WRMI Summer Schedule Update

 

WRMI - Summer A24 schedule update - effective 20 May 2024

The current summer color grid which includes programming information is available at: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pcIEX8kisrOPqlXHDAq6gympKUgDj0SIb96qce2kGGQ/edit#gid=0Summer

All times UTC

English/French/Portuguese/Spanish/Russian

0000-0100 5010ca 5800la 5800na 5950na 7570na 9455na 15770eu  

0100-0200 5050la 5800la 5950na 7570na 7730na 7780ca 9455na 15770eu

0200-0300 5010ca 5050la 5800la 5950na 7570na 7780ca 9955sa 15770eu

0300-0400 5010ca 5050la 5800la 5850na 5950na 7570na 9955sa 15770eu

0400-0500 5010ca 5850na 7730na 7780ca 9455na 9955sa 15770eu

0500-0600 5010ca 5850na 7730na 9455na 9395na 9955sa 15770eu

0600-0700 5010ca 5850na 7730na 7780ca 9395na 9455na 9955sa 15770eu

0700-0800 5010ca 5850na 7730na 7780ca 9395na 9455na 9955sa 15770eu

0800-0900 5010ca 7730na 7780ca 9395na 9455na 9955sa 15770eu

0900-1000 5010ca 5850na 7730la 7780ca 9395na 9955sa 15770eu

1000-1100 5010ca 7730na 7780ca 9395na 9455na 9955sa 15770eu

1100-1200 5010ca 5850na 7730na 7780ca 9395na 9455na

1200-1300 5010ca 7730na 7780ca 9395na 9455na 15770eu

1300-1400 5010ca 5850na 7730na 7780ca 9395na 9455na

1400-1500 5010ca 5850na 7730na 7780na 9395na 9455na 9955sa 15770eu

17790la

1500-1600 7730na 9395na 9455na 9955sa 17790la

1600-1700 7730na 9395na 9455na 17790la

1700-1800 7730na 9395na 9455na 15770eu 17790la

1800-1900 7730na 9395na 9455na 15770eu 17790la

1900-2000 7730na 9395na 9455na 15770eu 17790la

2000-2100 9395na 9755na 17790la

2100-2200 5950na 7730na 9455na

2200-2300 5850na 5950na 7730na 9755na 15770eu

2300-0000 5850na 5950na 7570na 7730na 9455na 15770eu

Target Areas:

ca central America

eu Europe

la Latin America

na North America

sa South America

WRMI website: http://www.wrmi.net/

Reception reports: info@wrmi.net 

Nostalgic look at CKLW AM 800

Special thanks to Ray Robinson & Jeff White for sharing this weeks Wavescan program script.

Jeff:  In North America, the mention of 800 kilocycles in the standard AM broadcast band usually brings back memories of one of three major stations.  On the island of Bonaire in the Netherlands Antilles, Trans World Radio launched a station on that frequency on October 1st, 1964, with programming beamed both north and south in Spanish, Portuguese and English.

In Mexico, there was a border blaster on 800 kHz in Ciudad Juárez, XEROK, just across the Rio Grand from El Paso, Texas.

And in Canada, there was the famous CKLW in Windsor, Ontario, which also served the metro Detroit area.  Today that’s a news/talk station, but many people remember it fondly from its Top 40 era in the late 60’s and 70’s.  And that’s the subject of Ray Robinson’s tribute today – CKLW, “The Big 8”.

Ray:  Thanks, Jeff.  CKLW first came on the air on June 2, 1932, as CKOK on 540 kilocycles, with 5,000 watts of power.  The station was built by George Storer and was sold to a group of Windsor-area businessmen led by Malcolm Campbell, operating as "Essex Broadcasters, Ltd."  CKOK became CKLW and moved to 840 kHz in 1933, when Essex Broadcasters, Ltd. merged with the London Free Press and its station CJGC.  The "LW" in the CKLW callsign is said to have stood for "London, Windsor", considered the two chief cities in the station's Southern Ontario listening area.  When the station's power increased to 50,000 watts, its listening area increased accordingly.  In 1934, CKLW moved from 840 to 1030 kHz, before settling on its present frequency of 800 kHz in 1941, thanks to a shuffle of frequency allocations under the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement, or NABRA.

For most of its history, CKLW had a distinctly American accent to its programming, and for a number of years served as the Detroit affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System, an affiliation that began with its switch from CBS to Mutual on September 29, 1935, and which would last from then until its purchase by RKO in 1963.

Alongside its affiliation with Mutual, CKLW also gained a dual affiliation with the CBC in 1935.  In the late 1930’s and early 1940’s, CKLW was home to Happy Joe's Early Morning Frolic with Joe Gentile and Toby David – one of the first popular comedy-oriented radio morning shows in Detroit.

As television's popularity boomed, CKLW, like many other stations, coped with the changes by replacing the dying network radio fare with locally based disc-jockey shows.  Throughout the 1950’s and into the mid-1960’s, CKLW was basically a "variety" radio station which filled in the gaps between network features with pop music played by announcers like Bud Davies, Joe Van, and Ron Knowles (who had a rock-and-roll show on AM 800 as early as 1957).  For a few years in the early 1960’s, CKLW also featured a country music program in the evenings called Sounds Like Nashville.  That ended in 1963 when WEXL 1340 became Detroit's first 24-hour country station.

On April 4, 1967, CKLW got a drastic makeover with Bill Drake's "Boss Radio" format, programmed locally by Paul Drew.  The station became known as "The Big 8," with new jingles sung by the Johnny Mann Singers, and the station was on a rapid ratings upswing.

In July 1967, CKLW claimed the number one spot in the Detroit ratings for the first time, and its major competitor in the Detroit market, WKNR, was left in the dust.  That station switched to an easy listening format as WNIC less than five years later.

It is said that CKLW became the hum of the region. Walking down Woodward Avenue, in Detroit, it could be heard blasting from just about every direction – from passing cars, businesses and the open windows of homes.  But of course, Detroit’s #1 station was, in fact, not in Detroit.  Its 50,000 watts of AM power, which blanketed southern Ontario and more than a dozen states, was instead situated on the southern shore of the Detroit River in Windsor, Ontario.

It’s actually a ‘Class B’ 50,000 watt station, with a five-tower array directional antenna with differing patterns day and night.  Despite its high power, it must protect Class A clear-channel station XEROK in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and other Canadian and U.S. stations on 800 AM.  The transmitter is off County Road 20 West in southern Essex County, between Amherstburg and Harrow, a few kilometres from the Lake Erie shoreline.  When Trans World Radio launched their station in Bonaire in 1964 with 525,000 watts on the same frequency, it caused significant interference to CKLW at night.  But, CKLW was, and is, under no obligation to protect TWR, as that station signed on long after North American allocations were settled, and the Netherlands Antilles didn’t honour such international agreements.

But in the primary markets of Windsor and Detroit in the late 1960’s, the exciting, bold, new style of ‘The Big 8’ revolutionized not only how radio and media would be delivered, but also how it would be consumed.  Its format relentlessly pumped out the hits in assembly-line fashion.  Its newscasters made the news as exciting as the music, and the “audio wizardry” of its engineer, Ed Buterbaugh, pushed the capabilities of the AM frequency, sonically separating the station from all others on the dial.  CKLW resonated with the rising power of a youthful, new generation that demanded to be listened to just as much as the station did itself.  Music was the backbone of CKLW.  This was “hit radio,” and key to its reign supreme in the trend-setting Detroit radio market was its ability to integrate Black R&B or soul music (‘the Motown Sound’) seamlessly with white rock ‘n’ roll in a way that most American stations wouldn’t touch.

The Big 8 established Windsor as a “gateway radio market” for breaking Canadian recording artists into the United States.  Few acts felt the station’s impact greater than The Guess Who.  While already enjoying national success in Canada, once CKLW picked up on ‘These Eyes’ in 1969, the band’s career was forever changed.  Overnight, they were signed to an American record deal with RCA Victor and within the year had a #1 hit on the Billboard charts with the single ‘American Woman’.  CKLW got behind numerous Canadian acts, giving their careers a significant boost in the process – Steppenwolf, Bachman Turner Overdrive, The Poppy Family, Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray, and numerous others.  Here are some airchecks from the late 1960’s:

Besides the music, another feature of the "Big 8" was its "20/20 News", so-called because it was delivered at 20 minutes after the hour and 20 minutes before the hour - scheduling that allowed CKLW to be playing music while other stations were airing newscasts at the top of the hour or on the quarter- or half-hour.  The CKLW newscasters delivered imagery-laden news stories in a rapid-fire, excited manner, not sparing any of the gory details when it came to describing murders or rapes.  This was an attempt to make the news sound as exciting and gripping as the music.  Another memorable feature of the 20/20 newscasts was the incessant clacking of the teletype in the background, which gave the newscasts a unique sound.

But the station’s ability to compete within the Detroit market was significantly compromised when the newly mandated Canadian content (or ‘Cancon’) regulations, which required 30% Canadian content, went into effect in 1971.  Still, even with those constraints, CKLW continued to hold the #1 spot in Detroit well into 1973.  The effects of Cancon, combined with an increasingly fragmented radio listening audience as a result of the rise of FM radio throughout the 1970’s, meant CKLW’s ratings would inevitably decline.

The Canadian government's initial unwillingness to license FM frequencies with pop or rock music formats stranded Canadian stations on AM while an entire demographic of listeners began the exodus to US-based FM outlets anywhere the signals were in range.  For many younger listeners by 1978, CKLW was the station they listened to only if they had an AM-only radio in their cars.  (I had one of those in an old Lincoln Continental in 1985.)

The station did implement AM stereo in 1982 and even got the rights to broadcast University of Michigan football and NASL soccer, but it wasn’t enough.  In 1984, the Canadian Radio and Television Commission (CRTC) declined the station’s application to relaunch as an FM hit radio station, and that spelt the end.  On January 1st, 1985, CKLW raised the white flag.  The station laid off its entire staff of 79 people, closed its American sales office in Detroit, and re-branded as ‘K-800’ with a fully automated ‘Music of Your Life’ format of jazz standards and big band music.  And, since most of those recordings were mono, the AM stereo was switched off.

On March 1st 1993, the format was changed again to news/talk as ‘AM 800 – The Information Station’, which it still is to this day.

On May 1, 2017, a fire broke out at the transmitter site, knocking the station off the air.  Programming was temporarily moved to sister station AM 580 CKWW, while both stations' internet feeds remained unaffected.  The cause was never made public, and the station was able to return to the air on reduced power by mid-afternoon the following day.

The story of ‘The Big 8’ was one of the most exciting and unique radio stories of the 20th century.  It happened in a small border city that’s typically seen as living in Detroit’s shadow rather than being a major cultural mover and shaker itself.  But, for a time, Windsor hosted one of the most listened to and influential radio stations in North America.

Back to you, Jeff.

(AWR/Wavescan)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts

:Issued: 2024 May 20 0143 UTC

# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center

# Product description and SWPC contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services

#

#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts

#

Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 13 - 19 May 2024

Solar activity ranged from low to high levels during the period. High levels were reached 13-15 May; moderate levels 16-17 May; and low levels on 18 May. Levels returned to moderate by 19 May. There were at least 15 M-class flares and 5 X-class flares during the reporting week - sub-peaks and re-enhancements made firm correlations difficult. Region 3664 (S17, L=347, Fkc/BGD on 11 May) was the primary X-class flare producer and erupted with the largest solar flare thus far in solar cycle 25, an X8.7 at 14/1651 UTC as it reached the western limb. Nineteen sunspot groups littered the solar disk, with Region 3664 rotating beyond the limb 14 May. Even though Region 3664 rotated beyond the limb, it continued producing M and X-class flares on 15 May, to include an X3.4 flare at 15/0818 UTC. Another active region just beyond the east limb was the source of an X2.9 flare on 15/1438 UTC. This region rotated into view on 16 May and was designated as Region 3685 (S13 L=152, Ehi/BG on 16 May. 

Radio activity was aplenty during the week - main highlights include Region 3664 eruption of solar radio bursts on 14 May that included Castelli U signature bursts twice, once with an X1.7 flare at 14/0209 UTC and again with the X8.7 flare. The first radio burst was the more massive, with a peak frequency flux centered on 245 MHz of 63,000 sfu. Tenflares were also observed, as well as Type II and IV radio sweeps with each of these events. Radio activity of note continued on 15 May with early activity still from well beyond the limb Region 3664, however, later on 15 May, the source region shifted to the east limb, with Type II and IV sweeps associated with the X2.9 flare from soon to be assigned Region 3685. 

Many CMEs were noted through the week, most were sourced to Region 3664 and were determined to be misses ahead of Earth. However, even though an asymmetric halo CME on 13 May from Region 3664 was analyzed and modeled as mainly a miss, possible shock arrival and glancing or near-proximity influences were possible on 14-15 May due to its fast speed. Additionally, on 14 May, a filament eruption centered over the far northeastern solar disk was modeled and a glancing blow was suggested by 17 May. Yet another filament eruption occurred from a source location in the northwest quadrant on 16 May. This associated CME analysis and model results suggested a glancing blow possible on 20 May. 

A proton event was observed at geosynchronous orbit. The event began on 13 May as the greater than 10 MeV levels reached 10 pfu at 13/1400 UTC and breached 100 pfu by 14/0335 UTC. These events were most likely associated with flare and CME activity from region 3664. Peak flux reached was 121 pfu on 14/0505 UTC and decreased below 10 pfu at 16/1455 UTC. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux reached 1,000 pfu on 15/1525 UTC with a peak flux of 1,500 pfu at 15/1840 UTC and returned to normal levels on 16 May. 

Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to G2 (Moderate) storm levels. 13 May began with G2 levels in response to continued CME influences as solar wind speeds were still highly elevated and near 850 km/s with total IMF strength between 5-10 nT and favorable periods of southward Bz component. Solar wind speed slowly declined and eventually reached near 450 km/s on 15 May, while the total IMF strength weakened and returned to more ambient levels. This led to a period of mainly quiet to unsettled levels 14-15 May. Another enhancement in the solar wind field occurred on 16 May due to CME effects (likely from one of Region's 3664 CMEs of 13 May) as the total field intensified to 17 nT, while the Bz component shifted southward - this led to G1 (Minor) to G2 storm levels. Yet another CME arrival disturbed and enhanced the IMF again, with a favorable southward connection on 17 May that led to G1-G2 storm levels again.

The origin of this CME is somewhat in doubt, but the most likely candidate is one of the CMEs from Region 3664 on 14 May. The solar wind field gradually returned to a less disturbed and more ambient, background state on 18 May with quiet to active levels noted and quiet to unsettled conditions on 19 May. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 20 May - 15 June 2024

Solar activity is likely to be moderate (R1-R2; Minor-Moderate), with a slight chance for high levels (R3; Strong) through 21 May as Region 3685 (S13 L=155, Ehi/BG as of 18 May) continues to produce low-level M-class flares (R1). The region will take some time to rotate to the western limb - rotating beyond the limb by 30 May. Meanwhile eight other regions will rotate beyond the limb beginning 21 May through 26 May. A good number of former spot regions are timed to rotate back into Earth-view through much of the outlook period - the most anticipated is former Region 3664 (S17, L=347, Fkc/BGD on 11 May) that is expected to return by 26-27 May. The litany of returning regions, to include 3664, could lead to increasing solar activity levels back to moderate to high levels as early as 26 May. 

There will be a slight chance of S1 (Minor) solar radiation storms through 30 May until Region 3685 rotates beyond the western limb. If Region 3664 survives to its return to the visible solar disk 26-27 May, there is a possibility of an increase to a chance of an S1 storm by 7-15 June. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is likely to be normal to moderate with a chance for high levels 20 May - 15 Jun. 

Geomagnetic activity is anticipated to be at quiet to active conditions, with likely G1 (Minor) storm levels 20 May due to CME effects. Conditions are expected to wane on 21 May and primarily quiet to active levels are expected. A period of quiet conditions follows 22-23 May, with CH HSS effects leading back to active levels 24-25 May. The remainder of the period is anticipated to be primarily a mix of quiet to active conditions in varying responses to occasional recurrent CH HSS effects.  

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt

:Issued: 2024 May 20 0143 UTC

# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center

# Product description and SWPC contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services

#

#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table

#                Issued 2024-05-20

#

#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest

#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index

2024 May 20     190          24          5

2024 May 21     190          16          4

2024 May 22     185           5          2

2024 May 23     190           5          2

2024 May 24     190          15          4

2024 May 25     185          12          3

2024 May 26     195           5          2

2024 May 27     200          12          4

2024 May 28     210           8          3

2024 May 29     210           5          2

2024 May 30     215           5          2

2024 May 31     225          10          3

2024 Jun 01     225          12          4

2024 Jun 02     225          12          4

2024 Jun 03     220           8          3

2024 Jun 04     220           5          2

2024 Jun 05     210           5          2

2024 Jun 06     210           5          2

2024 Jun 07     210           5          2

2024 Jun 08     200          10          3

2024 Jun 09     195          12          4

2024 Jun 10     190           8          3

2024 Jun 11     185          12          4

2024 Jun 12     180          10          3

2024 Jun 13     170           5          2

2024 Jun 14     170           5          2

2024 Jun 15     165           5          2

(NOAA)

Bayrak Radio on Cyprus Island, Part 1, 2

 

The history of Bayrak Radio on Cyprus Island is very interesting and sometimes even dramatic. In Dec. of 1963 fighting had broken out between the Turkish and Greek communities and the UN peacekeepers forces were deployed in 1964. Even before the conflict was over, a small group of engineers and technicians were asked to set up the Turkish radio station. 

At that time the Turkish Cypriots were forcibly excluded from the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, where the Greek and Turkish Cypriots had worked together. The station was supposed to announce the Cyprus Turkish People's existence on the island and make their rightful voice heard. From the British Army they got a transmitter and some parts, but the equipment was on the Greek side. 

They secretly organized the arrival of these things, which weighed around 1000 kilos. About 30 people worked night and day on the project. On Dec.23, 1963 the Voice of Turkish Cypriot Freedom Fighters went on the air calling "Bayrak-Bayrak-Bayrak" on 1400 kHz at a very low power. 

The transmission was on the medium wave, because there were not any shortwave radios in Turkish Cypriot homes. The station was in the garage of one of the Turkish leaders. A 40 meter-long wire antenna was in use, and for the power supply 120 car batteries were used. It was a big job in the workshop for building and repairing radios for the Turkish villagers. Later the station was moved into a building of the Post Office in Nicosia. So, times in the beginning for Bayrak Radio were very difficult! 

But quite soon in the next year of 1964 Bayrak Radio was heard internationally in Turkish, Greek, and in English on SW - 6700 and 7275 kHz. Then for over ten years the radio had operated on a makeshift basis, using slightly different frequencies - 6150, 6159 and 6279 kHz.

In 1974 the Turkish military had occupied much of the North-Eastern part of the island and it had created many changes :1. The Turkish Republic of North Cyprus was founded; 2. The Bayrak Radio & Television Corporation (BRTK)

was organized; 3. The Bayrak Radio International station begin to operate. With this new name BRI became an independent association -

The Voice of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, BRTK.

History of Bayrak Radio on Cyprus Island Part 2

The station underwent many technical improvements; its power went up from 7,5 / 10 kW to 25 kW; for some years its air-time was 25 hours in Turkish, Greek, German, French, Arabic, English and even in Russian.

Their programs consisted of information and entertainment aimed at bolstering national pride and reducing the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot communities. Propaganda with news, views, interviews

The station was a prime DX target for decades, especially for the American DXers, but in Europe the power of 10 or 25 kW made its signals audible almost everywhere.

Of course, there were some periods of time when the station was off the air for a long duration. For example, in the BCDX for Jan. 2012 a report appeared about the station being upgraded with a new antenna system and that was why it could work in 2011 with reduced power of 4 kW. Also, it was expected to be on air in March of 2012. But alas, it never happened! In the same BCDX for Jan. 2013, the Head of the Transmission Department of the BRI wrote :

"The Radio Bayrak transmitter is still on the air with reduced power. The damage to the antenna system appeared to be bigger than anticipated. Some repair job was done, but it still needed a lot of renovation. There was, however, a big discussion going on about cutting the expenses in all areas, due to the recent economic crisis. The Government was considering to close down the shortwave services." 

Since then nothing was heard about the station. In the EiBi frequency list for Oct.30, 2011 - Mar.25, 2012 Radio Bayrak International was on 6150 kHz; that was the last time it was seen ! Now here is something about the Tx site location of the station: some sources tell us that Radio Bayrak was listed in 1976 at Yeny Iskele; another one informs that on Oct.25, 1983, the new transmission center was established near Yeni Iskele for broadcasting on medium wave of 1098 kHz and on short wave of 6150 kHz, 7,5/10/25 kW. In the GE image we can see this site : 35 17'40"N - 33 54'58"E.

(shortwave sites/Nordx)

Antarctica broadcast schedule

LRA 36 Radio Nacional Arcangel San Gabriel has good news to share with shortwave listeners AND DXers around the world.

 Starting this week LRA36 will have 4 weekly emissions on 15476 kHz USB according to the following scheme: 

Tuesday 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. UTC 

Thursday 18:00 to 20:00 UTC

 Friday 12:00 to 15:00 UTC 

Saturday 18:00 to 21:00 UTC

Good DX and 73 

Adrian Korol

Propagation update from the U.K.

 

After last weekend’s auroral spectacular, it was nice to see the Sun calm down a little and the bands get back to normal. But that didn’t last long.

To recap, on Friday 10 May the Kp index shot up to 9, due to the effects of a number of coronal mass ejections, while the HF bands closed down in the subsequent geomagnetic storm.

While there were visible aurora across the UK and Europe, HF propagation really suffered and didn’t start to recover until the late afternoon on Saturday 11 May.

The main culprit, active region 3664, has now rotated out of view, but that doesn’t mean we are out of the woods just yet.

Solar flares can cause short-term disruption to HF propagation due to their X-rays penetrating deep into the D-region and causing signals to be absorbed. Subsequent coronal mass ejections can cause longer-term degradation of the F2 layer with reduced maximum usable frequencies, noisy bands and auroral conditions.

At the time of writing, the Kp index stood at 6 again so it looks like unsettled geomagnetic conditions are continuing with a moderate G2 geomagnetic storm in progress.

Low to moderate activity is now expected, with a slight chance of further strong-class flares. The regions currently on the visible disc are smaller and simpler, with isolated M-flares possible from these. However, a new active region, now rotating into view, has already emitted an X-class solar flare.

Next week, the United States Air Force predicts that the solar flux index may remain in the 160 to 180 range. HF conditions remain a lottery as they can be badly affected by solar flares and coronal mass ejections.

It is best to keep an eye on solarham.com for updates, and also propquest.co.uk for near real-time reports of the critical and maximum usable frequencies.

VHF and up:

The weather remains on the unsettled side of things with areas of rain and some thunderstorms over the country, especially the south as we end this week. As this report is being read out, high pressure is becoming established over northern and western Britain.

This may eventually take a tenuous hold over the rest of the country during the second half of the coming week and into next weekend, the 25 and 26 May.

This high pressure, although fairly weak, may help with some Tropo for those in northern Britain in the 144MHz May Contest and the Backpackers Contest this weekend, ending the 19 May. It may also be helpful to those taking part in the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest on the 21 May. However, the conditions may not be of much use in the south as another low arrives from the continent.

Overall, rain scatter on the GHz bands will probably be worth exploring in the rainy areas again, since some of the showers may be heavy and thundery.

The prospects for aurora are still worth keeping in mind despite the recent stunning event. Minor non-visible events can still provide a reasonable radio aurora to explore.

The Sporadic-E season continues to develop. And with such unsettled weather, there are plentiful jet streams to act as source regions for turbulence, which can propagate up to the E region where they can generate Sporadic-E.

We are currently at the tail end of the Eta Aquariids meteor shower. A few meteors from this shower will continue to appear, but no major shower is expected this week.

The lowest Moon declination occurs this coming Friday. With the Moon being full on the 23 May, a clear sky should reveal an impressive ‘Flower Moon’.

For EME, path loss will still be relatively high, although the Moon is starting to move back towards its closest point to Earth, or perigee.

144MHz sky noise starts the week low but rises to high on Saturday the 25 May.

https://rsgb.org/main/blog/news/gb2rs/propagation-news/2024/05/17/propagation-news-19-may-2024/

(Mike Terry/BDXC)

Photo/Fox News)

Uncle Bill's Melting Pot schedule and information for May 18

 

Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, May 2024

This month, our guests are

1. Clay Ross, leader of the American Patchwork Quartet, an excellent multiethnic fusion project (including Falu, a previous guest on this show) sharing some of their debut album by the same name.

2. Eugene Pao in Hong Kong, China's foremost jazz guitarist, with some of his most recent release which includes guest trumpeter Randy Brecker.

Times and frequencies for May 18, 2024 

0900-1000 UTC 9670 kHz with beam D (Eastern Europe and Eurasia)

1900-2000 UTC 3955 and 6070 kHz (omnidirectional)

All on Channel 292 from Rohrbach, Germany.

 

Additionally, On May 18, 2300-2400 UTC, we are doing a test broadcast of the last From the Isle of Music on 3955 and 9670

On May 19, 2300-2400 UTC, we are doing a test repeat broadcast of the Uncle Bill's Melting Pot on 3955 and 9670

Encore classical music from Radio Tumbril

 

Dear Listener,

Regular Broadcast times of Encore By WRMI and Channel 292 are:

02:00 - 03:00 UTC Friday 5850 kHz WRMI to US

20:00 - 21:00 UTC Friday 15770 kHz WRMI to Europe

10:00 - 11:00 UTC Saturday 9670 kHz Channel 292 to Europe

01:00 - 02:00 UTC Sunday 5850 kHz WRMI to US and Canada

19:00 - 20:00 UTC Sunday 3955 kHz Channel 292 to Europe

02:00 - 03:00 UTC Monday 5950 kHz WRMI to the US and Canada

13:00 - 14:00 UTC Tuesday 15770 kHz WRMI to Europe, east coast of US and Iceland. (Sometimes RTTY on the lower sideband. Suggest notch out or use USB.)

Some Things to see on The Encore Website:

The Encore website is www.tumbril.co.uk where you will find:

Important information about funding of Encore - Radio Tumbril.

Up to date transmission times and frequencies.

The playlists for the most recent programmes.

An email link.

Informal reception reports as well as those requesting eQSL cards are welcome.

ENCORE IS A ONE-MAN OPERATION -  PLEASE MAKE A PAYPAL DONATION OR 'BUY ME A COFFEE' AND HELP PAY THE  BROADCASTERS AND KEEP ENCORE ON THE AIR - Go to - www.tumbril.co.uk

WRMI and Channel 292 are very generous with their air-time but Encore still costs around 100 Dollars/Euros a month to broadcast.

If you can - please send a small contribution to help Encore keep going.

THE DONATION BUTTON AND 'BUY ME A COFFEE' BUTTON are on the homepage of the website - www.tumbril.co.uk - which folks can use if they would like to support Encore.

(Please don't be put off by the POWR security wall when using the PAYPAL button - it is a harmless requirement of WIX the website hosting service.)

THIS FORTNIGHT'S PROGRAMME - (First broadcast this FRIDAY 17th May) by WRMI at 0200 UTC on 5850, (and 2000 UTC on 15770) and then Channel 292 on SATURDAY (18th May) at 10:00 UTC on 9670 kHz):

Begins with some of a sonata by C P E Bach - one of J S Bach's sons - for Viola da Gamba, the piano trio by Ravel, and a three-voice Agnus Dei by Firminus Caron - a Renaissance composer.

After that the Elegy for Horn and Piano written by Poulenc and dedicated to the horn player horn player - Dennis Brain, and some of Mozart's concerto for flute and harp.

The programme finishes with part of a late Beethoven string quartet.

A very good site for online SDR receivers all over the world is: http://kiwisdr.com/public/  Click the 'Map' button in the top left of the screen.

 

Thank you for spreading the word about Encore - Classical Music on Shortwave on Radio Tumbril - and thank you for your support.

(This bulletin is sent by Bcc to the many hundreds of listeners who have been in contact with Encore over the last nearly five years of broadcasting Encore.)

(Brice Avery - Encore - Radio Tumbril - www.tumbril.co.uk)

GMØTLY

Shortwave Radiogram Program 354

 

Hello friends

The recent intense solar activity has certainly made shortwave reception "interesting." Most Shortwave Radiogram broadcasts were affected to some degree, but all the broadcasts were audible at least some place. As usual, our MFSK32 text performed well in many situations where the images were fuzzy.

Shortwave propagation remains poor on many frequencies, so it may be another interesting week. But we like to test our digital text modes via analog radio carriers in adverse conditions.

Of course, the solar storms created dazzling auroras seen as far south as Florida. Did you see them? From my house in northern Virginia, trees and clouds obstructed my view to the north, but a few people locally did see the northern lights, despite the urban lights.

Our son, who lives in Seattle, happened to be camping along the ocean, away from the city lights, the evening of May 10. His photos of the auroras are posted here.

A video of last week's Shortwave Radiogram (program 353) is provided by Scott in Ontario (Wednesday 1330 UTC) (reception had rebounded after previous blackouts on 15770 kHz). The audio archive is maintained by Mark in the UK. The analysis is provided by Roger in Germany.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 354, 16-22 May 2024, in MFSK modes as noted:

 1:40  MFSK32: Program preview

 2:48  MFSK32: Decades-old carp removed from Colorado pond*

 7:29  MFSK64: Copper prices are spiking

12:11  MFSK64: This week's images*

28:13  MFSK32: Closing announcements

Please send reception reports to radiogram@verizon.net

And visit http://swradiogram.net 

Twitter: @SWRadiogram or https://twitter.com/swradiogram 

(visit during the weekend to see listeners’ results)

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/567099476753304

Shortwave Radiogram Gateway Wiki: https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Shortwave_Radiogram_Gateway

(Kim Elliott)  

KBS World has new transmitter on Ascension Island

 

Dear friends,

From June 1, 2024, you'll be able to receive us on 9 765 kHz between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. (GMT).

We hope that our new transmitter on Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean will enable our listeners in Africa to receive us in better conditions.

Before the big change, we'll be carrying out a small test on May 20 and 21. So don't miss out, and let us know your reactions so that we can adapt as quickly as possible to any problems that may arise.

Thank you and happy listening!

KBS WORLD Radio French Department

Atlantic 2000 set to broadcast May 17

 

Atlantic 2000 will be on the air this Friday, 17th of May 2024 from 19:00 to 20:00 UTC 

on 3955 and 6070 kHz with the courtesy of Channel 292.

Streams will be available at the same time here: http://radioatlantic2000.free.fr

Reports to: atlantic2000international@gmail.com

Before that, you can listen to our 24/7 webstream or our podcasts on our website.

Good listening!

 

The Zenith Story - Part 3

 

Special thanks to Ray Robinson and Jeff White for sharing Part 3 from the AWR Wavescan program. 

Part 1:  https://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-zenith-radio-story-part-1.html     

Part 2: https://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-zenith-story-part-2.html

Jeff: Here in Wavescan, we’ve been serializing the history of the Zenith Radio Corporation, based largely on a brochure issued by the company in 1955.  Today we reach part 3, which picks up the story from 1925.  Here’s Ray Robinson.

Ray: Thanks, Jeff.

CREATION OF FEDERAL RADIO COMMISSION

In 1925 in the United States, one man had sole control of radio, with the Secretary of Commerce being the supreme czar.  E.F. McDonald Jr., whose financial backing and initiative had powered the growth of the company in the early 1920’s, said to then Secretary Herbert Hoover that he did not believe the law was sound.  On the invitation of Mr. Hoover, who said he would welcome a test case, McDonald violated a Department of Commerce order and broadcast on a Canadian wavelength.

The Department brought an action against Zenith, and against McDonald personally.  Zenith went into court with the contention that the radio law of 1912 was out of date in 1926.  And, Zenith won.

Congress then passed a law establishing the Federal Radio Commission (now the FCC) whose task it was to minimize the growing interference between stations on the same wavelength.  Zenith officials took a leading part in helping to frame and pass the new law.

FIRST AC SETS

In 1926 came one of the most important milestones in radio set history, another Zenith First.  Up to that time home radios operated on heavy storage batteries called accumulators, dry batteries, or a combination of both.  Zenith developed and put on the market the first home receiver that operated directly from regular AC electric current.  For most homes this meant the end of cumbersome and messy batteries, and made radio safe for the living room rug.  That marked the transition of radio from tinkerer’s toy to a standard household necessity.

Another Zenith First of 1926 turned out to be the better mouse trap that the world didn’t beat a path to.  It was the first railroad train in the world equipped with shortwave radio communications, actually on 70 meters.  It was a New York Central special of twelve cars that pulled out of Elkhart, Indiana on June 11, and made the 100 mile run to Englewood, Illinois with all communications between cab and caboose conducted by radio.

The equipment was designed and installed by a then young Zenith engineer named G.E. Gustafson.  He started from scratch, developing suitable antennas, signaling systems to call the crew at either end, methods of preventing road noises from getting into the mikes, etc.

The October, 1927 issue of Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers reported, “No difficulty was had in maintaining two-way conversation between the caboose and the locomotive when standing still or when running at top speed.  The engineer was able to hear and understand everything coming from the loudspeaker behind his head without diverting his attention from the road ahead...  all train orders were given by means of the radio installation ...  the train was stopped and the engine uncoupled from the train and run ahead under orders given entirely by radio from the caboose ...  communication was maintained with loudspeaker operation at both ends up to a distance of four miles ...”

There was an official demonstration on July 8, with a 116 car freight train carrying a passenger car and caboose filled with newspaper men and radio and railroad officials.  It made the run from Englewood to Elkhart with all communications between cab and caboose by radio.  Results of the official test were entirely satisfactory, and radio transmission of signals saved the delays that ordinarily had occurred previously when a train man had to walk the entire length of the train.

Zenith did not go into the railroad radio business because the limited market didn’t justify the heavy expense involved, and because of the Management’s conviction that Zenith’s future lay in mass production of radio equipment for the public.

So, the idea didn’t take hold straightaway, partly because of the shortage of radio frequencies, and partly because the idea was not vigorously promoted.  But, development of FM, and expansion of radio into the shortwave spectrum, did lead to extensive use of radio by railroads in subsequent years.  All railroads now have their trains equipped with radio to communicate both between cab and the rest of the train, and between the train and land stations.  Before the cell phone era, some also used radio to provide links for passenger use from moving trains to the long distance telephone network.

THE LATE TWENTIES

By 1927 the radio manufacturing industry encompassed a helter-skelter of many brand names, most of which have long since disappeared, and radios had wide variation in quality and performance.  Zenith, which already possessed an outstanding reputation, placed even greater emphasis on superior quality and engineering innovations, and on marketing these features.  The company’s advertising employed such slogans as “The Quality Goes in Before the Name Goes On,” “Known the World Over,” and “World’s Largest Manufacturer of High Grade Radio.”

Through most of 1927 Zenith continued to be the only manufacturer producing all-electric AC sets.  To this feature was added automatic push button tuning, which enabled the user to select any of nine stations by simply pushing the appropriate button.

The company was really beginning to roll, and in the next year, Zenith moved into high gear.  The company offered a line of all-electric sets, many with automatic tuning, which sold in a price range from $100 to $2,500.  By 1929, company earnings broke the million dollar mark for the first time with a thumping $1,110,000.

An interesting highlight of 1929 was the production of a custom-built radio for King Alexander I of Yugoslavia.  A special emissary of the King called.  He said he had been turned down by radio manufacturers in New York who thought he was pulling a gag, and he said that he wanted to purchase a special radio set for His Majesty.  He came out to the factory in formal attire, with a ribbon across his chest, and placed the order.

The set was housed in one of Zenith’s most ornate cabinets.  It included Zenith’s finest longwave and shortwave chassis, plus a remote control on a 75 foot cord.  The King had a wonderful time with it.  At one party he confounded his generals by switching from station to station, and shortwave to longwave, with the remote control.  They thought it was pure magic.  The King was so pleased with the set that he gave Zenith an order to supply radios for the Yugoslavian school system.

The outlook for business seemed rosy in these last months of “the era of wonderful nonsense.” Then came the market crash of October, 1929, and the depression years that followed.  All business suffered severely, and the young radio industry was thrown into virtual chaos.

THE DEPRESSION YEARS

Zenith retrenched savagely.  The Michigan Avenue offices were shut fast, and all operations were consolidated in the plant at Iron Street.  Product planning was regeared to meet the times.  Large sets were replaced in the line by smaller, lower-priced models, but the emphasis on quality was not relaxed.  Employees, imbued with fierce pride and loyalty, tightened their belts along with management.

Among Zenith’s depression weapons was a new line of low priced table model receivers introduced in 1931.  These sold in great volume.  Another was a 110 volt DC radio operating directly from the electric line.  This model was very popular in such cities as New York and Chicago, where large areas still had direct current, particularly in business and apartment hotel districts.

ECONOMIC UPTURN

The economic turn for Zenith began in 1933, and in 1934, they introduced a car radio which had the tuning control on the steering column in easy reach of the driver.  In subsequent years Zenith became one of the largest suppliers of car radios to the automobile industry.

FREE POWER FROM THE WIND

One of Zenith’s other recovery tools was a legacy from McDonald’s voyages to the Arctic.  Along the route he had presented radio receivers to a number of missionaries and government officials, with what he believed to be an ample supply of batteries.  But he had forgotten the loneliness of the six month long Arctic night, when these remote spots were completely out of touch with civilization.  Radio was like a new breath of life to these isolated people, bringing them news and entertainment from all over the world.  As a consequence, supplies of batteries that should have served for three years were exhausted in less than one.

McDonald did the best he could for his Arctic friends by sending them new batteries as needed.  At the same time he began wondering if there were not some other method of supplying them with dependable power.  One day while sailing a boat it occurred to him that the one great source of power that was available almost everywhere was the wind.

In 1935, with major depression problems solved, he asked Zenith engineers to find out if there was in existence a practical device for translating free power of the wind into electricity.

Within 24 hours the engineers reported back that there were two Iowa farm boys, John and Gerhard Albers, who were associated with the Wincharger Corporation in Sioux City, which was building wind driven generators for charging 6-volt storage batteries.  They had solved the problem of getting their generators to work in light winds by using two airfoil sections for blades on their “wind mill.” The wind pulled these airfoils around, as compared to the way wind pushed the multitude of blades on the low-speed windmills used for farm water pumps.

The Albers boys had done all of their development work without the aid of wind tunnels.  Instead, they mounted Winchargers on automobiles; on calm days, the speedometer reading gave them the wind velocity.

Zenith, meanwhile, had developed an efficient battery radio that operated on a single 6-volt storage battery.  When used together, this radio and the Wincharger unit could provide unfailing radio operation, with a total power cost of about fifty cents a year.  Moreover, it had enough reserve power to operate a few lights from the storage battery, a Godsend to farms that had no electricity.

Zenith bought control of Wincharger, which then acquired a larger factory in Sioux City, and started mass production.  The first order from Zenith to Wincharger called for fifty thousand units.

The 6-volt Wincharger was sold for $10 to purchasers of Zenith radios who wanted the power unit.  It was an outstanding commercial success.  Sales were counted in tens of thousands, and since each $10 Wincharger sale usually resulted in the sale of a Zenith radio, the company soon became the industry’s leading supplier of farm radios.

In 1937, Zenith purchased all outstanding stock to make Wincharger a wholly owned subsidiary.

And there we have to leave the Zenith story once again, but we’ll be back with part 4 in a few weeks’ time.  Back to you, Jeff.

(AWR/Wavescan)

Blog Logs, May 2024

Welcome to the May 2024 edition of Blog Logs. Thank you for your emails and for following the Shortwave Central blog and X/Twitter at Shortwave Central @QSLRptMT.

 Thank you to all the contributors for sharing their loggings – do you have any loggings or information to share for the next edition of Blog Logs? Your input from mediumwave, or shortwave is welcome at: w4gvhla@gmail.com  Tell the world what you're hearing from your listening post or portable monitoring!

 Have you subscribed to the Shortwave Central YouTube channel? There is a large selection of videos and audio airchecks, with more planned for the future! Join your fellow radio enthusiasts at: https://www.youtube.com/c/ShortwaveCentral  

 The new Shortwave Central Kiwi SDRs are up and running. at: http://192.168.0.244:8073/ and  DX Central at: http://21730.proxy.kiwisdr.com:8073/ The SDR's are a great aid for your listening from our southeast Louisiana location.

 By following the Shortwave Central blog and on X/Twitter, you will find tips and information from the ever-changing realm of radio!

 Blog Logs Issue # 5

 Language services, SDR or receivers as indicated.

// denotes station heard on a parallel frequency

*Sign-on Sign-Off*

All frequencies in kilohertz

Monitored 14 April - 14 May 2024

All times UTC

Mediumwave

Brazil

570, Rádio Eldorado, Criciuma SC, 2225. Sports news ‘Avail FC)’ ads for “Supermercado (?) Criciuma Tubarão. SINPO 34433. Best reception on USB and interference from 560 Rádio Deus é Amor, Santa Isabel.

590, Rádio 79, Ribeirão Preto SP, 2115 with sports talk, news to “Betafogo de Ribeirão Preto.” SINPO 35553.

730, Rádio Cidade, Jundiai, SP 2158. Sports news, station ID “ZYK523 Rádio Cidade…a voz do Brasil” on 2200. Interference from Rádio Trianon, São  Paulo SP.

750, Rádio América, Belo Horizonte MG, 2234. Brazilian songs, oldies, and station promo. SINPO 22432. Interference from Rádio CBN Vale, São José dos Campos SP. Also on 580 with religious broadcasting. SINPO 24422.

750, Rádio CBN Vale, São José dos Campos SP. At 2231 with ID as “CBN,” into news bulletin. SINPO 33433. Interference from Rádio América, Belo Horizonte MG.

820, Rádio Jauense, Jaú SP at 2206. Sports program, “Quinze de Jaú…jogo na cidade de Barretos.” SINPO 24522.

1160, Rádio Cacique, Taubaté SP, 2156. “noticias das Estrada do Vale do Paraiba, Conexão da Tarde”, grupo de emissoras Coligadas…” SINPO 34333.

1320 Rádio Tropical Gospel, Curitiba PR at 2204. “Igreja Visão Missionária..” Commercials for Curitiba, Cajuru, Missionário Alexandre da Rosa.” SINPO 35553.

1380, Rádio Cidade, Brasópolis MG at 2156. Brazilian song, station jingle, and ID “ZYL218 AM 1380 Rádio Cidade, Brasópolis, Minas Gerais.” SINPO 35443. (Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo SP, Brazil).

Kuwait

630, Radio Kuwait, Quran Channel (Madirat al-Kuwayt/Al-Masqua 2210-2220. Ongoing Arabic Quran recitations in progress at tune-in. This is a 24-hour station.

1134, Radio Kuwait Multilingual Channel 2215-2225. Arabic programs including clear ID, and program previews into the presentation.

1548, USAGM/Radio Farda 1548-1555. Clear ID at tune-in to Arabic easy-listening vocals. http://www.radiofarda.com Station at Al-Kuwayt/Umm al-Rimam 1630-2330 schedule. (Van Horn/Kiwi Qatar SDR)

Paraguay

650, Radio Uno, Asunción. Spanish at 2324. Sports commentary for ‘futebol.’ (soccer). Guarani, Sudamericana. Station comments with SINPO 24332. (Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo SP, Brazil).

Peru

1360, Radio Sicuani, 2330-0020. Spanish. Music which was presumed to be in Quechua and mentions of “provincial de Canchis.” Noted Sicuani is the capital of Canchis province. (RealDX/Paul Crankshaw).

United Arab Emirates

846, Umm al-Quwain/Quran Radio 1820-1835 with ongoing Quran recitations. 

1476, Radio Keralam, Ras-al-Khaimah with Indi pops, station ID, and jingles. Sitar vocals. (Van Horn/Qatar Kiwi)

Uruguay

1180, Radio La Voz de Artigas, Artigas. Spanish “Sonido professional, como lo sabes tu … Artigas.” Pop music tune, SINPO 25432 ((Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo SP, Brazil).

Shortwave

Algeria

13790, Radio Ifrikiya FM, 2142. Arabic service including pop music and announcer’s talk. SINPO 35543 with transmission to west Africa (Rudolf Grimm, Sao Bernardo, Brazil

15110, Radio Ifrikiya FM, 0105-0115. Arabic/French programming including regional Arabic and pop vocals. Fair signal SINPO 35433.

15160, Radio Ifrikiya FM, 1725-1727. Arabic vocals from tune-in. Announcer duo’s station promo. Recheck 2155 on 13790 with Afro pops and no // 13590. Afro pops to 2100 time-tips to ID and Arabic script. (G. Van Horn/Kiwi Qatar SDR). https://ifrikyafm.com/

Austria

15440, Adventist World Radio/AWR relay at 2040. French service for religious text and prayer. Announcer’s station info during poor signal quality. (Harold Sellers, Vernon, BC, Canada). http://www.awr.org 

Bolivia

3310, Radio Mosoj Chaski, Cotapachi, 0017-0025. Poor signal with unreadable Spanish comments, Strong carrier for extremely weak audio (Manuel Méndez, Spain/BDXC).

Botswana

6195, USAGM/Voice of America relay Selebi-Phikewe 2055 with lady’s programming including pop music. SINPO 25322 as a target to central Africa. (Grimm).

15580, USAGM/Voice of America relay Selebi-Phikewe 1735-1852. English service of national news and interviews on humanitarian aid to Gaza. Fan-fare melody into replay interview on the annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House. Shift to 6080 no // 4930. Issues In the News segment on Ukraine’s continuing war. Recheck 2010 on 6195. ID to African rap vocals // 4930 (SIO 444) // 909 (SIO 323) (Van Horn/Kiwi Kenya SDR/Kiwi South Africa SDR). http://www.voanews.com

Brazil

6150, Rádio Saturno, Belo Horizonte at 1100 with station ID. Station Portuguese schedule (ex 6170):0430-1455; 2040-2100. Log 0600-0645. (Van Horn).

6180, Rádio Nacional da Amazonia, Brasilia DF at 2050. Station‘s Portuguese identification and announcer’s chat. Instrumental music program. SINPO 45544. Targeted to northern Brazil (Grimm). http://www.ebc.com.br

9665, Voz Missionaria, Cambori?, 0522-0546 // 5940, 11749.9 with Portuguese religious songs. Méndez)

9819 Rádio 9 de Julho, São Paulo 2034-2047 with Portuguese religious songs. SINPO 15421 (Méndez).

11815, Rádio Brasil Central, Goiania, 2033-2048 with Brazilian music. SINPO 35433 (Mendéz)

15190, Rádio Inconfidência at 0102. Portuguese ads to announcers’ frequency quote. Local time check into Brazilian dance music. Fair signal quality as the band is only fair. (Sellers) 1941-2018 with Braz music and ID as “Rádio Inconfidencia, inconfidencia.com.br” SINPO 25432 (Méndez) http://www.inconfidencia.com.br

Clandestine

6045, Voice of Freedom (tentative) from 0940-0950. Open carrier observed but no audio with North Korean jamming underneath. (Frank Hillton, SC).

9490, Radio República. 0132 Good signal for Spanish broadcast including several ID’s as “Radio República, la voz de la Resistencia Cubana.” (Sellers). The station is prone to jamming by Cuba.

Denmark

5930 World Music Radio, Bramming 2025-2045 with Southern American instrumentals to station identification. (Sam Wright, MS)

Ethiopia

6030, Radio Oromiya, Addis Ababa 1914-1936. East African songs and vernacular comments (Méndez).  

6090, Radio Amhara/Amhara State Radio 1745-1805. Male/female with presumed Amharic conversation. Newscast and “Amhara” ID at 1800. SIO 322. (Méndez).

6110, Radio Fana/Fana Broadcasting Corp. 1755-1810. Tune in with program text in presumed Amharic. Poor signal SIO 222. (Van Horn/Kiwi Qatar SDR) The Kiwi Kenya SDR has an ongoing “buzz.”

Euro Free Radio

6275, Radio Argus 1902-1925. English pop tune at tune-in. “Radio Argus” ID at 1902 into new tune. Music titles to DJ Bert Bridges intro for Pink Floyd music. (Van Horn) Additionally found out this was the station’s first broadcast in 21 years, and unfortunately the email address posted on the BDXC email group bounced twice for me! Does anyone have a current address?

5879.97 Radio Rock Revolution 2000-2015 with rock music and DJ’s identification, better in LSB (Giovanni Serra, Roma, Italy/NASWA)

6285.02 Zender Akenzo 2006-2018 with Dutch programming for disco pops (Serra).

Kuwait

15750, USAGM/Radio Mashaal. Pashto program at 1110. SINPO 15321 for transmission to Afghanistan and Pakistan (Grimm).

Liberia

6050, ELWA Radio 0600-0615. The station’s interval signal to ID and greetings to listeners. Religious devotionals and gospel vocals (Van Horn) ** See comments in my Bits & Bytes column on ELWA, in the upcoming June 2024 issue of The Spectrum Monitor e-zine.

http://www.elwaministries.com

Madagascar

11965 African Pathways Radio at 2033. English service with station’s website information into the program about Eswatini, formerly known an Swaziland. (Sellers).

11610, World Christian Broadcasting 2146. The Light of Life in Chinese. Station identification with station info. SINPO 25532 to Western Europe (Grimm).

México

6185, Radio Educacion, Ciudad de México 0625-0645 and 0100-0135 with classic Mexican music and station IDs. Also noted as Señal Cultura México, schedule 2200-1100 UTC. (Hillton). http://www.radioeducacion.edu.mx

Norway

5895, Radio Northern Star, Bergen, 2026-2037. English comments and station ID at 2030 “Radio Northern Star.” English pop music for SINPO 25432 (Méndez).

Peru

4820, Radio Senda Cristiana, Cotahuasi, Arequipa, 0018-0127. Spanish programming to religious text. SINPO 15421 (Méndez).

Romania

11620 Radio Romania International at 0011. English service with lady’s newscast for a good signal. 13650 at 2031 with newscast, also on // 11975. Noted on fair quality 11800 at 2219 with a program on health issues (Sellers). http://www.rri.ro

Thailand

13750, Radio Thailand at 0001. English service covering newscasts by male/female duo. Fair signal. (Sellers).

15090 USAGM/Radio Azadi via Udon Thani. Heard at 0231. Pashto programming to Afghanistan. (Grimm) the station also broadcast this time on 9480. http://www.azadiradio.com

United Kingdom

3955, SM Radio Dessau 1902-1925. Woofferton, UK relay and replay of earlier broadcast from Germany relay at 1200 and 0800. Classical music to German announcements and the May Day program. (Van Horn/NLD Twente SDR) E-QSL received in three days.

United States

9265, WINB 2045-2050. The signal barely audible through archived audio from Bro. Stair’s sermons // 9665.

9980, WWCR 1850-1905. Parallels 15825 or 13845 not heard.  Religious text to hymns, canned station ID into Overcomer Ministry programming; 12160 at 1800-1830; 12160 at 2000-2010; 9350 at 2050-2100 with discussion on current politics and upcoming elections.

9275, WMLK Radio, Bethel, PA 1910-1920. Fair signal from tune-in for archived Elder Jacob O. Meyer religious text. SIO 232. Audible 2045-2055 with very weak text.

5950, WRMI/Radio Tumbril 0200-0220. “Radio Tumbril” identification for Encore classical music program from host Brice Avey. Music from Hummel and Mendelssohn, SINPO 44344

15770, WRMI 2220-2230. Spanish program to Latin America. Station ID; 9455 at 2230 with Overcomer Ministry program; 7730 at 2240 Supreme Master’s program; 5850 Radio Prague French newscasts.

9475, WTWW 2100-2110. Scriptures for America into archived programming from the late Pastor Peter J. Peters from LePorte Church. (Van Horn/SW Central Kiwi SDR LA).

Vanuatu

7260, Radio Vanuatu 0620-0640. Noted a public service format in Bislama, followed by national news and pop vocals. (Hillton).7260, 0610-0655 Poor signal quality but Vanuatu (Wright) https://www.vbtc.vu

Vatican State

9705, Vatican Radio via Santa Maria di Galeria. French service heard at 2029. Interval signal to ID as “Radio Vaticana.” Instrumental music and lady’s program info. SINPO 35543 with programming targeted to Africa. Heard on 21470 via BBC relay in English with sports programming and station station ID. SINPO 35553 to Africa (Grimm). http://www.vaticannews.va 

A glimpse of Tunisian radio broadcast history

 

Sixty-five years ago, in May 1959, Tunisia launched its international service on short waves. The first short wave transmitter was in Djedeida near Tunis (36°50'12.4"N 9°55'45.5"E). This is a 50 kW Telefunken.

Ten years later, a new transmitter center is installed in Sidi-Mansour, near Sfax (34°49'13.9"N 10°51'08.5"E). It comes equipped with 2 100 kW Telefunken transmitters. Antennas point to the Maghreb, Europe and the Middle East.

In 1975, a third transmitter of the same type came to strengthen broadcasting.

In 1999, after the end of the Cold War and as all countries reduced their investment in short waves, Tunisia did the opposite! The transmitter center was modernized at a great cost. All transmitters were replaced by four 500 kW Thales TSW2500. To finance the works the Tunisian state made a thirty-year loan that it must repay by 2028.

After repayment of the first deadlines, the National Office of Television noted it is necessary to save money and the transmitters are only used at reduced capacity. Worse yet, while only half the loan is repaid, the government is trying to find a buyer for this material. 

Unfortunately, the shortwave market had collapsed and 500 kW transmitters had become unsellable. At the end of 2013, broadcast on shortwave were suppressed, because it costs nearly 3 million dinars/year to taxpayers.

Since then, Radio Tunis International has broadcasted its programs in French, Italian, English, German and Spanish on medium waves 963 kHz, 100kW and FM at Bizerte 92.0 MHz Tunis 98.2 MHz Sousse 92.0 Mhz Sfax 99.5 MHz Kef 88.2 MHz Gafsa 101.8 MHz and fortunately on the net at http://www.rtci.tn/ and apps. 

Over the years, this large international chain has served more foreign residents and tourists.

(Radio World/FB)

(edited by Teak Publishing for clarity)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

 Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts

:Issued: 2024 May 13 1020 UTC

# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center

# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services

#

#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts

#

Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 06 - 12 May 2024

Solar activity was high. The bulk of the activity came from Region 3664 (S17, L=347, Fkc/BGD on 10 May). This region was responsible for 41 M-class and 9 X-class flares accounting for approximately 72% of the 74 energetic events observed during the week. It was also responsible for several CMEs, On Monday, 6 May the region had grown to an Ekc/BGD group, having been a numbered region since 01 May. By the 8th, it had more than doubled in size to 1200 microhemispheres. and had produced its first three X-class flares. By 10 May, it had doubled again in size to 2400 microhemispheres and produced a total of 6 X-class flares. 

Flares and CMEs noted included the following from Region 3664, with flare maximum time and particulars followed by the time the CME was first visible in C2 imagery: 

08/0509 X1.0 - 08/0600

To be determined, 08/1224

08/1753 M7.9/2N, 08/1912

08/2236 X1.0, 2140

09/0913, X2.2/3B; 09/0948.

These CMEs were all modeled in a 09/1300 Enlil run which prompted the dissemination of a G4 geomagnetic storm watch (See alerts listing). Additional flares and CMEs prior to the onset of the geomagnetic storm occurred at: 

09/1744 X1.1/2B, 09/1912

10/0654 X3.9, 09/0748

11/0123 X5.8/2B, 11/0136

Note: The flare/CME associations are provisional at this point and may need revision. Please see the Energetic Events list for information regarding radio emissions associated with the flare described above and for information regarding the remainder of the flares not described above. Additonal CMEs occurred in conjunction with the remaining flares but are not described here. 

Proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. A 10 Mev at 10 pfu event, associated with an X3.9 flare from region 3664, began on 10 May at 1335, peaked at 207 pfu on 10/1745, and ended at 12/1235. A 100 MeV proton event, associated with an X5.8 flare from Region 3664, began on 11 May at 0210, reached a peak of 7 pfu at 11/0715, and ended at 12/0030. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels. 

Geomagnetic field activity reached extreme levels, and saw the largest geomagnetic storm since the 2003 Halloween superstorms. DST dipped to -412 on 11 May at 0300 UT. The week began with a relatively benign solar wind environment, indicative of a relatively unremarkable high speed stream that may have included a weak transient passage. With the exception of one active period, the geomagnetic field remained at quiet to unsettled levels until the arrival of a barrage of CMEs described above on 10 May. 

Interplanetary shock passage was observed at 10/1639 and followed by a sudden impulse at 1645 of 108 nT at the Boulder magnetometer. Over the remainder of the 10th, the total interplanetary magnetic field strength at L1 increased to 75 nT and Bz remained southward, dipping to -50 nT at times. The solar wind speed jumped from around 450 km/s to 700 km/s with the arrival of the shock, eventually reaching a peak near 1000 km/s on 12/0057. The geomagnetic field responded promptly and had reached a Kp=7 by 10/1718, Kp=8 by 11/0338, and Kp=9o by 10/2334. 

The Kp remained at 9o through the 11/00-03 synoptic period, and at 8+ or above for the next 15 hours. A third period of 9o was again observed during the 11/09-12 synoptic period.The Oulu, Finland cosmic ray detector indicated a Forbush decrease of 10% between the 10th and 11th. From 11/1800 to 12/0600 the Kp remained between 7+ and 7- before dropping below minor storm levels through the 12/21 synoptic period. An extremely weak shock was observed at 13/0900 followed by a decrease in density and a jump in temperature. The signature had the hallmarks of a fast stream becoming geoeffective. By 13/1900, the temperature began dropping and the density began rising. This was followed by an increase in geomagnetic activity to moderate (Kp between 6- and 6+) levels. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 13 May - 08 June 2024

Solar activity is expected to remain at moderate to high levels through the forecast period. Region 3664 will rotate off the visible disk by 14-15 May, and another 10 regions will depart the visible disk between 16 and 23 May. This will lead to a relative lull in activity compared to the past week. However, a couple of regions rotating on will maintain the potential for at least moderate activity. Region 3663 is expected to return on the 23rd and Region 3664 on the 28th of May, with a significant increase in the threat of high activity. 

There is a chance for proton events at geosynchronous orbit, particularly with the return of Region 3664. This doesn't preclude the possibility of an event in the days leading up to the 23rd, but the risk will increase with each day Region 3664 moves across the visible disk. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at moderate levels throughout the period. 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at minor storm levels to being the period, with a lingering chance of moderate to strong levels through the 14th. A relatively quiet period follows, interrupted by coronal hole high-speed stream activity between 23 May and 3 June. 

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt

:Issued: 2024 May 13 1020 UTC

# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center

# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services

#

#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table

#                Issued 2024-05-13

#

#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest

#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index

2024 May 13     220          40          7

2024 May 14     215          18          5

2024 May 15     200          12          4

2024 May 16     190           5          2

2024 May 17     180           5          2

2024 May 18     170           5          2

2024 May 19     170           5          2

2024 May 20     160           5          2

2024 May 21     165           5          2

2024 May 22     165           5          2

2024 May 23     160           8          3

2024 May 24     160          12          4

2024 May 25     160           8          3

2024 May 26     160           5          2

2024 May 27     165          12          4

2024 May 28     175           8          3

2024 May 29     195           5          2

2024 May 30     205           5          2

2024 May 31     205           8          3

2024 Jun 01     215          12          4

2024 Jun 02     220          12          4

2024 Jun 03     225           8          3

2024 Jun 04     220           5          2

2024 Jun 05     220           5          2

2024 Jun 06     225           5          2

2024 Jun 07     225           5          2

2024 Jun 08     225           5          2

(NOAA)