what the Club are concentrating on now, with the possibility of reaching the League Two play-offs in May, for the second consecutive year.
In a moment, the fixtures for March, but first, the results for February.

February 2018: Results

Saturday 3rd: League Two: Wycombe Wanderers 4 - United 3
Saturday 10th: League Two: United 1 - Colchester United 1
Tuesday 13th: League Two: Notts County 2 - United 1
Saturday 17th: League Two: United 2 - Chesterfield 0
Tuesday 20th: League Two: Barnet 1 - United 3 [Rearranged fixture from January 6th]
Saturday 24th: League Two: Yeovil Town 0 - United 1


March 2018: Fixtures

Saturday 3rd: League Two: United v Grimsby Town (3pm)
Saturday 10th: League Two: Exeter City v United (3pm)
Saturday 17th: League Two: United v Crawley Town (3pm)
Saturday 24th: League Two: United v Cambridge United (3pm)
Friday 30th: League Two: Cheltenham Town v United (3pm)


Please note the final fixture of March takes place on the afternoon of Good Friday, at the beginning of the Easter weekend.

As always,
C'mon Ye BLUES!!

Sunday, February 18, 2018

2018 on the air.

BRINGING you more recent radio logs here on Reporting From The Fox Tower, with broadcasts received over these first seven weeks of 2018.
Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz), MegaHertz (MHz) and/or metrebands (m). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW).

Short Wave: January 2018

  • [Monday] 29 January [2018]: 1519 UTC: 15825 kHz: WWCR, USA. Good to fair reception, English to Europe, Middle East, Americas via WWCR-2, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Music with vocals, a lot of noise on the channel. Male speaks of 'God, the most merciful', 'Our God' - "Have you been careless about Christ? Have you forgotten about God?" WWCR programming shows Ray McMahon 'Jesus Is Our Shepherd' / Michael Guido 'The Sower'. Female speech, new programme at 1530 UTC: Male with prayer at the start of the programme, "The almighty God of Heaven". Speech continues, regarding armageddon. Reading verses from the Bible, speaking of 'wickedness' and 'refusing to repent'. Reading of chapters of Revelation from the Bible. WWCR programming shows Larry Gilmore 'Christlife Servant Leadership Ministry'. Logged to 1539 UTC.
  • 29 January: 1602 UTC: 17730 kHz: Eye Radio, South Sudan. Faint reception of female speech, muffled against noise. Poor reception. Female speech continues, male speech. [Sources show Arabic / English via Issoudun, France] Logged to 1608 UTC.
  • 29 January: 1615 UTC: 17640 kHz: BBC World Service, UK. Female and male speech, broadcast lost to noise. [Sources show English via Ascension, 250 kW] Logged to 1620 UTC.
Medium Wave: February 2018

  • [Tuesday] 13 February [2018]: 1938 UTC: 1566 kHz: BBC Somerset, UK. Good to fair reception, 1 kW via Taunton, Somerset. Music from Albert Hammond 'The Free Electric Band', female host with time check "It's twenty to eight", interview with female guest, lots of laughter. Georgey Spanswick with an interview broadcast on BBC Radio Derby. Music: Robbie Williams 'Millennium' Time check "Ten to eight on the BBC" Contact details, speech regarding the preceding interview with Samantha, who was a lead in the Rio Carnival. Logged to 1951 UTC.
  • 13 February: 1952 UTC: 1566 kHz: Vahon Hindustani Radio, Holland. Good to fair reception, via Den Haag, Netherlands (Holland). Asian music, male speech, Asian music with female vocal. Male speech at 20 UTC (news?) speech included India and Goa. Jingles, male speech, web details. Speech in Dutch at 2005 UTC. Music with male vocal at 2006 UTC. Logged to 2010 UTC.
  • 13 February: 2014 UTC: 1575 kHz: RAI Radio 1, Italy. Strong to good reception, 30 kW via Genova Portofino, Italy. Male speech at a sporting event - Football? FAST speech in commentary! Dominant broadcast on this channel. Logged to 2027 UTC.
[Football update: The football covered by RAI Radio 1 could have been that evening's Champions League match: Juventus v Tottenham Hotspur. Elsewhere that evening: Notts County v Carlisle United.]



  • 13 February: 2049 UTC: 1584 kHz: Panjab Radio, UK. Strong to good reception, 200 watts via Lea Bridge Road, Hackney, North London. Music with a very strong subcontinent feel - Male speech with reference to locations in London, contact details? Continued male speech. ID for Panjab Radio news at 21 UTC: Sexual offences, Oxfam aid workers, six week old baby dies. Sport update. "This is Panjab Radio on 1584 AM" ID, top of the hour ads: Tourism, driving lessons, Punjabi restaurant, The Black Prince Maharaja Tour. ID, music, male speech, with broadcast details: Medium wave, satellite, contact post code? Music under speech. Logged to 2113 UTC.
  • 13 February: 2117 UTC: 1593 kHz: Bretagne 5, France. Strong to fair reception, 10 kW via Saint-Goueno / Collinée, France. Acoustic singing from a male, followed by another male, singing lead with a band. French language. Brief female speech in French. Music, female vocals with some lyrics in English: "There is nothing I can do / To save you from yourself". Female speech, music: Ed Sheeran 'Shape Of You'. Music from a band which also includes bagpipes! Male vocals. Logged to 2131 UTC.
  • 13 February: 2137 UTC: 1602 kHz: KBC Radio, Holland. Good to poor reception, 1 kW via Pietersbierum / Harlingen, Netherlands (Holland). Music: Bruce Springsteen 'I'm On Fire', Eric Carmen 'All By Myself'. Co-channel interference from SER Cartagena, Spain. Logged to 2153 UTC.
  • 13 February: 2237 UTC: 1692 kHz: Norwegian Coastal Radio, South, Norway. LGQ Rogaland, Norway. Navigational warnings and weather, ice. Broadcast at 2233 UTC. Muffled speech. To 2244 UTC.
DX Extra
  • 13 February: 2250 UTC: 648 kHz: Radio Caroline, UK. Good to fair reception, 1 kW via Orfordness, Suffolk [Community Radio]. Music: Status Quo 'Something Bout You Baby I Like', Small Faces 'My Mind's Eye', ID 'Online, on your mobile, Radio Caroline'. Music: Billy Idol 'Hot In The City', Roger Daltrey 'Walking In My Sleep'. Promo for the Radio Caroline website - Use online stores to donate to Caroline, promo by Roger 'Twiggy' Day for his show. ID 'This is Europe's first album station, Radio Caroline'. Music: Stereophonics 'Maybe Tomorrow'. Logged to 2318 UTC.
Thanks for listening!

📻

Sunday, February 11, 2018

My DX Archive: Spring 1994

WELCOME to the second Sunday of February, a busy sporting Sunday with the Winter Olympics underway, the Six Nations Rugby tournament continuing and football fixtures being played. We are also days away from Valentine's Day, which will also mark the midpoint of the month.

Reporting From The Fox Tower takes you back to March 1994, as the starting point of memories of the Springtime of that year, for the logs of radio broadcasts heard at the time.
Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz), MegaHertz (MHz) and/or metrebands (m). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

March 1994 : Medium Wave
  • 15 March [1994]: 1945 UTC: 603 kHz: BBC Radio Four, UK. Feature regarding abortions in the USA.
  • 15 March: 2004 UTC: 612 kHz: RTE 2FM, Republic of Ireland. Sports Update, 'That Petrol Emotion' in concert tonight.
  • 15 March: 2006 UTC: 648 kHz: BBC World Service, UK. News: UK tried to stop Sweden, Finland, Austria and Norway entering the EU. Troubles in Estonia.
  • 15 March: 2012 UTC: 693 kHz: BBC Radio Five, UK. Live football: Arsenal 0 - Torino 0 (Half Time).
  • 15 March: 2035 UTC: 909 kHz: BBC Radio Five, UK. Live football: Arsenal 0 - Torino 0 (Second Half).
  • 15 March: 2038 UTC: 1053 kHz: BBC Radio One, UK. Dance music. Also broadcasting on 1089 kHz.
  • 15 March: 2055 UTC: 1179 kHz: Radio Sweden. Music programme.
  • 15 March: 21 UTC: 1215 kHz: Virgin Radio 1215, UK. News: UK to get another national commercial radio station - Speech / talk / phone-in based programming. Music: James 'Sit Down', Pearl Jam 'Jeremy'.
  • 15 March: 2115 UTC: 1386 - 1494 kHz: Radio Moscow, Russia. Listeners Letters: Letter from Northern Ireland.
March 1994 : Short Wave
  • 17 March: 20 UTC: 5920 kHz: BBC World Service, UK. News headlines in 'News English' followed by Ukrainian service.
  • 17 March: 2010 UTC: 5960 kHz: Deutsche Welle, Germany. English for Europe 20 - 2050 UTC. Meeting of the Anglo-German Association. Today's German papers: EU to find fishing rights for Germany. Mark Rossman: 'Hits in Germany': Bruce Springsteen, Tori Amos, D:Ream. DW investigates St Patrick's Day celebrations in Cork. Also available on 7170 kHz, 9615 kHz & Astra 1A satellite. Address: 50588 Cologne, Germany. 'Germany Today' ends, 'Tourism' programme.
  • 17 March: 2145 UTC: 9750 kHz: BBC World Service 'Newshour'.
Radio Moscow QSL, 17 March 1994
  • 17 March: 2205 UTC: 9890 kHz: Radio Moscow News: Russian MIG 29s to fly in South America. Demonstrations in French cities over social policies. Pakistan may join the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Fire extinguished at Ukrainian nuclear plant.
  • 17 March: 2225 UTC: 9915 kHz: BBC World Service English to the Caribbean 'Network UK' Rugby sport.
March 1994 : FM
  • 20 March: 1650 UTC: 89 MHz FM: Manx Radio (Isle of Man) Good reception. 'Solid 60s Show' Helen Shapiro. News: Helicopter crash in Northern Ireland. Colin Parry (Father of IRA victim Tim Parry) places a white carnation in Warrington. The family of Jonathan Ball also attend.
April 1994 : Short Wave
  • 4 April: 1615 UTC: 6065 kHz: Radio Sweden Strong to good reception. Feature regarding Swedish Children's television: Barney Bear, Alfie Atkins, Pippy Longstocking.
  • 14 April: 1134 UTC: 5955 kHz: Radio Netherlands (Holland) Strong to good reception. News: Rwanda. Weather: Sunny. Newsline: Greece in the European High Court. Media Network: Jonathan Marks saw Phil Collins in concert on Saturday. Deutsche Welle relay in Kigali. BBC, Adventist World Radio, WCSN and TV Radio Marti, on UHF, in Florida & Cuba.
  • 15 April: 1847 UTC: 6040 kHz: Voice of America 'Special English', 'Mosaic'. Wartime memories from a man who was in his '20s at the time. Letter from a listener in Malawi, 'how do you choose names for kids?'.
Voice of America QSL, 15 April 1994
  • 15 April: 1855 UTC: 6100 kHz: Radio Yugoslavia Female host talks of writers and the Baltics, Greece. Next broadcast: 2030 UTC, 9620 kHz.
  • 15 April: 1910 UTC: 6195 kHz: BBC World Service 'Outlook': Man tries to buy an aircraft.
  • 15 April: 1916 UTC: c.7195 kHz: Radio Romania International Press Review. Electoral campaigns, several European countries to take part in 'World Trade 94'.
  • 15 April: 1942 UTC: 9760 kHz: Voice of America English to Europe via Gloria (Portugal) 'The Magazine Show' Monday hosts the Boston Marathon. Pat Bodner previews the race, including a runner from 1928, Johnny Kelly. 100th anniversary of a recording by Betty Smith.
  • 15 April: 1958 UTC: 9765 kHz: Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran Listeners Special, music. Letters from Wisconsin, Puerto Rico, Holland. L Groubert from Cincinatti, USA. Letter from Japan, in Japanese. D J Powell from Switzerland. American listener asks how he could work on shortwave radio. Iranian geography: 62000 miles. Male & female host. Letter from India. Postal address: PO Box 33 34 Tehran Islamic Republic of Iran. Programme close at 2025 UTC.
  • 15 April: 11 UTC: 9535 kHz: Swiss Radio International, Switzerland. Strong to good reception. News: US helicopters, Rwanda. 'Dateline': Italian politics, UN in Yugoslavia, Japanese politics, World Health Organisation leads fight against polio.
Swiss Radio International QSL, 15 April 1994
  • 15 April: 2030 UTC: c.9410 kHz: BBC World Service 'Science in Action' to Africa.
  • 15 April: 2035 UTC: 9615 kHz: Deutsche Welle 'German by radio' female host, verbs.
  • 15 April: 21 UTC: 9700 kHz: Radio Bulgaria News: Military arms to pass through Bulgaria. No change in former Yugoslavia. UN to send equipment to blue helmets. German politician visits Bulgaria.
  • 23 April: 0844 UTC: c.6295 kHz: Adventist World Radio Strong to moderate reception. Joanna Lim presents nutritional information, food magazine show. 'Lifestyle Magazine'. Address: AWR, 39 Brendan Street, London W1.
  • 24 April: 1136 UTC: 5955 kHz: Radio Netherlands 'Happy Station' with Pete Myers. Strong to good reception. Telephone call. An Indian man gets married today. Music from Madonna. Gerry MacDuff writes from Canada. Letter from Martin Cowin, Cumbria, England - Me! - "Who puts the 'Happy Station' programme together?" Music from Ella Fitzgerald. Also heard at 1530 UTC.
May 1994 : Short Wave
  • 14 May: 1913 UTC: 6040 kHz: Voice of America 'Newsline': Chancellor Kohl of Germany. Conference featuring Czech Prime Minister and the Danish foreign minister. President Clinton nominated Judge Brier for Supreme Court, Clinton hails change in South Africa. Transfer of power from Israel to Palestine. Report regarding the forthcoming soccer world cup, world cup postage stamps, US postage stamps of Elvis Presley. Music: 'Hound Dog'. 'Press Conference USA' reviewing Apple Macintosh computers.
  • 14 May: 1956 UTC: 6195 kHz: BBC World Service 'From The Weeklies'. World news at 20 UTC: BBC Worldwide.
  • 14 May: 22 UTC: 9445 kHz: Voice of Turkey News: Heavy fighting in Bosnia. Turkish-Cypriot community asks to be recognised. Heavy fighting in Azerbaijan. Refugees caught between Somalia and Yemen caught in rebel crossfire. 'Press Review': Neo-nazis fight in Germany. 'Outlook': EU meeting in Luxembourg. 'DX Corner': Lagos 1 on 4990 kHz, Chad on 4910 kHz. 4890 kHz - RFI. 05 UTC 4770 kHz Africa.
📻

Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower - And keep listenin'!

    Sunday, January 28, 2018

    Season 2017/18: The Season So Far - Part 6

    MANY may forget, as an FA Cup weekend continues, that league football does continue, this post is testament to that. Carlisle United Football Club have completed their January fixtures, so here are the results from the opening month of 2018:

    January 2018: Results

    Monday 1st: Sky Bet League Two: Mansfield Town 3 - United 1
    Saturday 6th: FA Cup: United 0 - Sheffield Wednesday 0
    Saturday 13th: Sky Bet League Two: United 1 - Crewe Alexandra 0
    Tuesday 16th: FA Cup (Replay): Sheffield Wednesday 2 - United 0
    Saturday 20th: Sky Bet League Two: Stevenage 0 - United 0
    Saturday 27th: Sky Bet League Two: United 1 - Forest Green Rovers 0




    February 2018: Fixtures

    Saturday 3rd: Sky Bet League Two: Wycombe Wanderers v United (3pm)
    Saturday 10th: Sky Bet League Two: United v Colchester United (3pm)
    Tuesday 13th: Sky Bet League Two: Notts County v United (7:45pm)
    Saturday 17th: Sky Bet League Two: United v Chesterfield (3pm)
    Tuesday 20th: Sky Bet League Two: Barnet v United (8pm) [Rearranged fixture from January 6th]
    Saturday 24th: Sky Bet League Two: Yeovil Town v United (3pm)


    Thank you for continuing to visit Reporting From The Fox Tower!

    Sunday, January 21, 2018

    My DX Archive: Winter 1993 - 94.

    BRINGING you some more memories of radio broadcasts, logged over the course of the Winter of 1993 - 94. The following logs are broadcasts received on Short Wave and Medium Wave.
    Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz), MegaHertz (MHz) and/or metrebands (m). Transmission power in watts or kiloWatts (kW). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

    December 1993

    • 13 December [1993]: 1912 UTC: 6040 kHz: Voice of America News: Mark Hopkins profiles Boris Yeltzin. Evan Hayes reports from Bonn. Elections, Germany, Austria, Latvia, Macedonia, Middle East. US troops leave Somalia.
    • [Saturday] 25 December (Christmas Day): 0827 UTC: 11690 - 12010 kHz: Radio Moscow World Service Good reception. Programming: 'Pacific Update', News headlines in brief at 0830 UTC, Audio Book Club.
    • 27 December: 1914 UTC: 1197 kHz (Medium Wave): Voice of America Good to moderate reception. Interference from Virgin 1215 which also uses 1197 kHz. Programming: Men who kidnapped school students to fly to Iran have been arrested, Korea, explosion: UN base, Somalia, Germany sees increase in attacks on visitors.
    • 30 December: 2130 UTC: 1179 kHz (Medium Wave): Radio Sweden Strong to good reception. News headlines: Österland link at risk. Report from "The Guardian", EEA [European Economic Area?] in force from 1st January 1994. "Sixty Degrees North" programme.
    Adventist World Radio QSL, January 1994
    January 1994
    • [Saturday] 1 January [1994]: 1526-1600 UTC: 5940-5945 kHz: Adventist World Radio Strong to good reception. Test transmissions: AWR address, frequencies, times, transmitter information, music. Address: PO Box 100 252 Darmstadt Germany - Frequency list: 5940 5945 7115 7180 7270 7315 9455 9465 11610 13715 13790 kHz. Lady sings 'Amazing Grace' at 1526 UTC. Announcement "This is AWR The Voice of Hope", 250 kW from Slovakia to Africa, Middle East, Asia and Europe.
    • 6 January: 1155 UTC [5955 kHz?] Radio Netherlands 'Media Network': Estonia closes broadcasts. Radio Free Europe to close on Medium Wave. Report from BBC in Caversham, UK. Cutbacks at Radio Prague, details of World Radio Network, London. Adventist World Radio via Radio Prague. World Radio TV Handbook. BBC Radio 2 & 3 satellite broadcasts, Capital Radio satellite broadcasts. 'Receiver Shopping List' (Edition 14) available. Radio New Zealand International. Arthur Cushen reports from the Pacific. Propagation Report with Mike Bird, New South Wales, Australia.
    • 11 January: 19 UTC: 6040 kHz: Voice of America News: President Clinton in Brussels. Report from Cairo. US Dollar strong against the pound in London. China & US to discuss textile imports. North Korea and the US to negotiate? Shooting in Kashmir. Banning of cigarettes ads in USA? 'Newsline' with Kent Cline. NATO to use force in Bosnia?
    • 11 January: 1936 UTC: 6060-6080 kHz: Radio Australia Sports bulletin programme: Cricket: Australia v New Zealand. Tennis: Pete Sampras. Australian Rules Football in Canberra. Australian who campaigned to bring the Olympics to Sydney has been given an honour by the IOC.
    • 11 January: 1936 UTC: 6 MHz: Radio Yugoslavia English broadcast. Female newscaster. Civil war clashes continue in Bosnia. 'Croatia & Muslims are fighting Muslims attacking Serbia'. UN decides to suspend flights to Sarajevo. '82mm fell on Sarajevo Airport'. Japanese troops will not be going to the former Yugoslavia. Bill Clinton to visit Moscow, Russia, tomorrow. Brussels summit concerning NATO. Yugoslav film wins Moscow movie awards.
    • 11 January: 2023 UTC: 7170 kHz: China Radio International Female broadcaster: Weather in China. Are Chinese chocaholics? Chinese sports: figure skating.
    • 11 January: 2039 UTC: 7 MHz: Radio Obershindingo Japan. Postal address: Radio Obershindingo, 3 Hidoanna Shivuoka 418-01 Japan.
    • 11 January: 21 UTC? 9690 kHz (31m) Radio Romania News: NATO meeting. Romania makes links with Turkey. New Director General of Romanian television appointed. Links between Thailand & Romania are being renewed. Red Cross helps Serbia. Boris Yeltzin opens Russian parliament. Israeli troops to withdraw from Jericho. Fires calm down in Sydney. Good to moderate reception.
    • 11 January: 2130 UTC: 12095 kHz: BBC World Service IRA ban lifted in Ireland.
    • 29 January: 2240 UTC: 963 kHz (Medium Wave): Radio Finland Strong to moderate reception. Programme: "Focus" Spain slowing down Sweden & Finland's membership of the EU. Upturn in European import/export markets, South Asia & Russia contribute to Finland's export income.
    • 29 January: 2315 UTC: 1368 kHz Medium Wave: Manx Radio Good to poor reception. 'The Late Show' Music from Nat King Cole, presenter: Chris Price, who mentions a lady in Colwyn Bay, who enjoys the music of Nat King Cole.
    • 30 January (Sunday): 1725 UTC: 1179 kHz Medium Wave: Radio Sweden Strong to good reception. Programme 'Sounds Nordic' the Swedish singles chart: Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart & Sting 'All For Love' at No 1. An interview with staff of 'Interface', a Swedish computer magazine. Visit to a music museum.

    February 1994
    • 10 February: 1715 UTC: 1179 kHz: Radio Sweden Strong to good reception. Thursday's edition of '60° Degrees North': Is it wise for the UN to bomb Sarajevo? News with Jim Downing. Serbs could be bombed. Interview with Swedish Prime Minister. Committee reviews possible entry to the European Union. Serbs should give up arms, but bombs may injure serving Swede troops. NATO may bomb Sarajevo. Thursday's deliveries from Swedish Rescue Service have been delayed until Sunday, 13 February. A visit to a Reindeer market. Austria, Finland, Norway & Sweden may be allowed to enter the EU. [Receiver: Panasonic FM-LW-MW 3 Band Receiver; "GX30 High Sensitivity" Model No: RF-1630L; Made in Singapore.]
    • [Tuesday] 15 February: 10:05 UTC: 1458 kHz Medium Wave: BBC Newcastle BBC Radio Newcastle Weather at 10:05, music by D:Ream. BBC 'phone-in number: 091 232 6565. 'Sue', re: pancake race: 091 276 4809. 'Vlad The Lad'. Metro Controller David Harrod coming up soon. Strong to moderate reception. Music by Rita Macneil 'Working Man'. Travel update: Snow in West Northumberland, snow on the A66 Bowes - Stainmore 2 lanes in operation. Travel via AA Roadwatch. Missing cars: Beige fiesta & red fiesta. Man from BBC pronunciation unit on soon. 'Snow watch' call 091 232 6565. Music from Julian Lennon 'Too Late For Goodbyes'.
    • 16 February: 1948 UTC: 5945-6155 kHz: Radio Austria News: Atomic Energy Commission. Music: Vienna Art Orchestra. Report by Joanna King: Women in Romania die during childbirth. David Ward ends broadcast with the waltz 'With Us, At Home' by Strauss.
    • 16 February: 1958 UTC: 5960 kHz: Deutsche Welle Broadcasting on 5960, 7285 kHz, Astra 1A. Mark Caldwell hosts 'Germany Today'. Peggy Graham, news: Chancellor Kohl. Strikes in north Germany. Steel companies are fined by the EU. Dalai Llama turns down an invitation to visit the Frankfurt celebration. German troops return from Somalia. Ash Wednesday.
    • 16 February: 2042 UTC: 6040 kHz: Voice of America 'Music USA' (Jazz) Interview with Dave Frishburg. VOA station ID. 3000 Radio stations in the USA. Winston Marsellers, Phil-wood Quartet selected for awards.
    • 16 February: 2055 UTC: 6180-6195 kHz: BBC World Service Feature on the Northern Ireland Job Club, interview with Paul, unemployed, of Belfast. Sports news: GB wins two gold medals at the winter Olympics, Lillehammer. Malta win a medal.
    Radio Prague QSL, February 1994.
    • 16 February: 2110 UTC: 7265 - 7345 kHz: Radio Prague Czech Press Review: Slovakian elections. Czech farm trade is small. War crimes. 'Calling All Listeners': Letter from Illinois, USA. Susan J Sheppard in Connecticut asks for a QSL. Radio Prague archives. Letter from Glasgow. Clandestine stations in Cuba have been heard around the world. 'Calling All Listeners' end at 2127 UTC.
    • 16 February: 2156 UTC: 11815 - 11925 kHz: Radio Japan 'Tokyo Pop-In' Music programme: Japanese pop music.
    • 24 February: 2217 - 2230 UTC: 1512 kHz Medium Wave: BRT Brussels 'North South' with Frans Vossen, 'Economics': European car industry is slow. EC publishes figures of car sales in Europe. Strong to good reception.
    I do hope you have found these memories of Winter 1993 - 94 of interest, and thank you for visiting this post. If you have visited this post by following the links on Twitter and Facebook, please feel free to 'Like' the social media posts and, if you would like to, share the link to this post. Please feel free to post a comment below or on the social media leads to this post. Thank you once again for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower.

    📻

    Sunday, January 14, 2018

    My DX Archive: Autumn 1993

    REPORTING From The Fox Tower takes you back to September 1993 as the starting point for more media memories, memories of radio broadcasts, mainly on Short Wave and Medium Wave. The Summer 1993 DX Archive can be found here. Before we begin, some housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz), MegaHertz (MHz) and/or metrebands (m). Logs transcribed from the original notes.

    September 1993
    • [Friday] 17 September [1993]: 1908 UTC: 6040 kHz: Voice of America 'Newsline' presented by Al Eagle [sic]. The crew of a US Space Shuttle are to collect a German telescope on Sunday. France's President Mitterrand was nearly the victim of a hitman in 1984. Man buys the home of artist Vincent van Gogh. News headlines read by Jim Herriot: Palestine & Middle East peace plan. Bosnian air lifts. Heads of state meet in Europe, concerning farming. British Nationalist Party (BNP) wins a seat in the UK.
    • 17 September: 2012 UTC: 7300 / 7345 kHz: Radio Prague Press Review. Skoda Company miss out on cash help at London meeting. Prague public don't think there is life after death. Hosts: Olga Sumtavas and Suzanna Keovann.
    • 17 September: 2110 UTC; 2116 to 2130 UTC: 9720 kHz: Radio Yugoslavia Strong to moderate reception. Details of the civil war peace plan. Financial news. Appeals for sanctions to be lifted. Harvest days festival on the Yugoslavia - Romania border. Radio Yugoslavia contact numbers: Fax: 3811-33-20-14, telephone: 3811-34-69-42.
    • [Saturday] 18 September: 1458 UTC: 12095 kHz: BBC World Service 'SportsWorld' Football: Blackburn 0 - West Ham 1.
    • 18 September: 1459 UTC: 13600 kHz: 22 metres; 100 kW broadcast. Radio Prague English to Middle East: News, From The Weeklies, Encounter.
    • 18 September: 1535 UTC: 15625 kHz: Voice of Greece Political news: Russia's President Boris Yeltzin, News from Bosnia. PLO President Yasser Arafat spoke in an interview to a German magazine.
    A sticker from the Radio Netherlands 'Happy Station' programme
    October 1993
    • 3 October: 1140 UTC: Radio Netherlands 'Happy Station' 65th Anniversary broadcasts, Tom Meyer to appear on 14 November 93. Competition: "Why do I listen on a Sunday?" 'Happy Station' Birthday T-shirt for winners. 'East of Edam': Radio Netherlands via satellite (World Radio Network), Transponder (channel) 22, Astra 1B satellite, 7.74 MHz, MTV Europe sound channel, broadcasts at 0930 & 1530 UTC.
    • 3 October: 1312 to 1330 UTC: 11940 kHz / 25mBand: Radio Romania International Strong / Good to fair reception, propagation varies from slight to moderate. Listeners letters: Letters from England, including a letter from Blackpool, Lancashire. A letter concerning opera, sample of opera music, a letter from Finland.
    • 3 October: 1403 - 1430 UTC, 1445 - 1500 UTC: 6295 kHz: Radio Caroline Moderate to poor reception, broadcast from Granville Docks, Dover, Chris Kennedy plays Jimi Hendrix, Fine Young Cannibals. 'Lola', 'Runaway Train', 'The Man Who Sold The World', Bonnie Raitt. Seagulls. Radio Caroline address: PO Box 963, London SW20 9XL
    • [Saturday] 9 October: 1804 UTC: 6040 kHz: Voice of America News: Courthouses in Cairo are scenes of attacks. 32 Euro leaders meet in Vienna to discuss minority races in Europe, including the Welsh as an example. BCCI (Bank of Credit and Commerce International) executives go on trial in Abu Dhabi. Somalian warlord announces possible ceasefire. Boris Yeltzin announces reforms in Russia. Rob Sivek presents 'Agriculture Today': US National Biological Survey, US Agriculture Minister visits Japan.
    • 9 October: 1832 UTC: 6065 kHz: Radio Sweden reports from a beer festival... Interview with the lieutenant of a boat which sails from Finland to Sweden and vice versa, interview with the navigator.
    • 9 October: 1925 UTC: 9410 / 9750 kHz: BBC World Service Archeology feature programme. Animals sheltering in the shadows of dry stone walls, reporting from York. Anglo-Saxon helmet found by an excavator on site. Links to the excavations on the site of the Channel Tunnel.
    • 29 October: 2315 UTC: 1458 kHz [Medium Wave]: BBC GLR (Greater London Radio) Announcement concerning closure of medium wave broadcasts on this frequency. Listeners can rejoin programmes on 94.9 MHz FM. Postal address: 35c Marylebone High Street, LONDON W1A 4LG (also heard 31 October, 1845 UTC). Telephone 071 224 2424
    November 1993
    • [Tuesday] 9 November: 2050 UTC: 873 kHz [Medium Wave]: American Public Radio - National Public Radio (NPR). Postal address: Washington DC 20036 USA Rock music by Aerosmith, promotion. News at 21 UTC: Sexual harassment in the workplace can be reduced. Medicine to relieve Alzheimer's Disease in women. Markets news. Protests about 'Living wills'. Senators [verbally] attack police, prisons, public laws over crime figures. Military news: Bosnian bridge destroyed by shelling. Weather report (Cloud, rain in UK). Sports news. 'Armed Forces Digest' at 2111 UTC, 'Jazz World' at 2130 UTC.
    • 14 November: 1140 UTC: 5955 kHz: Radio Netherlands 'Happy Station' 65th Birthday broadcast, Pete Myers with 'Happy Station' introductions by Edward Startz (1928-1970) and Tom Meyer (1970-1992). Listeners' memories of Eddie Startz's 'Nice cup of tea'. Eddie was interviewed in the USA during World War II. Memories of the Tom Meyer era, Pete interviews Tom live in the studio. Tom sings a Jazz song "Easy Come, Easy Go".
    • 14 November: 1918 UTC: 6105 kHz: Radio Romania International Questions and answers: Store shop keepers. 'Letterbox'. Broadcasting to Europe.
    • 14 November: 1941 UTC: 6120 kHz: Radio Finland 'Compass North' discussing communism, the Finnish press, social workers, European co-operation, Russian elections. Weather news from Helsinki.
    • 14 November: 20 UTC: 6110 kHz: Swiss Radio International to Western Europe. News: Israel-Palestine violence. Turkey & Israel agreement. Nigerian government talks with trade unions. Puerto Rico votes on independence from the USA. UN peace keepers find injured Croatian. Swiss Ambassador visits USA. 'Roundabout Switzerland'.
    QSL verification from Polish Radio Warsaw, November 1993.
    • 14 November: 2036 UTC: 6135 kHz: Polish Radio Warsaw Weekly request corner: Music by Chopin for listener in Philadelphia. Folk music for Antony Bowman, Blackpool, Lancashire. Rock music for 20 year old Lithuanian listener. Classical music for Phillip in Virginia, USA.
    • 14 November: 2058 UTC: 6180 / 6195 kHz: BBC World Service Sports news on 'Europe Today': Wimbledon, Melbourne weightlifters win medals. New York Marathon. 'Newshour' at 21 UTC: Chinese economic reform, Nigeria, Puerto Rico.
    • 21 November: 1210 UTC: 5955 kHz: Radio Netherlands Strong to good reception ["Weather here in the UK: Snow!"] 'Happy Station' on location in Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles. Pete Myers interviews a representative of the Bonaire Tourist Association. Caribbean music. Report from Flamingo airport by Pete. Jaime Báguena, Rosemarie Ninaber and Pete give last impressions of Bonaire. Next show is from Aruba.
    Thank you for taking the time to revisit the autumn of 1993. If you intend to tune a radio over the course of 2018, may I take this opportunity to wish you good DX!

    📻

    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, December 31, 2017

    Season 2017/18: The Season So Far - Part 5

    AND so, we have reached the final day of the calendar year 2017 and Reporting From The Fox Tower brings you the month-end roundup of football results, as we have now passed the halfway point of the football season. First to the Premier League, where things are looking good for the boys in blue:

    The Premier League Table, 31 December 2017.

    CARLISLE United Football Club have completed their December fixtures, so here are the results for The Season So Far - Part 5:

    December 2017: Results

    Saturday 2nd: FA Cup: Gillingham 1 - United 1
    Saturday 9th: Sky Bet League Two: Newport County 3 - United 3
    Saturday 16th: Sky Bet League Two: United 1 - Port Vale 2
    Tuesday 19th: FA Cup: United 3 - Gillingham 1 [Rearranged fixture; United face Sheffield Wednesday in the third round of the FA Cup]
    Saturday 23rd: Sky Bet League Two: Forest Green Rovers 0 - United 1
    Tuesday 26th: Sky Bet League Two: United 3 - Accrington Stanley 1
    Saturday 30th: Sky Bet League Two: United 0 - Coventry City 1

    January 2018: Fixtures

    Monday 1st: Sky Bet League Two: Mansfield Town v United (3pm)
    [Saturday 6th: Sky Bet League Two: Barnet v United - Postponed]
    Saturday 6th: FA Cup: United v Sheffield Wednesday (3pm)
    Saturday 13th: Sky Bet League Two: United v Crewe Alexandra (3pm)
    Saturday 20th: Sky Bet League Two: Stevenage v United (3pm)
    Saturday 27th: Sky Bet League Two: United v Forest Green Rovers (3pm)


    Thank you for visiting Reporting From The Fox Tower during 2017.

    All that remains to say is...
    Happy New Year!


    Saturday, December 23, 2017

    RFTFT's Most Popular: Top 3 of 2017

    REPORTING From The Fox Tower, on Christmas Eve Eve, welcomes you to an overview of 2017, bringing you the top three most viewed posts of the year, bringing you the most popular first.

    Amy Willerton

    The most popular post of 2017 on Reporting From The Fox Tower was 'Wallpaper of the Week, 23 July 2017', posted on the above date and was a real mixed bag of items in one post. The post began with the Wallpaper image of Tailbridge Hill, Nateby. The image was captured 20 September 2016.
    The post introduced Amy Willerton, pictured above, before closing with Chris Froome's 2017 Le Tour de France victory. The post had 144 views.

    To the second most popular post:

    Pulse 2 broadcasts on 1278 kHz in Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK.

     An evening listening to Medium Wave radio had the second highest number of views, with 138 recorded visits to the post. The broadcasts were logged on September 21, with the post dated September 24.

    The third most popular post:

    Caitlin
    Sidney

    Reporting From The Fox Tower was in experimental phase at points during the year, bringing you the Facebook Live video broadcast by Facing West, which was carried live on Facebook, Saturday 29 April. Facing West are a band consisting of sisters Caitlin (left) and Sidney (right) Powell.

    The 'Facing West: Facebook Live' post has received 113 views since uploaded on Sunday, April 30.

    Those were the three most popular posts of 2017.
    The plan, at the moment, is a final post of the year on Saturday 30th, looking at Carlisle United Football Club's results in December, though I intend to spend some quality time with my radio, so there may be radio logs posted here.

    Until the next time, may I wish you a Merry Christmas!

    🎅 🎄

    Sunday, December 17, 2017

    My DX Archive: Summer 1993

    WELCOME to memories of July and August 1993, courtesy of Short Wave and Medium Wave radio logs of the time. Memories of June 1993 can be found here. The broadcasts included here were received on a Hitachi TRK-5854 E.
    [Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz), MegaHertz (MHz) and/or metrebands (m). Logs transcribed from the original notes.]

    July 1993
    • 9 July [1993]: 1030 UTC: 9410 kHz: BBC World Service Rock Music with Tommy Vance: AC/DC "Money Talks", Faith No More "Epic", Deep Purple "Burn", Foreigner "Jukebox Hero", Metallica "Enter Sandman" and Bon Jovi "Livin On A Prayer".
    • 14 July: 1745 UTC: 6195 kHz: BBC World Service Music: Tears For Fears "Break It Down Again". 'Sports Roundup': Des Walker returns to British Football, Cricket.
    • 14 July: 1801 UTC: 7269? kHz: Radio Australia "International Report" Japanese elections, report from Tokyo. Japan's Prime Minister tours earthquake sites. To 1816 UTC.
    • 14 July: 1828 UTC: 9730 kHz: Radio Finland "Compass North" Business news, heavy interference.
    • 14 July: 1855 UTC: 9760 kHz: Voice of America Special English, 19 UTC news: Somalia, Pyongyang, Russia, Israel, Greece, USA, India. 1910 UTC: "Newsline" on VOA: Bosnia.
    • 14 July: 1915 UTC: 9750 kHz: BBC World Service "Outlook" Interview with Eric Clapton. 1930 UTC: "Omnibus" British girls working in a French nightclub, featuring Kate Weston, who recently left school, becoming a topless cancan dancer. Kate Weston, giggles a lot, originates from Clacton*. To 1941 UTC.
    • 14 July: 1945 UTC: 9760 kHz: Voice of America "Concert Hall". 20 UTC news.
    • 14 July: 2003 UTC: 9820 - 9880 kHz: Radio Moscow "News And Views" Italy asked to withdraw its General from Mogadishu. Report of the Israeli Prime Minister. Economic reform in Russia. To 2020 UTC.
    • 14 July: 2030 UTC: 9920 kHz: China Radio International Feature regarding Asthma, American Baritone to host a concert in China. "News & Current Affairs" 'Learn to speak Chinese' Lesson 15/16.
    • 14 July: 2047 UTC: 9950 kHz: All India Radio 'Press Review' India launch a satellite from Russia, with the support of President Clinton & President Yeltzin. 'Light Music'. 21 UTC News: Ukrainian President meets India's Foreign Minister.
    • 14 July: 2114 UTC: 11 MHz: Radio Moscow 'Focus On Asia & The Pacific' Korea will not allow inspectors in to Nuclear sites, China's Foreign Policy in review.
    • 14 July: 2125 UTC: 12095 kHz: BBC World Service 'Newshour'.
    • 14 July: 2218 UTC: 15330 kHz: Radio Bulgaria A Bulgarian Children's Choir tours Japan. 'Economy & Farming' at 2230 UTC.
    • 15 July: 1210 UTC: 5955 kHz: Radio Netherlands 'Media Network' [Good to poor reception] Information of broadcasts from Eritrea received in Finland. New book regarding UK transmitting station Woofferton. Listeners discuss their receivers, Japanese listener discusses his Sony receiver. Mike Bird's propagation report.
    • 16 July: 1618 UTC: 6175 kHz: Radio France Internationale News programme: Troops in Mogadishu (Somalia), The French mourn Jews killed in World War II. Success in a river blindness campaign in Africa.
    • 18 July: 1151 UTC: 13730 kHz: Radio Austria International. [Strong to good reception] 'Austrian Coffeetable' Jazz Music on a Sunday lunchtime.
    August 1993
    • 8 August: 2030 UTC: 1179 kHz Medium Wave: Radio Sweden [Strong to good reception] 'In Touch With Stockholm' featuring Björn Ulvæus of ABBA, presenting 'ABBA Quiz Winners'. News headlines: Accident at an airshow. Alan Pryke introduces Bjorn, who discusses 'The Emigrants', 'Chiquitita', 'Does Your Mother Know', 'I Have A Dream', 'The Winner Takes It All'. 1st Prize: ABBA 'Gold' CD, Amnesty CD & Radio Sweden T-Shirt. Letter from Merseyside, England. Discussion of Swedish musicians Roxette, Ace of Base, Dr Alban. Letter from Cambridge, England featuring British newspapers 'News of the World' and 'Sunday Mirror'. Telephone call: Fred from New York. Letter from Northern Ireland, telephone call from Scotland.
    • 12 August: 1145 UTC: 5955 kHz: Radio Netherlands 'Media Network': WSHB, WCSN, KHBI, Forces Radio in Russia, earthquake in New Zealand. IRRS transmitter struck by lightning! CRI change frequency. WWCR, St Helena, Transworld, Luxembourg, Freisland. Mike Bird's propagation report. News at 1230 UTC.
    The 'Brussels Calling' team.
    • 31 August: 2119 UTC: 1512 kHz Medium Wave: B R T Brussels [Strong to good reception] Music, 'P O Box 26' the letters programme of 'Brussels Calling'.
    That concludes the Summer 1993 logs.

    As we are now at mid December, I plan to post over the festive - New Year 2018 period, taking a look at Reporting From The Fox Tower's most popular posts of 2017 and rounding up Carlisle United Football Club's results for the month of December. At this point, may I hope your festive plans are going well.
    🎄 📻

    * I SO wanted to meet her at the time...

    Sunday, December 10, 2017

    My DX Archive: June 1993.

    JOIN me on another journey down memory lane, to my notes of radio broadcasts received June 1993. Click here for an extensive post of logs from Spring (March - April - May) 1993.
    The broadcasts included here were received on a Hitachi TRK-5854 E, tuning the Short Wave bands.
    [Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz), MegaHertz (MHz) and/or metrebands (m). Logs transcribed from the original notes.]

    June 1993

    • 5 June [1993]: 2148 UTC: 17790 kHz: HCJB Quito, Ecuador. Good reception. 'Musical Mailbag' Letter and reception report from England. Laurie from Canada writes.
    • 14 June: 1730 UTC: 6065 + 9645 kHz: Radio Sweden Interference. News: Mogadishu, Olaf Palmer killed 1986, Swedish unemployment. '60° Degrees North': UN conference. Sport: Interview with football managers.
    • 15 June: 1754 UTC: 6040 kHz: Voice of America 'Request Line' Music, Eddie Murphy fan club address. News: President Clinton talks about Somalia. Italy talks about Mogadishu. Azerbaijan. Bosnian ceasefire.
    • 15 June: 1843 UTC: 9730 kHz: Radio Finland 'Compass North', 'Faith in Finland', summer religious festivals, Catholics pilgrim in Finland.
    • 15 June: 1903 UTC: 9760 kHz: Voice of America News headlines: Dalai Llama, Azerbaijan, ballots in Malawi, India launches offensive against Kashmir. 'Newsline' on VOA.
    • 15 June: 1917 UTC: 11630 / 11760 kHz: Radio Moscow 'Commonwealth Update', Estonia. CIS economies and currencies. News in Brief, followed by details of music by Mario Lanza.
    • 15 June: 1958 UTC: 12095 kHz: BBC World Service 'Development 93', news: United Nations conference to press for action in Bosnia, conference takes place in Vienna, Austria.
    • 15 June: 2024 UTC: 13635 kHz: Swiss Radio International 'Dateline' Address: Swiss Radio International, English, 3000 BERNE 15, Switzerland. Racism in Germany and Switzerland. Via Gabon transmitter relay site.
    • 15 June: 2054 UTC: 15665 kHz: Monitor Radio via WCSN. Book review: 'Mad Monks on the Road'. World news with an American angle: President Clinton reviews the situation in Somalia. Wall Street. Heavy shelling in Sarajevo. NASA.
    • 15 June: 2118 UTC: 15590 kHz: BBC World Service MP interviewed regarding Azerbaijan.
    • 15 June: 2131 UTC: 17790 kHz: HCJB 'Mountain Meditation' Quotes from Corinthians, New Testament. 'Glorious Intentions'.
    • 23 June: 1179 kHz Medium Wave: Radio Sweden 'Sixty Degrees North': 'Money Matters': Euro - US Free Trade talks. Station announcement: Radio Sweden regrets their French and Spanish services are to end soon.

    Until the next time, Happy Listening!

    📻

    Sunday, December 3, 2017

    DX Notes, October - November 2017

    WELCOME to my radio listening logs for October - November 2017, covering Short Wave and Medium Wave. All broadcasts were received on the Roberts R881.
    [Housekeeping notes: Times in UTC (GMT), frequencies in kiloHertz (kHz), transmission powers in watts and kiloWatts (kW)]

    Short Wave : Friday 20 October 2017
    • 20 October: 1925 UTC: 9730 kHz: The Short Wave Band is very noisy these days. I believe I hear China Radio International in Spanish / Portuguese language, spoken at length by a male, with music in the background - Not sure if the music is the same broadcast. China Radio International in Portuguese via Kashi-Saibagh, 500 kW, though Voice of Vietnam is also on air on this frequency: English language to 1930 UTC; French from 1930 UTC via Hanoi-Santay, 100 kW. Moderate reception of this frequency; To 1930 UTC.
    • 20 October: 1935 UTC: 9810 kHz: IRIB Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran. Moderate reception, 500 kW via Sirjan, Iran. Male speech in English! The male speaks of the Russian Foreign Minister, who says Washington DC should withdraw the US nuclear weapons. Russia hopes to speak to Pyongyang. English language to Europe and Africa. News from Madrid. News from Istanbul, an explosion. News of the Russian Foreign Ministry and the International Atomic Agency. IDs, times and frequencies, contact details. Music. To 1952 UTC.
    • 20 October: 2041 UTC: 11580 kHz: WRMI Radio Miami International, USA. Moderate reception, 100 kW via Okeechobee FL USA. Deep, male voice in American English; English to Europe and Americas. To 2049 UTC.
    Sunday 5 November 2017

    5 November: 1820 UTC: 5935 kHz: Radio Romania International. Strong reception, 300 kW via Tiganesti, Saftica, Romania. Listener's Day broadcast: Richard Cole, Pennsylvania, USA, points to Donald Trump as a source of fake news, as does a listener in Alabama, USA. Listener in Nevada USA shares their views on Donald Trump. Comments from a listener in Brazil.
    Martin Cowin (Me!) at 1825 UTC with views on fake news, the subject of today's programme. UK listener with views of fake news on social media. English to Europe. Listeners in the USA on sources of fake news on social media. To 1840 UTC.

    Medium Wave: Saturday 25 November 2017
    • 25 November: 2042 UTC: 1314 kHz: RNE Radio 5, Spain. Strong to moderate reception. Classical orchestral works, which have featured speech at two intervals. The speech was male, I believe it to be Spanish. I believe the music to also be Motion Picture Soundtracks. The male speech has an 'echo', so I believe I hear more than one transmitter. To 2058 UTC.
    • 25 November: 2102 UTC: 1323 kHz: Smooth Radio, Sussex, UK. Strong to moderate reception, 500 watts via Southwick, Brighton. Music: Madonna 'Crazy For You', male voice with 'Smooth Radio' ID, Cyndi Lauper 'Time After Time'. Female voice: 'Your relaxing music mix, Smooth Radio' ID. KC & The Sunshine Band 'Please Don't Go'. 'Smooth Sanctuary'. George Benson 'In Your Eyes'. Male presenter with a link. Alicia Keys 'Empire State of Mind (Part 2)'; The Bee Gees. To 2120 UTC.
    • 25 November: 2138 UTC: 1332 kHz: Smooth Radio, Cambridgeshire, UK. Good to moderate reception, 600 watts via Gunthorpe, Peterborough. Music: Lady Antebellum 'Need You Now'. Male host with ID for Smooth Radio prior to a lengthy ad break, including ads for Christmas! Ad for a pantomime. Music: John Lennon 'Woman'. Female ID, Fleetwood Mac 'Dreams'. 'The Smooth Sanctuary', male host. Female ID, Simply Red 'Holding Back The Years'. To 2151 UTC.

    • 25 November: 2158 UTC: 1341 UTC: BBC Radio Ulster, Northern Ireland, UK. Strong to good reception, 100 kW via Lisnagarvey, County Down, Northern Ireland. Gaelic speech with music to 22 UTC. News: Arrests following stabbings at York Road, Belfast. Libyan coastguard says migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean have died. British Transport Police detain two men following incident in London on Friday night. Time Magazine v Donald Trump. Sport: Rugby Union: Ireland lose to Argentina. Weather, BBC News. 'The Saturday Club': Mystery voice, television theme, look at the news of the week, from the archive, female guest. Dedications by text: 81771, email jb @ bbc . co . uk and via Twitter @ bbcradioulster. Music: Maureen Evans 'Like I Do'. Recap of contact details. John is the host. He had to clean out the car! Music: Andy Williams 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You'. To 2216 UTC.
    [Following BBC Radio Ulster on 1341 kHz, I tuned to 1350 kHz, which was quiet. Tuned to 1359 kHz, which carried a 'Black Friday Event' ad, which ruled out BBC Radio Solent, but could have ruled in Free Radio 80s (Shilton, Coventry) or Smooth Radio (South Wales / Essex). Signal did not carry, so moved on to tune to 1368 kHz.]
    • 25 November: 2225 UTC: 1368 kHz: Radio Caroline North courtesy of the Radio Caroline Support Group, via Manx Radio! Strong to good reception, 20 kW via Foxdale, Isle of Man. Inclusion of an ID for 648 kHz - Caroline is going on the old BBC World Service frequency! Male host, contact from a listener at Heddon-On-The-Wall, ad break which included the Ross Revenge having to change location - Documentary available to purchase from the webshop. Weather for the Isle of Man. Music. Male ID 'This is Radio Caroline North'. Music from Status Quo; Music from The Temptations. Competitions: Listeners in Norfolk and Walsall. David Knight has been in contact with the show. Music, jingles for Radio Caroline North 1368 kHz! To 2250 UTC.

    [1377 kHz was quiet]
    • 25 November: 2252 UTC: 1386 kHz: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Lithuania. Good to moderate reception, via Viešintos, Lithuania, ID as 'Radio Svaboda'. Speech from male and female, sounds quite emotional! Eastern Europe / Russian language IDs at 2259 UTC, male with news at 23 UTC: Vladimir Putin; Islamic terrorists; Angela Merkel; France: President Macron. Mugabe leaves power in Zimbabwe. To 2308 UTC.
    • 25 November: 2312 UTC: 1395 kHz: Radio Seabreeze AM, Holland. Moderate reception, via Grou, Holland, 100 watts - From a transmitter BELOW sea level! Music: Mumford & Sons, male speech, web address, link into next song: Fleetwood Mac 'Dreams'; Meatloaf & Cher 'Real Dead Ringer For Love'; Duran Duran; Pretenders 'Don't Get Me Wrong'. To 2331 UTC.
    [1404 kHz was quiet]
    • 25 November: 2336 UTC: 1413 kHz: Premier Christian Radio, London, UK. Good to moderate reception, 500 watts via Heathrow (West London) / Dartford Marshes (East London). Male voice with a weather forecast, ID for Premier Christian Radio, music with male speech, 'God is in the moon' - Song by female vocalists, 'Church On The Moon'. 'Gospel Tonight' is the name of the show. Male ID. Echo from both transmitters. To 2354 UTC.
    • 25 November: 2356 UTC: 1413 kHz: BBC Radio Gloucestershire, UK. Good to moderate reception, 500 watts via Bourton-On-The-Water / 200 watts via Berkeley Heath. "This is the Late Show from the BBC" male host, music: Texas 'I Don't Want A Lover'. Male ID for the song and the 'Late Show' - Guess the item competition - Ten minutes of the competition left! Guess from a listener in Falmouth. ID for the BBC. Music: Lynyrd Skynyrd 'Sweet Home Alabama'. [QRM from Premier Christian Radio] More guesses in the competition: A walkaway cooker?! Music: Bee Gees 'Tragedy'. The mystery items were mortar and pestle (for grinding up food). Music: Moody Blues 'Question'. To 0015 UTC.
    [1422 kHz was quiet]
    • [Sunday] 26 November: 0018 UTC: 1431 kHz: Smooth Radio, UK. Good to moderate reception, 350 watts via Rayleigh ( Southend-on-Sea, Essex) / 140 watts via Manor Farm, Reading, Berkshire. 'Smooth Love Songs, on Smooth Radio' Emeli Sandé & Labrinth 'Beneath Your Beautiful', ID, Wham! 'Last Christmas' - Hoping to be the Christmas Number One for 2017, to mark one year since the passing of George Michæl on Christmas Day 2016. Now playing: Vanessa Williams 'Saving The Best For Last'; Rod Stewart 'I Don't Want To Talk About It'; Shania Twain 'You're Still The One'. To 0032 UTC.
    That completes the logs for October - November 2017. My intention is to spend some of the festive - New Year period listening to broadcasts, with the hope that the logs will appear on Reporting From The Fox Tower at the close of 2017 and / or the first days of 2018. Until then, Good Listening!

    📻