Mount Evelyn DX Report

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - APRIL 1972

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:22:00 +0000

The Angostura Bridge featured in the Radio Bolívar station logo

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - APRIL 1972

Each month, I open the old records to see what I (and others) heard decades ago. It has been fun looking back at old issues of the Australian DX News (ADXN - the newsletter of the Australian Radio DX Club), bringing back lots of memories. Here are some memories from April 1972—54 years ago!

All frequencies in kHz; all times are UTC (or GMT, as we used to say in those days!).

Shortwave News

There were some fine catches noted by ARDXC members during April 1972, including the following:

6160 CKZN - St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. David Foster captured this extremely rare low-powered (300 watts) signal at 2205 UTC with news and a station ID as "CBC Radio Network", eventually fading out around 2230. What's remarkable about this reception, aside from its low power, is that the signal would have travelled via the long path, an almost all-darkness path (see the red dotted LP path below), a distance of approximately 21800 km (13548 mi). Additionally, this was at 8:05 am (well after sunrise, which was 6:45 am) at David's home in Melbourne, and just before sunset at St. John's. Remarkable reception!

This map has been calculated to illustrate the path travelled by CKZN, Newfoundland, Canada, as it would have been at 8:05 am, Melbourne time, on April 14, 1972. An impressive reception, indeed!

Exceptional reception of Latin stations in the 25 mb on April 24, 25 and 26 including 11720 R. Nacional (Brasilia), 11735 R. Oriental (Montevideo), 11765 Radiodifusão de São Paulo, 11805 R. Globo (Rio de Janerio), 11835 R. Eel Espectador (Montevideo), 4VEJ Cap Haitienne, 11855 R. America (São Paulo), 11880 R. Splendid (Buenos Aires), 11885 R. Mauá (Rio de Janerio), 11935 R. Clube Paranease (Curutiba), and 11950 R. Ministério da Educação (Rio de Janerio).

First reports by three Australian DXers of the recently launched (in 1971) International Service from Abu Dhabi on 9695 kHz between 1230 and 1845 UTC featuring a mix of Arabic chants, news and live broadcasts of political rallies.

Early test transmissions of the new Wertachtal transmitters of Deutsche Welle on many frequencies, including 6170, 7285, 9545, 9765, 11850, 11865 and 21705 kHz, with mostly excellent reception into Australia.

Excellent autumn reception of 60 and 90 mb stations from both Latin America and Africa, including 3240 R. America (Lima), 3300 La Voix del la Revolution, Bujumburra, Burundi, 3360 La Voz de Nahualá (Guatemala), 3380 R. Chortis, Chiquimala (Guatemala), 4832 R. Capital, San José (Costa Rica), and many others.

International ARDXC members Victor Goonetilleke (Sri Lanka) and Bob Bundy (Truk Island) also contributed some important observations from their locations. Victor monitored 3223 AIR-Simla, 3235 AIR-Gauhati, 3265 Lorenco Marques, 3330 Peshawar, 3407 Azad Kashmir, 4719 RRI-Makassar, 4764 RRI-Medan, 4780 Djibouti, 4815 Quetta, 4790 Kota Kinabalu and many others. Bob had his eye on North Korea with 3015, 6580 and 635 kHz Pyongyang in Japanese, 4401 4274, 6599, 2850 and MW outlets for Pyongyang's Home Service, and 4920 ABC-Port Moresby with an extended schedule for cyclone news.

(Click on images to enlarge.)
Radio Bolívar is one of my favourite QSLs. My Spanish reception report was for August 18, 1971, and the airmail reply arrived on April 18, 1972. So, where had my report been for seven of those eight months before it was answered on April 3? Surely my Spanish wasn't that bad! 🤣🤣

Spotlight on Radio Bolívar, Venezuela

My QSL letter above is from Radio Bolívar, a small station operating from the city of Bolívar. Situated about 450 km south-east of Caracas, Ciudad Bolívar is the historic capital of Venezuela’s Bolívar State, on the south bank of the Orinoco River. Founded in 1764 as Angostura, it is known for its well-preserved colonial centre, its role as a commercial hub for the surrounding region, and as a base for exploring Angel Falls. The city also boasts the Angostura Bridge, the first bridge to span the Orinoco River. That bridge features in Radio Bolívar's station logo (a nice local touch!) and is about five km west of the studios.

Initially a private commercial station, Radio Bolívar also operated under the names of Radio Mundial Bolívar (under the Radio Cadena Mundial Network), and Radio Venezuela (as Ciudad Bolívar under the Circuito Radio Venezuela Network).

The shortwave outlet was assigned the callsign YVNW. It was a tough station to hear at my old home in those days. It was certainly not strong enough to be a nightly visitor! Operating on 4770 kHz with only 1 kW, the signal travelled 15,640 km to Melbourne. Quite a distance! There was also the mediumwave outlet on 1010 kHz with 10 kW.

In the 60s and 70s, Venezuela was a very active country on shortwave, especially on the 60- and 90-metre bands. But, during the 1980s, most stations turned off their shortwave transmitters, concentrating on AM and FM outlets. By 1988, R. Bolívar's 4770 kHz shortwave signal had become irregular, and by 1990, had disappeared for good.

Radio TV Gaucha (Porto Alegre), Brazil on 6135 kHz.

This Radio Tanzania QSL is one of my two remaining mediumwave African QSLs (the other QSLs from four African countries have "flown the coop"!) This one arrived at the end of April, taking just four weeks. Distance travelled by this mediumwave signal: 10,950 km (6,804 ml)

A Crush of Radio Signals

It is important to understand that the ionosphere (the atmospheric layer responsible for the refraction of radio signals) is always in a constant state of flux. It changes diurnally (throughout the day), across seasons, with the solar cycle, with the location of ionospheric refraction points, and with daily variances in solar activity.

In the 70s and 80s, regular mini-surveys were conducted and reported in the ADXN. During April, 1972, a few of us (David Foster, Bob Padula, Russell James and I) gathered information for a 31mb daytime survey. Down here in southeastern Australia, whenever we head towards winter, 9 MHz is open 24 hours a day! In the 2.5-hour survey period of 0130 to 0400 UTC (local, thirty minutes past noon to 2pm), there was plenty to hear from a variety of countries around the world. Actual propagation paths on this band were difficult to determine and consisted of short, long, dual-path, as well as multi-hop modes.

Reading back over the results, it was surprising to see just how many "collisions" there were between the international broadcasters, operating at exactly the same time! Here are some glaring examples!

9520 Madrid, R. Liberty and occasionally ABC-Port Moresby.

9530 VoA-Greenville, R. Moscow, and HCJB.

9540 R. Prague and R. Moscow Home Service.

9545 Beirut and Deutsche Welle-Jülich.

9565 VOA-Greenville and Deutsche Welle-Kigali, Rwanda.

9570 Bucharest and Madrid, along with R. Porrtales, Santiago on 9573!

9590 R. Moscow, R. Nederland and R. Presidente Balmaceda, Santiago!

9600 BBC-Ascension and R. Berlin Int.

9610 ABC-Perth, plus R. Norway and R. Moscow, both beaming to the Americas!

....and on and on it goes!

The rest of the band was exactly the same. Collisions all over the place. Now, some of these clashes would work OK into the target zones, as long as it's not the SAME target zone (as in the last example above!). But if a listener was not in one of the clashing target zones, it was very common to hear all stations on a particular frequency at the same time. Remember: this was well before the advent of the High Frequency Coordination Committee (HFCC).

Interesting times, indeed!

QSLs in the Mailbox

The Wagner family mailbox saw some nice QSLs from: R. Bandeirantes (São Paulo) 6185, R. Bolívar 4774, R. TV Gaucha (Porto Alegre) 6135, R. Guarani (Belo Horizonte) 6175, R. Sutatenza 6075, Dacca 15520, Rangoon 5040 and some international broadcasters.

Radio Bandeirantes (São Paulo), Brazil on 6185 kHz

I hope you enjoyed this walk down memory lane. Next month, we will open the logbook in May 1972.

73 and good DX,

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

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BUYING USED SHORTWAVE RECEIVERS: Practical advice for DXers.

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:13:00 +0000

Realistic DX-160

BUYING USED SHORTWAVE RECEIVERS:
Practical Advice for DXers

A Mount Evelyn DX Report

Retro Receiver Reviews Companion Guide

Over the past decade, the Mount Evelyn DX Report has published numerous Retro Receiver Reviews, examining classic shortwave and communications receivers from earlier decades. Most of these have been written by long-time friend Craig Seager VK2HBT, with a few extra from myself (Rob VK3BVW).

Radios such as the Sony ICF-2010, Yaesu FRG-7, Drake R8 series, and other well-known designs still appear regularly on the second-hand market and continue to attract interest from DXers and radio enthusiasts. These receivers are no longer manufactured, yet they remain capable performers. Buying one second-hand can be an excellent way to experience classic radio engineering while expanding a listening station at relatively modest cost.

However, vintage electronics require careful evaluation. Age, wear, storage conditions, and previous modifications can all affect performance. This article summarises practical advice for non-technical shortwave listeners and DXers considering the purchase of a used shortwave receiver and highlights some pitfalls to avoid. At the end of this post is a DOWNLOAD link to a PDF that summarises it all into a handy one-page checklist.

Choosing the Right Type of Receiver

The first step is deciding what type of receiver suits your listening interests. For casual listening to international broadcasters, a portable shortwave receiver may be sufficient. However, DXers who want to chase rarer (harder-to-hear) broadcasters, or explore amateur bands, utility stations, or digital signals, should strongly consider receivers with single-sideband (SSB) capability.

Communications receivers designed for more serious monitoring typically offer:

Narrower filters for crowded bands
Greater frequency stability
External antenna connections
Improved dynamic range

Examples of classic receivers often encountered on the used market include models from Sony, Drake, Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood, and Lowe Electronics.

Drake SPR-4 - a legendary receiver in its day.

Research the Model First

Before committing to a purchase, spend some time researching the receiver model. Vintage radios vary widely in performance and reliability. Some models earned strong reputations and remain sought after by collectors, while others were known for design limitations or reliability issues.

Useful sources of information include:

Radio hobbyist websites and blogs
Vintage receiver databases
Online discussion groups
Archived magazine reviews

Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of a particular model can prevent costly surprises later.

Inspect the Physical Condition

The external condition of a receiver often reflects how it has been treated over the years. Look for signs such as:

Cracked cabinets or bent metal panels
Missing knobs or switches
Damage around antenna connectors
Evidence of moisture exposure

Portable receivers deserve special attention in the battery compartment. Leakage from old batteries can cause serious corrosion damage.

A clean, well-preserved receiver is generally a safer purchase than one showing heavy wear.

Incidentally, beware of equipment that has lived in a smoker's radio shack. Like dust, smoke isn't good for electronics! It can create a tacky film over components and leads, causing electrical conductivity issues and faulty behaviour in switches, contacts, potentiometers, and variable capacitors. While not a "deal-breaker", purchase of equipment from a smoker's radio shack will possibly require a "deep-clean" with high-concentration Isopropyl Alcohol and lots of patience!

The Kenwood R-5000 was a wonderful rig, but these days,
many suffer from the well-known "key bounce" faults.

Test Controls and Switches

Mechanical controls are frequent points of failure in older equipment.

When examining a radio:

Rotate the tuning knob slowly across the band
Operate all switches and mode selectors
Adjust volume and tone controls

Scratchy audio or intermittent operation could simply indicate dirty contacts, but severe problems could mean worn components.

Band switches, which carry RF signals across multiple circuits, are especially prone to contact oxidation.

Check Frequency Stability

Frequency stability becomes particularly important when listening to SSB or narrowband signals. Tune to a stable reference station such as a time signal or a strong broadcast station. Allow the receiver to warm up for ten minutes and observe whether the frequency remains steady. Some drift is normal in older analog receivers, but excessive instability can make listening difficult.

Evaluate Sensitivity

Sensitivity describes the receiver's ability to detect weak signals. A healthy receiver should easily pick up multiple stations across the shortwave bands when connected to a modest antenna. If reception is limited to only the strongest signals, the receiver may require alignment or may have deteriorating components.

Assess Selectivity

Selectivity determines how well the receiver separates stations that are close together in frequency. Many communications receivers include several filter bandwidths, for example:

Wide filters for broadcast listening
Narrow filters for amateur band signals
Very narrow filters for Morse code reception

Switching between these filters should noticeably reduce interference from nearby stations.

A lot is going on inside the Yaesu FRG-7!
But clean working units can still be found.

Watch for Modifications

Some vintage receivers have been modified by previous owners. Occasionally, these modifications improve performance, but poorly executed changes can introduce reliability issues. Common modifications may include:

Added audio filters
Expanded frequency coverage
Changes to the power supply

Unless the modification is well documented and professionally executed, the original factory configuration is usually preferable.

Check Antenna Connections

Good antenna connections are essential for effective DXing.

Inspect:

External antenna connectors
Telescopic antennas on portable sets
Antenna selector switches

A damaged antenna jack or broken telescopic whip can significantly reduce performance.

Listen to the Audio Carefully

Audio quality can reveal a lot about the internal condition of a receiver. While listening to a station, note whether the audio is:

Clear and stable
Free from excessive hum
Free from distortion

Power supply hum often indicates ageing electrolytic capacitors, which are common maintenance items in vintage equipment.

Common Vintage Receiver Problems

Older receivers frequently develop similar faults after decades of use. Typical issues include:

Electrolytic capacitor ageing - These components gradually dry out or bulge, causing hum, distortion, or unstable operation.
Dirty switches and controls - Oxidised contacts may cause noisy audio or intermittent operation.
Frequency synthesiser issues - Early PLL circuits occasionally develop stability problems due to ageing components.
Dial mechanism wear - String-driven tuning systems in some receivers can slip or break.
Battery leakage damage - Portable receivers stored with batteries installed often suffer corrosion in the battery compartment.
Previous repair attempts - Poor soldering or improvised repairs can sometimes create additional faults.

While most of these problems can be repaired, they should be considered when evaluating price and restoration effort.

Buy from Knowledgeable Sellers

Where possible, buy from sources familiar with radio equipment.

Options include:

Amateur radio swap meets
Vintage radio dealers
Experienced collectors
Online marketplaces with detailed listings

When buying remotely, ask for clear photographs and a detailed description of the receiver’s condition. If an unknown online seller says, "It turns on, but I don't know if it works", it's probably best to walk away!

Safety Note: High Voltages in Valve Receivers

When dealing with vintage valve (tube) receivers, it is essential to understand that these sets operate with potentially lethal internal voltages. High-voltage power supply rails in valve equipment can exceed several hundred volts, and these voltages may remain present even after the receiver has been switched off due to charged capacitors.

Unlike solid-state equipment, valve receivers require much greater caution during inspection or service. Unless you are experienced in working with high-voltage electronics, it is strongly recommended that any internal repairs or restoration work be carried out by a qualified technician familiar with vintage radio equipment. Attempting repairs without the necessary knowledge and precautions can result in serious injury or worse.

Mains Power and Earthing in Vintage Receivers

In addition to high internal voltages, many vintage receivers present potential hazards related to mains power design and earthing. Older equipment—particularly imported models—may use two-wire power connections, non-polarised plugs, or chassis designs where parts of the circuit are directly connected to the mains supply. In some cases, the chassis itself may become “live” under fault conditions.

Before operating a newly acquired receiver, it is advisable to check the condition of the power cord, plug, and internal mains components. As with valve equipment, if you are uncertain about mains safety, inspection and any necessary upgrades should be carried out by a technician experienced in vintage radio equipment.

Note: Some countries have different regulations and requirements regarding the earthing of equipment and the connection of equipment earths to ground. Much of what we read comes from the USA, but those procedures may not apply in your country. If importing a used receiver from overseas, some research may be needed before connecting it to the power socket.

Manage Expectations

Vintage receivers represent the technology of their era.

Even highly regarded radios from the 1970s and 1980s may not match the performance of modern DSP receivers in every respect. Nevertheless, many classic radios remain excellent performers and offer a distinctive listening experience.

For many DXers, the appeal of these radios lies not only in performance but also in their craftsmanship and historical significance.

👉👉 Quick Inspection Checklist for Used Receivers 👈👈

When examining a receiver at a hamfest or personal inspection, a quick checklist can be useful to have on hand. I have prepared the following downloadable PDF, which summarises everything you have read above. (No need to sign up or log in to Box.com - Just hit the Download icon)

Using a checklist like this helps identify receivers worth pursuing and those best avoided.

Final Thoughts

Buying a used shortwave receiver can be a rewarding way to experience classic radio design and extend a DXing station without the cost of new equipment. By researching models, carefully inspecting condition, and understanding common vintage issues, radio enthusiasts can find receivers that still provide many years of enjoyable listening.

The Retro Receiver Reviews on the Mount Evelyn DX Report demonstrate that many classic radios remain capable performers today — provided they are chosen carefully.

73 and wishing you good DX,

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

- - - - - / / - - - - -

Check out all the Retro Receiver Reviews published so far by clicking below:

Retro Receiver Review # 1 - The DANSK RX4000

Retro Receiver Review # 2 - The HITACHI KH-3800W

Retro Receiver Review # 3 - The SCHAUB LORENZ ITT TOURING T104A RECEIVER

Retro Receiver Review # 4 - The RACAL RA6790/GM

Retro Receiver Review # 5 - The REALISTIC (RADIO SHACK) DX160

Retro Receiver Review # 6 - The KENWOOD QR 666

Retro Receiver Review # 7 - The RODHE & SCHWARZ EK890

Retro Receiver Review # 8 - The YAESU FR101S

Retro Receiver Review # 9 - The SELENA VEGA B206

Retro Receiver Review # 10 - The DRAKE SPR-4

Retro Receiver Review # 11 - The NATIONAL RF-5000

Retro Receiver Review # 12 - The YAESU FRG-100

Retro Receiver Review # 13 - The MARC NR-82 F1

Retro Receiver Review # 14 - The MURPHY B40

Retro Receiver Review # 15 - The STROMBERG CARLSON AWP-8

Retro Receiver Review # 16 - The YAESU FRG-7

Retro Receiver Review # 17 - The ALLIED/REALISTIC SX-190

Retro Receiver Review # 18 - The PANASONIC RF4800/4900 (DR-48/49)

Retro Receiver Review # 19 - The ZENITH TRANSOCEANIC B600

Retro Receiver Review # 20 - The SONY ICF-5900W

Retro Receiver Review # 21 - The KENWOOD R-5000

Retro Receiver Review # 22 - The E.I.L. HCR-62

Retro Receiver Review # 23 - The SONY ICF-6800

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

STRONG SIGNAL, NO DECODES: Auroral Flutter and the Bouvet-Australia FT8 Puzzle

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 23:54:00 +0000

Strong Signals, No Decodes:

Auroral Flutter and the Bouvet–Australia FT8 Puzzle

When the 3Y0K DXpedition to Bouvet Island went on the air, many amateur radio operators across eastern Australia eagerly sought a contact. Bouvet is one of the rarest DX entities on Earth, and any activation naturally sparks strong interest on the HF bands.

Yet something unusual happened. Some Australian operators reported seeing Bouvet signals clearly on their FT8 waterfalls. In some cases, the signals appeared reasonably strong. However, despite this, decodes were rare or nonexistent.

That was the case at my QTH. This isn't a beams-and-high-power setup. My modest operation involves 50 W into an 80m long horizontal skyloop or a 30m vertical delta loop. I saw the 3Y0K signal numerous times, but there was only one decode. Talk about frustrating!

This was quite baffling. After all, FT8 is known for its ability to decode signals well below the noise floor. If the signal was visible, why wasn't it decoding? So, I took some time (and a lot of reading) to investigate what might be going on.

One possible explanation lies in a phenomenon well known to radio scientists but less familiar to some HF operators: auroral flutter.

Bouvet and the Southern High-Latitude Path

Bouvet Island is situated in the remote South Atlantic at approximately 54° south latitude (−54.4333, 3.400, to be exact), placing it firmly within the sub-Antarctic region. From eastern Australia, the great-circle radio path to Bouvet curves deep into the southern high latitudes before turning northward toward the Australian continent.

This geometry matters.

Unlike many DX paths that stay within the relatively stable mid-latitude ionosphere, the Bouvet–Australia route travels near the southern auroral zone. In this region, Earth's upper atmosphere is often disturbed by energetic particles from the solar wind.

During geomagnetic activity, these particles enter the atmosphere along Earth's magnetic field lines, producing the aurora. At the same time, they create complex structures of enhanced ionisation in the ionosphere. For radio signals travelling through this region, the ionosphere can be anything but smooth.

The Auroral Oval

Auroral activity takes place within a ring-shaped area around the geomagnetic poles called the auroral oval. Under quiet conditions, the oval generally sits near 65–70° geomagnetic latitude, but during geomagnetic disturbances, it expands towards lower latitudes.

Signals travelling near this region can encounter a highly irregular ionosphere filled with drifting filaments and patches of ionised plasma. These structures are aligned with Earth's magnetic field and can move through the ionosphere at hundreds of metres per second.

From a radio propagation perspective, this environment behaves quite differently from the stable F-layer reflections that support most long-distance HF communication.

Illustrations of where the Auroral Oval zones occur in the
northern and southern hemispheres.
(Image courtesy of William Copeland)

When the Ionosphere Becomes Turbulent

In mid-latitude propagation, the ionosphere often acts like a relatively smooth mirror, reflecting HF signals back toward Earth.

In the auroral zone, that mirror breaks down.

Instead of reflecting cleanly from a stable layer, radio waves are scattered by many small ionised structures. Each of these acts like a tiny moving reflector, sending part of the signal along slightly different paths.

When those dispersed components arrive at the receiver, they merge in intricate ways. The outcome can include:

• rapid fading

• multiple propagation paths

• unstable phase relationships

• small but significant frequency shifts

These effects collectively are known as auroral flutter.

Operators listening to CW signals during auroral conditions often describe the sound as rough, raspy, or "buzzing." The signal strength may stay surprisingly good, but the tone becomes unstable.

The Role of Doppler Spread

One of the key effects of auroral scattering is Doppler spreading. Since the plasma structures causing scattering are moving through the ionosphere, each scattered signal component undergoes a slightly different Doppler shift. Rather than arriving at a single frequency, the signal energy is spread across a small frequency range.

In high-latitude propagation studies, Doppler spreads under auroral conditions have been observed to range from a few hertz to several tens of Hertz, and occasionally much higher during strong disturbances.

For many modes of communication, this distortion is inconvenient but manageable. However, for FT8, it can be deadly.

Why FT8 Is Especially Sensitive

FT8 transmits a series of eight audio tones spaced just 6.25 Hz apart. The receiving software integrates the signal over a 12.6-second transmission window and works out which tones appeared at each symbol interval. For this process to function properly, the received tones must stay very stable in both frequency and phase.

Auroral flutter disrupts exactly those properties.

If Doppler spreading widens the signal spectrum by tens of Hertz, the narrow FT8 tones blend together. The decoder can no longer identify which tone matches which symbol. The signal might still be clearly visible on the waterfall display, but the information it carries becomes impossible to decode.

In other words, the issue isn't signal strength—it is loss of spectral coherence.

This great circle map is centred on Bouvet Island. The distance between Bouvet and southeastern Australia isn't that great. To my QTH, it's only 9162 km (5693 mi). But, for me, it proved to be tough going trying to get a decode from the DXpedition team!
The further west we go across Australia, the less influence the auroral zone has - the VK6 guys in Perth were probably in a better location for Bouvet.

The Geometry of the Bouvet–Australia Path

Examining the great-circle path between Bouvet Island and eastern Australia clarifies why auroral effects might have been particularly noticeable on this route.

HF signals generally follow the great-circle route—the shortest way between two points on the Earth's surface. When this route is plotted on a globe instead of a flat map, it becomes clear that the Bouvet–Australia path dips deep into the southern high latitudes.

As mentioned previously, Bouvet itself lies near 54° south latitude, already well into the sub-Antarctic. From there, the great-circle route toward eastern Australia initially runs southeast across the Southern Ocean before turning northward toward the Australian continent.

For many stations along Australia's east coast, the route reaches around 60–65° south latitude before heading north again. This is particularly true for amateurs in southern Victoria and Tasmania. Those latitudes lie close to the edge of the southern auroral zone.

Another key detail is that auroral activity is organised by geomagnetic latitude rather than geographic latitude. Because the geomagnetic poles are offset from the geographic poles, a radio path passing through geographic latitudes near 60°S might actually traverse geomagnetic latitudes associated with the auroral oval.

During periods of moderate geomagnetic activity, the auroral zone can expand towards lower latitudes. When this occurs, parts of the Bouvet–Australia route may be within or just beside the disturbed auroral ionosphere.

In other words, the signal might spend a significant part of its journey passing through a region where the ionosphere is very turbulent—a situation that can easily cause auroral flutter and Doppler spreading.

A Long Encounter with the Auroral Zone

The severity of auroral flutter partly depends on how long the signal interacts with the disturbed region.

If a propagation path briefly crosses the auroral oval, the resulting distortion may be limited. However, if the path runs along the edge of the oval for thousands of kilometres, the signal can accumulate significant phase and frequency distortion.

The Bouvet–Australia geometry seems to do exactly that. Instead of crossing the auroral zone quickly, the route might follow the southern high-latitude belt for quite a distance. In propagation terms, this makes it more similar to a sub-polar path than a typical mid-latitude DX route.

Another look at the great circle path, this time on a "flat map". This version was calculated for my QTH at Mount Evelyn, Victoria, for March 1, 2026, at 0900 UTC

Strong Signals but No Decodes

This situation offers a plausible explanation for reports from eastern Australian operators. Signals from Bouvet might have travelled through a region of turbulent ionosphere where scattering and Doppler spreading disrupted the narrow spectral stability required for FT8 decoding.

Because auroral scattering redistributes signal energy rather than removing it, the signal can still look visible—sometimes even strong—on a waterfall display. But the spectral precision needed for the digital decoder has been lost.

Not the Only Possible Factor

It is important to note that auroral flutter is not the only phenomenon that can disrupt high-latitude HF propagation. Other effects, such as polar absorption, travelling ionospheric disturbances, or spread-F conditions, can also impair signals.

Without detailed measurements—such as Doppler spectra, ionosonde data, or geomagnetic records—it is hard to pinpoint which mechanism was dominant during the Bouvet operation.

Nevertheless, the combination of high-latitude path geometry, auroral ionospheric turbulence, and FT8's extremely narrow tone spacing makes auroral flutter a compelling explanation.

A Reminder from the Ionosphere

The Bouvet activation served as a useful reminder that modern digital modes, impressive as they are, still rely on the behaviour of Earth's ionosphere.

FT8 can decode signals buried deep in the noise, but it assumes those signals stay spectrally stable. When the ionosphere becomes turbulent—as it often does near the auroral zones—that assumption can break down.

The result is the curious scenario some Australian operators faced: a signal clearly visible on the waterfall, yet stubbornly refusing to decode.

Sometimes the difficulty in radio communication isn't hearing the signal at all. Sometimes the challenge is hearing it over the turbulence.

References

Davies, K. Ionospheric Radio.

Copeland, W. What are the Northern Lights?

Hunsucker, R. D., & Hargreaves, J. K. The High-Latitude Ionosphere and its Effects on Radio Propagation.

Ratcliffe, J. A. An Introduction to the Ionosphere and Magnetosphere.

ARRL. The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications.

Space Weather Services (Bureau of Meteorology), auroral and geomagnetic resources.

73 and wishing you the best of DX!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - MARCH 1972

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 11:37:00 +0000

An early QSL from Radio Bangladesh, one month after the newly-formed country changed its name from East Pakistan. See the Logbook entry and QSLs in the Mailbox sections below.

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - MARCH 1972

Each month, I open up the old records to see what I (and others) heard from decades past. It has been fun looking back at old issues of the Australian DX News (ADXN - the newsletter of the Australian Radio DX Club), bringing back lots of memories. Here are some memories from March 1972—54 years ago!

All frequencies in kHz; all times are UTC (or GMT, as we used to say in those days!).

Shortwave News

According to announcements heard on a March 25 broadcast from the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, a new 500kW shortwave transmitter with a rotatable curtain antenna was to be introduced at Sottens. The shortwave transmitter began broadcasting in 1972 on the 9, 11, 15, 17, and 21 MHz bands. It was switched off on October 23rd, 2004. The transmitter and the antenna were dismantled in February 2005. This was the last Swiss shortwave transmitter.

Also announced in March was the scheduled commencement of tests for the new Deutsche Welle transmitter at Wertachtal, starting April 10. It was intended that five transmitters would be in operation in time for the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. Reception reports for the test transmissions would be confirmed with a special QSL. During test broadcasts, variations would be made to antenna directivity, output power and swapping of transmitter sites (Jülich or Wertachtal) for comparison purposes. In the Australian DX News, it was speculated that the Wertach Valley station could be considered as a separate entity because of its location in Bavaria, provided that the transmitter location was indicated on any QSLs received.

Still in West Germany, ARDXC member Robert Jones (from memory a VOA monitor) observed, "It now appears likely that Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty will cease operations on June 30th (1972), unless special funds are approved by the US Congress. Although perhaps approving of the purpose of the above station, most DXers would welcome the absence of the jammers on the dozens of frequencies used by them. If these stations are discontinued, it is interesting to speculate on the future of the transmitters. No doubt, the VOA and other broadcasters will be interested in the powerful facilities of the Radio Liberty relay station at Playa de Pals, in Spain, comprising two 500 kW transmitters, three 250 kW Txers and one 100 kW unit." History repeats itself, perhaps!

Planned for April 1, the "Voice of Hope" (Adventist World Radio), using the facilities of Radio Trans-Europe (Sines, Portugal), would operate on a completely different schedule. The new times would be introduced "following a comprehensive analysis from the hundreds of letters and reception reports received in response to the Adventist broadcasts since October 1st, 1971" - Allen R. Steele, Coordinator, AWR, RTE.

Also, noted in the March ADXN was that VOH programming carried over RTE emanated from studios in Lisbon via a VHF link to a relay station near the picturesque fishing town of Sesimbra (about 45 km south of Lisbon), then onto the 250 kW transmitter at Sines (about 160 km south of Lisbon). Three antenna systems were feeding Southern Europe and North Africa, Central Europe and Northern Europe.

Remembering ETLF - Radio Voice of the Gospel

My logging and reception report of ETLF in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (see below) reminded me of that beautiful sign-on music of the Elizabethan Serenade. Click the Play button below for the interval signal of African drums, station identification and a partial playing of the serenade. (Not my recording...my apologies to the owner, but I forgot where I found this some years ago).

But I discovered an interesting story behind this music.

"Elizabethan Serenade" is a quintessential piece of light orchestral music composed by Ronald Binge in 1951. It is most famously associated with the Mantovani Orchestra, which first broadcast the piece on the radio in 1951.
When first performed by Mantovani, the piece was titled "Andante Cantabile".
Binge renamed it "Elizabethan Serenade" in 1952 to capture the optimism surrounding the accession of Queen Elizabeth II.
The "Mantovani Sound": The British light music composer, Ronald Binge, was Mantovani's primary arranger and is credited with creating the orchestra's signature "cascading strings" effect.
The composition won Binge an Ivor Novello Award and became an international hit, charting in Germany and South Africa.
A version with lyrics by Christopher Hassall, titled "Where the Gentle Avon Flows", was also released.
It served as the signature tune for the BBC Light Programme series Music in Miniature and was the play-out for the British Forces Network.
The track was featured in the 2009 film Confessions of a Shopaholic.
In 1968, a reggae version titled "Elizabeth Reggay" was released by Boris Gardiner & the Love People.

But wait!

When I went looking for the recording, Shazam identified it as "Our Last Affair"! What's more, some other sites and YouTube were also calling the serenade "Our Last Affair"!

HUH?? WHAT'S GOING ON?

"Our Last Affair" is a separate composition by Mantovani himself (often written under one of his pseudonyms, such as Paul Remy). It is not a version of "Elizabethan Serenade. Still, the two tracks are frequently confused or linked because they appear back-to-back on several of Mantovani’s most popular compilation albums. On many releases, such as the Musical Moments With Mantovani LP and various CD box sets, "Elizabethan Serenade" is immediately followed by "Our Last Affair". This often leads digital streaming services or casual listeners to mislabel the tracks or assume they are the same piece.

So, when searching online for this melody, don't be surprised to find music streaming services and YouTube mislabeling Elizabethan Serenade.

Here is the full recording of the beautiful serenade.

The Logbook

In March 1972, many stations made it into my logbook. Here is a glimpse of what was heard at my QTH in that month:

4847 Forest Side, Mauritius. French talks at 1710, with a fair signal. Although registered to operate on 4850 kHz, the transmitter was well known to slip down to 4847 kHz. The Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation operated out of Forest Side from the 1960s to around 2011, when it relocated to its current location at Moka, outside of the capital, Port Louis. The new broadcasting complex was funded in part by interest-free loans from the Chinese government.

4980 Karachi, Pakistan. English and Urdu news at 1800, then s/off at 1810. This was a new frequency (ex 4975) and suffered from CW QRM.

6075 Deutsche Welle - Jülich. Unusual long path reception with an early fade in at 0530 UTC. English news at 0530 and running // 6145, both with fair signals. This reception is noteworthy because it was late March (early autumn), and such early LP reception on the 49 mb was not normal. On the same day (March 28), others noted also making the journey were 6095 VOA-Munich, 6100 DW-Jülich in German to WNAm, 6110 BBC-UK, 6120 Berne, Switzerland, and 6160 VOA via BBC UK. But the strongest on this day was 6135 Warsaw, Poland, which was heard as early as 0450 in Italian, then 0500 in Esperanto, and was the best of all these 49 mb signals.

6175 R. Guarani, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. At 0920 with lots of music and many IDs. Mixed with the co-channel Kuala Lumpur.

7215 Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Pop songs at 0650 with a fair signal via the long path. // 11920 also heard.

7300 R. Moscow in English at 0420 via the long path at good strength, and // 7205 also heard. Again, unusual LP reception for the end of March. I wonder what the transmitter power was?

9590 R. Presidente Balmaceda, Santiago, Chile. News at 1022. Blocked by R. Australia - Shepparton's sign-on at 1030 on the same frequency.

11800 ETLF Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. S/on 0445 in French. QRM from Tenerife, Canary Islands, on the same frequency until 0500.

15520 Dacca, Bangladesh. English at 1230, back here after a short period on 15560 kHz. The city is now officially spelled Dhaka. The country gained independence from Pakistan, emerging as a sovereign nation on 16 December 1971 and officially changing its name to Bangladesh on January 11, 1972. Before that, it was known as East Pakistan.

Rádio Clube do Cuanza Sul was one of numerous Angolan broadcasters that inhabited the 90, 75, 60 and 41-meter bands. They offered great listening in their evenings (my early mornings). This 1972 QSL arrived just three years before Angola finally gained independence from Portugal, although the country then descended into civil wars that lasted until 2002.

Reception Reports

The month of March saw plenty of reports sent off, including in Spanish and Portuguese:

Dacca 15520, R. Mineria, Santiago 9750, Tananarive, Madagascar 3288, 4VEH Haiti 11835, R. TV Gaucha, Porto Alegre 6135, ETLF 11800, Rangoon 5040, Voice of Free China 17780, R. Guarani, Belo Horizonte 6175, Abidjan, Ivory Coast 7215, Forest Side, Mauritius 4847, plus the usual internationals such as Sweden, R. Berlin International, Warsaw, Moscow, Havana, etc.

And a few mediumwave reports went out to:

R. Singapore 990, DZXL Manila 620, Mauritius 683, Tanzania 656 and Egypt 773.

QSLs in the Mailbox

The postman gave me 32 QSLs in the mailbox that month, probably pushing aside the other family bills. The highlights were R. Clube do Cuanza Sul, Novo Redondo, Angola, plus pennants and QSLs from Bucharest and XERMX R. Mexico. Plenty of international stations, too, including AIR, FEBC, TWR-Bonaire, RAI, Sweden, Belgrade, R. RSA, Cairo, Prague, Tashkent and Brussels.

The ADXN also congratulated me for receiving a QSL from Dacca 15560. This was the first QSL to be reported to the magazine from the newly formed Radio Bangladesh (see the logbook above).

The pennant from XERMX Radio Mexico.

I hope you enjoyed this walk down memory lane. Next month, we will open the logbook in April 1972.

73 and good DX,

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

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ARCHIVE RECORDING: Djibouti Radio on Mediumwave in 1972.

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 01:05:00 +0000

ARCHIVE RECORDING:
DJIBOUTI RADIO
ON MEDIUMWAVE IN 1972

Another recording (below) from my mediumwave archives. I'm digitising these before the original tapes deteriorate any further and are lost forever!

This one was recorded on a DXpedition to Phillip Island, southeast Victoria, Australia, in September 1972. The folding QSL card shown in the video was received in four weeks by airmail.

1538 kHz at 1635 UTC, September 16, 1972

Language: Afar. Other languages used on 1538 kHz were Somali and Arabic.

Transmitter Power: 4 kW!

The country is now called Djibouti. Between 1967 and 1977 it was known as the French Territory of Afars & Issas. Prior to 1967, it was called French Somaliland.

In 1972, many Australian stations (ABC and commercial broadcasters) signed off around midnight, leaving plenty of vacant channels in the mediumwave band for exotic DX signals.

Subscribe to my little YouTube channel if you would like to see (....and hear!) more of these recordings.

73 and good DX!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

WHY ANTENNA SIZE MATTERS ON HF: Portable Radios, SDRs, and Overload

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:22:00 +0000

WHY ANTENNA SIZE MATTERS ON SHORTWAVE
Portable Radios, SDRs, and Overload

Recently, I've been thinking about antennas and receivers. Specifically, portable radios with their little built-in telescopic whip antennas. And why many inexperienced shortwave listeners seem to rely on using just the whip for all their listening pursuits. I often read in the online forums about how they become dispirited with shortwave. They find it hard to hear many stations, and the signals they stumble across are often weak. They are quickly disappointed with their shiny new radio and leave the hobby without really getting started.

Of course, if you live in the northern hemisphere, there are still many international broadcasters targeting their transmissions to Europe, Asia and North America. So, compared with my location here in Australia, it can be somewhat easier to catch a broadcast with a stronger signal. Most broadcasters stopped beaming their signals to Australia years ago! There are both good and bad sides to that situation for me... but I'll leave that for another discussion.

Most portable shortwave radios come with a built-in telescopic whip antenna, and while it's convenient, it is very much a compromise. The whip has to be short, rugged, and broadband, which makes it practical for travel and portability but far from ideal for pulling in weak signals from across the world. One of the simplest ways to improve reception is to connect an external antenna, even something as basic as a length of wire. The difference can be dramatic.

The main reason is straightforward physics. At shortwave frequencies, wavelengths range from roughly 10 to 100 metres. A whip antenna that is less than a metre long is therefore electrically very short compared to the signals it is trying to receive. This limits how much energy it can intercept from the incoming radio wave. A longer external antenna, even just 5 or 15 metres of wire (16 to 50 feet approximately), captures a much larger portion of that wave and converts more of it into usable signal voltage at the receiver input.

In practical terms, this means higher signal strength. When a longer antenna intercepts more of the electromagnetic field, the radio sees a stronger signal at its antenna terminal. This increased signal level directly improves the signal-to-noise ratio when background noise (from the atmosphere or the receiver itself) is dominant. Weak DX stations that barely rise above the noise on the whip often become clearly intelligible once an external antenna is connected.

The poor designs of many portables

Many inexpensive radios are built with very simple front ends, using minimal filtering and basic RF amplifier stages. These designs work adequately with the weak signals from a short whip antenna, but they are not always prepared for the much stronger signals produced by an external antenna.

When such a receiver is connected to a long wire or outdoor antenna, the front end can be driven beyond its linear range. This causes overload and intermodulation, in which strong signals mix together within the radio and create spurious responses at frequencies where no real stations exist. Listeners may hear multiple stations appearing across the band, distorted audio, or powerful local broadcasters bleeding into unrelated frequencies. Ironically, the stronger antenna can make the receiver perform worse rather than better.

What about SDRs?

This same issue applies to software-defined radios (SDRs), despite their very different internal architecture. Although much of the signal processing in an SDR happens in software, the incoming RF signal still passes through an analog front end and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). A longer antenna increases signal levels at this stage just as it does with an analog receiver. If strong signals push the front end or ADC into saturation, the result is a raised noise floor and spurious signals across the displayed spectrum. In other words, SDRs do not eliminate overload; they merely move the critical performance limit to the linearity and dynamic range of the front-end circuitry and ADC. This is especially evident with cheaper SDRs such as the RTL Dongles. That said, companies such as FlexRadio have made great strides in avoiding ADC overload in their sophisticated, high-priced rigs.

In this instance, although the signal on 17620 kHz is not particularly strong, both the IF gain and RF gain controls are set too high for the ADC, resulting in severely distorted audio from the SDRconnect software. Reducing both controls immediately returns to good audio.

Higher-quality portable receivers address this problem by including band-pass filtering, RF attenuators, and front ends with greater dynamic range. These features limit out-of-band energy and prevent strong signals from overwhelming the mixer stage. Such radios can take advantage of the extra signal delivered by an external antenna without collapsing into intermodulation and spurious responses.

Workarounds

Listeners using simpler or cheaper radios can still benefit from external antennas by taking a measured approach. Shorter wires, such as 5 to 10 metres, often provide a useful improvement without driving the receiver into overload. In some cases, inserting a simple passive attenuator or using the radio's built-in "DX/Local" or RF gain control can restore proper operation while preserving much of the external antenna's signal-strength advantage.

The PL-680 has three levels of gain control: DX, normal, and local.

It is also worth remembering that an antenna and receiver form a system. An antenna that is ideal for a communications-grade tabletop receiver may be excessive for a small travel radio. Matching antenna size to receiver capability is therefore part of achieving good overall performance, rather than simply assuming that "more wire is always better."

These antenna reels travel with my Tecsun PL-680. Rolling out any length of wire up to 45 meters (147 feet) means I can always have a portable radio and external antenna in the car, ready for any DXing opportunity.

Summary

External antennas outperform whip antennas on portable shortwave radios because they intercept more of the incoming radio wave and deliver higher signal voltage to the receiver. This leads directly to stronger signals and better signal-to-noise ratios, which are crucial for DX reception. At the same time, this increase in signal strength can expose design limitations in low-cost receivers — including some SDRs — resulting in overload and spurious responses. Understanding both sides of this equation allows the listener to choose an antenna that enhances reception without overwhelming the radio.

References:

ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications – chapters on receiving antennas and receiver dynamic range.

Ulrich Rohde & Jerry Whitaker, Communications Receivers – front-end overload and intermodulation theory.

Joseph Carr, Practical Antenna Handbook – electrically short antennas and random wire performance.

Texas Instruments, Understanding ADC Dynamic Range in SDR Systems.

PD0G Blog: Gain and AGC Settings in SDRuno overload !!

73 and good DX to you!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

DX QUICK TIPS - February 21, 2026.

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 21:04:00 +0000

Trans World Radio transmitter site outside of Manzini, Eswatini.

DX QUICK TIPS
February 21, 2026

Reception conditions over the past week have been fair to excellent, depending on when you happened to switch on the radio. These days, we don't know whether propagation will be good or poor. It's the luck of the draw and part of the attraction and mystery of shortwave radio.

RIGS: SDRPlay RSPDuo, Yaesu FTDX 3000, Kenwood TS2000, Kenwood R5000, Yaesu FRG100, Tecsun PL-680

ANTENNAS: Horizontal Sky Loop 80m long, 10 MHz Delta Loop, 5/8λ Centre-fed vertical for 21 MHz and above.

NOTE: All DX tips below were heard on the above equipment here at Mount Evelyn, NOT on a remote receiver somewhere else in the world! For research purposes, occasional double-checking and reception comparisons in target zones are employed using Kiwi receivers located globally. When sending reception reports to broadcasters, I always use my own receivers and never engage in the unethical practice of using remote receivers to compile my reports.

5040 VANUATU. R. Vanuatu - Emten Lagoon. 2010 Bislama anncts, 2012 - Song: "Rivers of Babylon". No signal on any other regular RV freqs at this time. Fair signal and still there at 2035, but then rapidly faded into late summer's morning sun. Feb 19.

5939.44 BRAZIL. Voz Missionária - Camboriú, SC. 0830 Lively music and a constant announcer waffle over the songs. Pretty excited stuff to get the day going, and not sounding very preachy! A weak signal at first, but improved rapidly to a fair level in the summer noise, Feb 11.

7289.92 INDONESIA. RRI - Nabire, Central Papua. Pro 1 programming 0850, easy-listening Western-style ballads. No annct at 0900, but a very brief ID at 0912. Then more music. 0915 Brief annct then Islamic call to prayer. 0927 Brief ID then into a song. Flattened by the s/on of the much stronger CNR 1-Beijing at 0930, but I could still hear Nabire underneath with music, but it was difficult to listen to. All hope was lost with the 1000 co-channel s/on of CRI in Russian. But the Nabire carrier remained on and was easily identifiable past 1000. Feb 13. Read more about the unique RRI Nabire station in INDONESIA ON SHORTWAVE - Then and Now - Part 2

7345 MYANMAR. Thazin R. - Pyin Oo Lwin (Mandalay). 1235 Minorities Service. Possibly in the Shan language, as it had that lilting sound of Thai, to which it is somewhat related. Talks and pleasant music selections. Heavy QRM at about equal strength with the co-channel CNR 7 Voice of the Greater Bay. Feb 14.

9370 PHILIPPINES. R. Pilipinas - Tinang. 1940 Filipino to ME with rapid-fire news reports. Many station IDs. Excellent signal and // 9925 (very good) and 12120 (excellent but with FSK QRM - easier copy in LSB). Feb 19.

9590 USA. KNLS - Anchor Point, AK. S/on 1300 Korean to EAs. NF (ex 9760), good signal, Feb 14.

9720 CHINA. Voice of South China Sea - Nanning. 1200 -1230 Filipino to SEAs. News and then a cultural program. Good signal, but with what sounded like some type of jamming, although I'm not sure who would jam this programming. Feb 14.

9720 USA. KNLS - Anchor Point, AK. S/on 1300 Mandarin to EAs. NF (ex 9530). Fair signal on Feb 14.

9800 USA. KNLS - Anchor Point, AK. S/on 1200 English to EAs with pop songs and U.S. history talks. NF (ex 9625). Good signal, Feb 14.

9820 CHINA. Voice of Beibu Bay R. - Nanning. 1220 Vietnamese to SEA with commentaries and occasional light pop music. Heavy QRM at equal strength with the co-channel CNR2 - Xian. // 5050 also heard at good strength. Feb 14. Read more about Beibu Bay Radio and its role in the Zhuang Autonomous Region of Guangxi, China, in our Spotlight article from several years ago.

9875 D.P.R.KOREA. VoKorea - Kujang. 1930 English to ME and NAf. Korean opera selections and martial music. Very good signal and // 11635 (good). Also // to SAf on 11910 (fair to poor) and 7210 (fair but heavy co-channel and adjacent channel China QRM). Feb 19.

9965 PALAU. T8WH Hope R. - Angel 5, Medorn. 0910 Japanese at this time on Tuesdays (English on other days). 0921 English station ID, then back into Japanese programming. 0956 Full English ID and a Gospel song to end transmission at 1002. Good signal, but there is a slight transmitter hum at 120Hz. Palau's power is 120V at 60Hz, so there may be issues with rectifier ripple or power-supply filtering. Feb 10. The eQSL below arrived in eight days:

11610 MADAGASCAR. MWV "Light of Life" - Mahajanga. 2140 Mandarin to WEu with preaching. It changed at 2200 into Arabic with "Radio Feda" programming for NAf. Good signal. Interestingly, the transmission to NAf at 2200 was somewhat stronger than the service to Eu a few minutes earlier. This is despite using the same azimuth (325 degrees) as per HFCC registrations. Feb 15.

11779.96 IRAN. IRIB - Sirjan. 0440 Turkish to ME, commentaries and spasms of music. Fair signal with heavy fading. Not to be confused with co-inhabitant Brazil, which is off air by then. Feb 16.

11900 INDIA. Akashvani - Bengaluru. 1946 French to Eu, music then commentary. The studio announcer's audio was clear and intelligible. But at 1956, a one-minute pre-recorded annct was terribly muffled! Then back to studio audio, and everything was clear again. 2001 - English program "Spotlight". Again, some muffled audio was monitored, sounding almost overmodulated, but not as bad as earlier. Akashvani's lack of attention to audio quality makes this one of the most frustrating stations to listen to! Excellent signal, Feb 19.

12015 D.P.R.KOREA. VoKorea - Kujang. 1300 English to Eu. Heavy QRM from the off-channel CRI on 12014.41 kHz, creating hets and hum (there is something wrong with the Chinese transmitter!). Best heard in USB to avoid this mess. A quick check of several European Kiwis indicated that Korea was quite well heard, but still with some light QRM. Feb 14.

12015 D.P.R.KOREA. - Kujang. 2150 English to Eu. Into Spanish at 2200. Stunningly good signal, only marred by slight RTTY QRM on 12017 kHz. Then some adjacent channel QRM from the regular-as-clockwork 2155 s/on of CNR 6-Nanning in Amoy. Feb 15.

15105 ESWATINI. TWR - Mpangela Ranch (Manzini). 1917 Lingala service with preaching and Afro Gospel songs. Weak signal, Feb 19.

15280 INDIA. Akashvani - Bengaluru. 0420 Farsi to ME. Many mentions of Iran in two commentaries. Frequent breaks in audio for about three to four seconds each time, but no break in the carrier. Fair signal, Feb 15.

Lisu hill tribe of Northern Thailand

17755 GUAM. KSDA - Agat. S/on 1330 Lisu language to SEAs. Opening ID in English with frequency and language annct. Then IDs again in Lisu with many mentions of AWR in its programming. Songs and preaching. Lisu is spoken by over a million people across southwestern China (Yunnan, Sichuan), northern Myanmar, Thailand, and parts of India. It is a tonal language, typically featuring six to eight tones and a complex phonology. Good signal, Feb 14.

AND FINALLY.....

In the early CB days, before the legalisation of the CB bands in Australia, I ran a Kraco SSB exactly like this one pictured here. Then, in August 1978, I received my Novice Amateur Radio licence - VK3NQJ. On September 7, 1978, I made my first QSO under that callsign, using this little Kraco rig.

I purchased new crystals from Jan Crystals in the USA, popped them into the Kraco, and, after a bit of retuning of the rig, was ready to go on the 10-metre ham band. 10 watts out into a low-hanging dipole.

But there's another story that goes with this little rig! QSO number 12 was into Hawaii - what excitement! Read about it at One of my Most Valued QSL Cards!

Great times. great memories!

73 and wishing you the best of DX!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - FEBRUARY 1972

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 23:26:00 +0000

We begin this month's "Opening the Logbook" with a touch of Rio!
Radio Globo, heard on 11805 kHz during February 1972.

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - FEBRUARY 1972

Each month, I open up the old records to see what I (and others) heard from decades past. It has been fun looking back at old issues of the Australian DX News (the newsletter of the Australian Radio DX Club), bringing back lots of memories. Here are some memories from February 1972—54 years ago!

All frequencies in kHz; all times are UTC (or GMT, as we used to say in those days!).

Shortwave News

In February, much excitement was generated by early reports of the new commercial station, Swazi Commercial Radio, from Mbabane, Swaziland, operating on the 90 mb frequency of 3223 kHz. First noted in Australia in late February by Bob Padula, the station was heard playing pop songs, with short English announcements and poor-quality modulation! According to "Sweden Calling DXers" and the South African DX Club bulletin, the schedule was 0400-0600 and 16-00-2000 (Sat/Sun to 2300) on 3223 kHz and 0600-1600 on 6155 kHz. Power was believed to be 10 kW. In fact, testing began on January 29 at reduced power. It was reported that operations were automated and controlled from Johannesburg, South Africa. Does anyone remember this station?

As we approached the March equinox, here in southeastern Australia, we saw the usual increase in Brazilian stations, including: 4995 R. Brasil Central, 5975 R. Guaruja, 6035 R. Globo, 6115 R. Tupi, 6135 R TV Gaucha, 6185 R. Bandierantes, 9645 R. Cultura de Pocos de Caldas, 9675 R. Diario da Manha, and others.

Radio Bandeirantes in São Paulo on 6185 kHz was also heard in February,
with this verification letter arriving in April.

The Finnish Broadcasting Company circulated a schedule that included tests planned for a 1 kW transmitter from March 5 on 21595 and 21605 kHz.

The University of Adelaide, South Australia, received a callsign as VL5UV. Transmissions were expected to start in late March or early April on 1630 kHz (MW) with 300 watts. Licence restrictions specified that broadcasts could only program lecture material related to university courses - no news or sports results, and no time calls. Individuals (private citizens enrolled in Adult Education Programs) could also enrol as students for a $4 to $6 fee. This would entitle them to a comprehensive kit to help with radio lectures. The station intended to verify reception reports by QSL card. Plans for this station were formulated in 1969, and a broadcast licence was granted following an anonymous gift of $100,000 to the University (....which was a lot of money 55 years ago!).

Radio Mexico planned to conduct a series of tests in Japanese during the first 18 days of March, between 1400-1600 UTC, on their usual frequencies of 21705, 17835, 11770, and 9705 kHz, Glenn Hauser reported. Also reported were other Mexican stations, including 6185 La Voz del Mexico, 11820 XEBR La Pantera (Hermosillo), 9600 R. Universidad, and 9555 XETT La Hora Exacta.

Interesting monitoring noted by Australian DXers included 3260 Niamey, Niger, 3300 Bujumbura, Burundi, 4765 C.R.E Rediodifusora del Ecuador, 4813 Ouagadougou, Upper Volta (now known as Burkina Faso), 4865 Ponta Delgada, Azores, and 4904.5 Fort Lamy (now known as N'Djamena), Chad, and 9555 R. Nacional, San Salvador on late with election results and running parallel on 5980. Also noted were the low-powered CFRX Toronto and CHNX Halifax.

Some Shortwave History!

This mediumwave QSL (below) from 9PA Port Moresby on 1250 kHz missed the mark with the details! I had to cross out and correct a bit here! There is some history in this card, too. Papua New Guinea was administered by Australia as a single territory from 1945. It comprised the former British protectorate of Papua, which had been an Australian territory since 1906, and the former German colony of New Guinea. The nation of Papua New Guinea achieved its independence from Australia on 16 September 1975. That is why this 1972 QSL card still lists broadcasts as provided by the Australian Broadcasting Commission, rather than the National Broadcasting Commission of Papua New Guinea, as it was known just a few years later.

The back of a Radio Japan QSL card received from the mediumwave station JOAK in Tokyo on 590 kHz. A distance of approx 8100 km. It was not uncommon for some of the NHK AM stations to "borrow" cards from the international broadcaster.

This ageing WINB QSL arrived from Red Lion, Penn., in February, in response to a report sent in November 1972. This was in the days when WINB could be heard on three or four different frequencies rather than the lone 9265 kHz today.

The Logbook

As I prepared to start my final year of high school, my logbook contained the usual international broadcasters plus the following:

2446 ORTF St Denis, Reunion Island. This 4 kW outlet produced only a poor signal at 1750 UTC (3:50 am local time here). But I did get a verification in under three weeks, which was impressive!

6185 R. Bandeirantes, Brazil. 0840 with a fair signal from their 10 kW transmitter.

9455 R. Pakistan - Karachi. An English broadcast at 2000 and a good signal. 54 years later, I'm still waiting for the QSL card! (sigh!) 😄

10010 R. Liberation - Hanoi. A fair signal at 1030 UTC. After five months, I received a QSL letter. It's here.......somewhere!

11805 R. Globo, Brazil. 0912 with Brazilian pops and excited anncts to wake up the locals.

15560 R. Bangladesh - Dacca. A fair signal at 1230 UTC

PLUS a couple of mediumwave reception reports:

610 KUAM Guam. At 1330 witha fair signal.

650 8DR Darwin. A fair signal at 1335 from this 2 kW outlet.

655 R. Pyongyang, North Korea. Korean at 1305. No reply to my reception report, sadly.

Radio Liberation

I mentioned this North Vietnam broadcaster above. Radio Liberation (Đài Phát thanh Giải phóng) was the broadcasting service of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam, later identifying itself as the voice of the Provisional Revolutionary Government.

It began operations in 1962 and became more prominent after 1969, during the later years of the Vietnam War. The station broadcast news and political commentary to audiences in South Vietnam and abroad, with programs in Vietnamese and in foreign languages such as English and French. Its role was primarily political and psychological, presenting events from the NLF perspective and countering broadcasts from Saigon and Western stations.

Although the station claimed to transmit from "liberated zones" in the South, monitoring reports and frequency lists from the early 1970s show that its signals—including those on 10010 kHz—were almost certainly coming from transmitters near Hanoi, shared with the Voice of Vietnam network. Frequencies like 7470 kHz and 10010 kHz were regularly logged by shortwave listeners in this period. After the war and Vietnam's reunification, Radio Liberation was dissolved, and its functions were absorbed into the national broadcasting system by about 1976.

This very thin slip of paper from All India Radio was sent in February 1972. The confirmation arrived one year later on February 19, 1973! By that time, I had long forgotten I'd sent the reception report!

An oversized QSL from "Radio i" in Auckland, New Zealand. The 5 kW transmitter put out a good signal into Australia on 1590 kHz. Since then, the station has been rebranded several times.

Radio Moscow had a respectable signal on its mediumwave English-language broadcasts to Australia and New Zealand on 1250 kHz. We were not sure which site the transmission was beamed from, but we suspected it was in Asiatic Russia rather than on the European side.

This Radio Thailand QSL was used for many years.

I hope you enjoyed this walk down memory lane. Next month, we will open the logbook in March 1972.

73 and good DX,

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

NEW VOACAP VIDEO - HOW TO MAKE COVERAGE MAPS FOR SHORTWAVE

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 23:46:00 +0000

NEW VOACAP VIDEO:
HOW TO MAKE COVERAGE MAPS
FOR SHORTWAVE

The third video in this series on VOACAP Online for SWL takes a hands-on, close-up look at how to produce high-quality, colourful coverage maps, just like those used by shortwave broadcasters. My thanks to the webapp's developer, Jari Perkiömäki OH6BG for his wonderful app and assistance in scripting this video.

NOTE: This video below will be best viewed in full-screen mode on a larger monitor. If your browser doesn't support full-screen view, you may need to view it on YouTube at https://youtu.be/foA2JEN0cKc.

Links:

The VOACAP SWL Online Webapp: https://voacap.com/swl/

The HFCC Website: http://www.hfcc.org

73 and have fun working with VOACAP Online for SWL.

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

DX QUICK TIPS (Jan 29, 2025) AND JAPAN SHORTWAVE CLUB PROGRAM

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:27:00 +0000

DX QUICK TIPS (Jan 29, 2026)
AND
JAPAN SHORTWAVE CLUB PROGRAM

Once again, over the past few weeks, reception conditions have been variable due to ongoing solar storm activity. Whilst these have been producing some fabulous auroras in both the northern and southern hemispheres, signal strength has at times been degraded considerably for shortwave broadcasters and their listeners. Here are some recent monitoring observations:

5875 ENGLAND. R. Farda - Woofferton. 2025 Farsi to Iran, song and chat, ID and news at 2030. S/off at 20:59:32. Strong signal for this one-hour broadcast on this frequency, courtesy of Encompass. Jan 17.

6050 ECUADOR. HCJB - Pico Pichincha. 1010 Quechua programming with talks (preaching) and mournful Andean songs. Time given as “Cinco y veintitrés minutos” (5:23 am in Quito, 9:23 pm AEDT). Although Quechua has its own number system, telling the time is mostly given in Spanish. Because the 12-hour clock and "minutes" arrived with the Spanish, the terminology followed suit. Fair to poor signal under summer-storm noise, but good for its 1 kW output. Best heard in LSB to minimise R. Nikkei 1 QRM on 6055. Jan 25.

7205 INDONESIA. R. Republik Indonesia - Jakarta. 2205 Pro 3 programming with news, reports, interviews and frequent IDs. Faded into the summer morning heat by 2230 (9:30 am AEDT), Jan 26

7235 TAIWAN. National Unity R. - Tamsui. 1200 Korean to EAs. Talk and pops. Fair signal, Jan 25

9690 SPAIN. REE -Noblejas. 2205 Spanish to NAm, good signal but heavy adjacent-channel QRM from CRI-Kashi on 9685. Supposed to be // 12030 (to ME and Indian Oc) but no audio heard there - just a big fat carrier. Jan 26

9765 ENGLAND. Global Talk America - Woofferton. 2029 ENC interval signal. 2030 GTA ID in Hausa, giving schedule and website details. Then the news. Good signal until s/off at 20:59:30. Jan 29.

9765 MADAGASCAR. MWV Palavra Alegre - Mahajanga. S/on 2100 with strident singing and ID for the Portuguese service to SAm. Excellent signal at the start of the two-hour service, but later weakened as the band closed for the morning. Jan 29.

13640 ALGERIA. Ifrikya FM - Béchar. 0045 Happy Afro pops selections. No station ID before the sudden switch-off at 0100:25. Weak but identifiable, and confirmed via the fabulous FR4RX remote SDR on Réunion Island. The // 13855 (via Ouargla) was also heard, but even weaker there. Jan 26.

15280 INDIA. Akashvani - Bengaluru. 0400 Akashvani interval signal, then the usual live broadcast of celebrations for India’s 77th Republic Day. Excellent signal and even stronger by 0500. Also noted on 11804.80 from 0500 with a fair signal, but the audio there was well down. Jan 26.

15430 UAE. R. Farda - Dhabayya. 0620 Farsi to Iran with dramatic songs. Fair to poor signal here, but confirmed via the Baghdad Kiwi SDR. Recently returned to SW courtesy of Encompass, Jan 11.

15460 AUSTRALIA. HCJB/Reach Beyond – Kununurra. *1100-1130* Special Japanese program by Japanese SW Club. Special eQSLs issued by both JSWC and HCJB/Reach Beyond. Excellent signal on Jan 18. SEE BELOW

17755 SPAIN. REE - Noblejas. 2155 Mandarin (on Mondays) to WAf. Into Spanish at 2200, fair signal. // 17715 also heard but much weaker there. Jan 26.

18040 TAIWAN. Xing-Xing - Guanyin. 0010 Mandarin numbers, ended at 0013:34 UTC. The carrier remained on and recommenced at exactly 0030. Fair to poor signal. Also noted on 19052 at the same level. A carrier noted on 15890, assumed to be Xing-Xing as well, but the signal there was too weak at that lower frequency due to high absorption at that time (11:13 am AEDT). Jan 26. My blog post on Xing-Xing goes deeper into the existence and operations of this numbers station. https://medxr.blogspot.com/2025/05/xing-xing-taiwans-numbers-station.html

JAPAN SHORT WAVE CLUB OVER HCJB

Although I speak no Japanese, it was terrific to see the Japan Short Wave Club putting together a special broadcast over HCJB via Reach Beyond Australia's Kununurra, WA transmitters. Congratulations to the club for this initiative, which I am sure was enjoyed by many Japanese DXers.

The transmission began with the usual Reach Beyond Australia station ID in English. Then an HCJB station ID in Japanese, followed by a BCL talk by JSWC president Toshimichi Ohtake-san and club member Takahito Akabayashi-san. At the end of the half-hour, they returned to the HCJB Japanese studio announcer for closing announcements.

Both HCJB and Reach Beyond have long been strong supporters of DXers and shortwave listeners. Here are the opening and closing announcements as heard here at Mount Evelyn.

vk3bvw · HCJB and JSWC Program - 1100 UTC

I received eQSLs from both the station and JSWC, shown below.

73 and wishing you good DX!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

ARCHIVE RECORDING - HIJP - Radio Comercial, Dominican Rep.

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 21:42:00 +0000

ARCHIVE RECORDING
HIJP - RADIO COMERCIAL,
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
FROM 1973

Another of my recordings from the 1970s with the 1 kW signal of Radio Comercial in the Dominican Republic. Over the years, the frequency varied between 4880 and 4882 kHz. It also ran a 10 kW transmitter on 1010 kHz mediumwave.

By 1981, Radio Comercial was being heard irregularly on its shortwave frequency. In 1983, it was no longer listed in the World Radio TV Handbook. Unfortunately, the station was not a good verifier, and few QSLs are known to still exist.

This recording was made on 4881 kHz at 0811 UTC on October 10, 1973. Distance to Melbourne is 15984 km (9932 mi). The receiver was the nine-valve Lafayette HA230 into dipole antennas.

The original recording tape has deteriorated over time and required some "rescue work" to save it! 😁

Thanks for watching!

👉 Not a subscriber to my YouTube channel? Click the YT link below to go to the channel and hit the "Subscribe" button.

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73 and good DX

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - JANUARY 1972

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 02:46:00 +0000

This paper QSL from the Sudan Broadcasting Service (a.k.a. Radio Omdurman)
is not in great shape. Time is taking its toll. But I still have it!
This was for 11835 kHz, transmitting in Arabic and English.

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - JANUARY 1972

In October, we launched a new series on our MEDXR blog, which received strong positive reactions from our regular readers. Each month, I open up the old records to see what I (and others) heard during that month. It has been fun looking back at old issues of the Australian DX News (the newsletter of the Australian Radio DX Club), bringing back lots of memories. Here are some memories from January 1972—54 years ago!

All frequencies in kHz; all times are UTC (or GMT, as we used to say in those days!).

An early QSL card for 15315 kHz from the religious station
Radio Veritas in the Philippines.

The Logbook

Some very unusual midsummer propagation was unearthed by Bob Padula and reported in the Australian DX News (ADXN). Normally, between mid-December and February, very little would be heard on frequencies below 11 MHz in the summer daytime period (between 11 am and 3 pm - 2300 to 0500 UTC). But on January 22 and 23, a highly unusual Asian opening occurred with strong signals from Colombo 9720 and 11800, Singapore 9635 and 11940, Saigon 11950, Pakistan 11885, VOA-Colombo 11740 and All India R. 11850.

Then at 0300 UTC (1 pm in high summer!!), a track to Africa opened up, revealing VOA-Monrovia 7195, 7280 and 9740, and DW-Kigali 9565 signing on at 0315, completely obliterating VOA-Greenville on the same frequency. Also heard was an unknown station on 7215 between 0230 and 0300, which was thought to be the 24-hour Angolan "Radio Ecclesia". A follow-up two-page article appeared in the February ADXN speculating on what type of propagation activity could prompt such unusual reception conditions.

The following are a few of the observations from my logbook during January 1972:

3240 Baghdad, Iraq. At 1850 with local songs and Farsi anncts on Jan 18.

3264 Lourenço Marques, Moçambique. At 1915 with pop songs and English anncts. QRM from nearby utility stations on Jan 18.

4972 Yaoundé, Cameroon. West African vocals and French anncts at 1928 on Jan 8.

4975 R. Pakistan. English news at 2003, but with a het from Yaoundé three kHz below on Jan 13.

5026 Kampala, Uganda. English anncts and pop songs at 1944, a fair signal on Jan 8.

5047 Lomé, Togo. West African music at 2010, fair signal on Jan 6.

7180 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. English news at 1105 on Jan 12. Appears to be a NF for this service, but severe QRM from R. Australia-Shepparton on 7185.

11735 Belgrade, Yugoslavia. At 1535 in English featuring a New Year's speech from President Tito, Jan 1.

21695 Rome, Italy. S/on 0830 in Italian to Aus/NZ. New Freq and new time (ex 0600 UTC), good signal on Jan 27.

A verification letter from Ondas del Meta, Villavicencio, Colombia,
for reception on 4885 kHz. The report was written in my faltering Spanish!

Front and back of this QSL from Radio Norway for 21655 kHz. In those days,
the 13mb always provided strong, quiet reception (little atmospheric noise).
QSLs from this station highlighted the beautiful Norwegian countryside.

United Nations Radio on 5955 kHz via the old
VOA Dixon, California, transmitter site.

Reception Reports

As January is a major summer holiday in Australia, I went "nuts" once again and sent out nearly 70 reception reports. Highlights included:

R. Ghana 21545 (Yes! Ghana did once operate on the 13mb! See the QSL below), R. Bougainville 3322, R. Veritas 15315, R. Nacional, Lima 9562, R. Libya 8630, R. Lebanon 11705, R. Yaoundé 4972, R. Damascus 15290, R. Senegal 11895, R. Sabah 7180, R. Timor, Dili 3268, FEBA Seychelles 15270 and many of the big international broadcasters (too many to list here).

Although not my main focus, there were some early dabblings in mediumwave during that month as well. They included R. Moscow 1250, VOA-Philippines 1140, JOAK Tokyo 590, R. Singapore 790, 9PA Port Moresby 1250, and HLKA Seoul 710. All of those were heard from my home in suburban Melbourne.

The classic Voice of Kenya "picture aerogram" verification for 4915 kHz.

The large, no-details card from Radio Rwanda for a report sent in September 1971
for 6055 kHz with the QSL received in January 1972.

QSLs in the Mailbox

It was a bonus month for QSLs, too! The letterbox received 62 QSLs in January! Some of the highlights were

RN-Talata 15330

Aden, Yemen 5060

RTVC, Brazzaville 9715

Algeria 9685

Ondas del Meta, Villavicencio 4885

R. Rwanda, Kigali 6055

Bougainville, PNG 3322

R. Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 7180

Nairobi, Kenya 4915

R. Omdurman, Sudan 11835

Radiodiffusion Télévision Algérienne could be heard on many frequencies in the 60s and 70s, mostly with relays of the domestic service in Arabic, French and Kabyle. In later years, there was a small service for "international listeners" in Arabic (Voice of Palestine Revolution) and English.

Radio Ghana on 21545 kHz in the 13 mb. To my memory, this was one of the few
African stations at the time (along with SABC) to utilise this part of the HF spectrum.
In the mid-70s, it would often ID as "This is External Service
of Radio Ghana, the Voice of the Revolution."

Other News in January 1972

The 1972 World Radio TV Handbook was on sale from ARDXC for $5.00, including postage!! Yes, you read that correctly! It certainly was another era entirely.
R. Nederland announced that a new shortwave propagation course would start on March 9. Listeners needed to enrol with applications going to DX Jukebox, R. Nederland, PO Box 222, Hilversum (that well-known postal address!). Printed text materials would be made available to active participants, including the first four lessons. I wonder if anyone still has that propagation course in their archives?
The second ARDXC National Convention was held in Sydney over the weekend of January 29-31 at the Astor Motor Hotel in Woolloomooloo. Yep! There is such a place. Woolloomooloo is a historic harbourside suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, located just 1.5 kilometres east of the Central Business District (CBD). It is an indigenous name meaning "Place of Plenty". Convention activities included presentations, awards, tours of Sydney and the transmitters of mediumwave stations 2GB and 2KY in Homebush, competitions, lots of discussions, and much eating! The event was attended by 26 members, two wives and two non-members.
It was announced that the club would develop French and Spanish report guides, with the possibility of Portuguese coming at a future date.

I hope you enjoyed this walk down memory lane. Next month, we will open the logbook on February 1972.

73 and good DX,

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

VIDEO - CHECKING OUT THE VOACAP 2026 CHANGES AND REDESIGN

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 02:30:00 +0000

VIDEO:
CHECKING OUT THE
VOACAP 2026 CHANGES AND REDESIGN

As recently posted here, a new version of the popular VOACAP propagation forecasting tool has been released, featuring significant changes to the interface. In addition, there have been some stability and performance upgrades.

VOACAP Online for SWL is a free shortwave propagation prediction service designed specifically for shortwave listeners. At our fingertips, we have professional-grade tools previously reserved for broadcasters and engineers. Whether you’re planning your listening schedule or exploring propagation science, VOACAP Online for SWL delivers clarity, precision, and flexibility.

The video below highlights eleven changes that you need to know about. You can find the VOACAP web app at:

https://www.voacap.com/swl/

You can access the latest version of the help manual at:

https://www.voacap.com/2023/documents/VOACAP_Manual.pdf

If you are new to this fantastic app, you can always refer to my first 2018 video for an introduction to the basic controls and operations. Check it out at:

VOACAP Shortwave Prediction Tools

73 and good DX with the VOACAP Prop app!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

THE CHANGING KOREAN BROADCASTING LANDSCAPE - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 09:33:00 +0000

THE CHANGING KOREAN
BROADCASTING LANDSCAPE
Part 2

Missed Part 1 of Changing Korean Broadcasting Landscape?

Click HERE!

This is an edited version of an extended article that first appeared in my World of Shortwave Listening column in the December 2025 issue of The Spectrum Monitor magazine. Further details on this excellent publication are available at www.thespectrummonitor.com

Click on all images to zoom in for a closer look.

External Services Aimed at the North

As noted earlier, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service and Ministry of National Defense have, under the new government’s direction, either temporarily or permanently, shut down Echo of Hope, Voice of the People, and Voice of Freedom. However, unburdened by North Korea’s dictatorial regime, a few independent and Christian organizations still operate, broadcasting into North Korea via international transmitter sites. Let’s look at these now. NOTE: Times and frequencies listed here might vary.

Free North Korea Radio

Broadcasting on shortwave since December 2005, Free North Korea Radio depends on intelligence from defectors or insiders within North Korea, often via mobile phones using Chinese SIM cards in border areas. These sources allow reports to be compiled on events the regime tries to hide (for example, executions). The broadcasts also include letters from citizens, testimonies of abuses (including sexual violence within the North’s armed forces), and critical coverage of North Korea’s military actions (such as its deployment of troops to Russia).

Funding partly comes from the U.S. “Defense Forum Foundation” and religious donations. As U.S. Congress grants for overseas ventures like this are being cut, it remains uncertain whether the station will continue to operate on shortwave in the future. The late Kim Seong-min, a North Korean defector, founded the station. After a lengthy battle with cancer, Kim passed away in early September this year, aged 62. With Kim no longer guiding the broadcasts, this could also impact future operations.

1300-1400 daily on 9960 kHz via Tashkent

2000-2100 daily on 7610 kHz via Tashkent

20th Anniversary of National Unity Radio 2005-2025

National Unity Radio

Formerly known as Radio Free Chosun, a U.S. Congress-funded NGO coalition, Unification Media Group (UMG), rebranded as National Unity Radio in October 2015. Its broadcasts, aimed at North Korea, include news, educational, cultural, and entertainment content. Potential reductions in Congress funding could once again impact its operations.

1200-1500 daily on 7235 kHz via Tamsui, Taiwan

2000-2100 daily on 5900 kHz via Tamsui, Taiwan

National Unity Radio - Frequencies and times (in Korean local time!)

★★★★

Announcers preparing for a broadcast from North Korea Reform Radio

North Korea Reform Radio

Founded in December 2007 by Kim Seung-chul, a North Korean defector, North Korea Reform Radio aims to challenge the regime’s information monopoly by providing uncensored external news, analysis, and discussion to audiences inside North Korea. Kim Seung-chul states that the programs focus on North Korean elites, intellectuals, university students, and leaders. The idea is that exposing these groups to reformist ideas, liberalization models, and international perspectives can inspire change.

Typical content includes current affairs talk shows, leadership programmes, comparisons of socialist reform experiences, and news “unfiltered” by North Korean state censorship. Previously, broadcasts have been produced by the NGO “North Korea Development Institute” (NKDI), funded by the U.S. foundation “National Endowment for Democracy” under U.S. Congress grants. This is another broadcaster that may struggle to continue without ongoing funding.

1400-1500 daily and 2000-2100 daily on 7590 kHz via Tashkent

A shot from the control room of North Korean Reform Radio

Furusato no Kaze and Nippon no Kaze/Ilbon no Baram (Japan Wind)

These broadcasts are managed by the Japanese government’s “Headquarters for the Abduction Issue,” which oversees cases involving Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea between 1977 and 1983. Furusato no Kaze (“Hometown Wind”) is a programme broadcast for Japanese-speaking abductees, their families in Japan, and both domestic and international Japanese audiences.

Nippon no Kaze/Ilbon-ui Baram (“Japan Wind”) is a version of the same programme but in Korean, designed for North Korean audiences—particularly abductees inside North Korea who may understand Korean—to reach those who might not understand Japanese. The broadcasts began on July 2007 and use multiple transmitters (Paochung and Tamsui in Taiwan, and Tashkent in Uzbekistan) to extend coverage within North Korea. Frequencies and times vary frequently, so it’s best to check online schedules for current broadcast times.

Promotional stickers from Shiokaze (Sea Breeze) Radio

Shoikaze (Sea Breeze)

Since October 2005, Shiokaze has been produced by the private “Investigation Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea” (COMJAN) and aims to reach Japanese citizens believed to have been abducted to North Korea between 1977 and 1983.

It can be confusing to distinguish between Shiokaze (Sea Breeze) and Furusato no Kaze/Nippon no Kaze. While they share similar goals, especially regarding the Japanese abduction issue and outreach to North Korea, their producers, institutional support, and some of their content and focus differ. Broadcasts are in Korean, Japanese, and English and are transmitted from the large Japanese facility at Yamata. Frequencies and times change frequently, so check online schedules for current broadcast times.

Voice of the Martyrs Korea

Voice of the Martyrs Korea (often shortened to VOMK) is a Christian ministry that beams into North Korea. The government does not sponsor it; it operates independently, funded by private donors and Christian networks. Its radio programming is part of a broader ministry that includes Bible distribution (using balloons and ground methods), support for defectors, and discipleship training.

VOMK broadcasts five times a day, each for 30 minutes, into North Korea. For security and effectiveness, VOMK must regularly change frequencies and times to avoid jamming or interference by North Korean authorities. The station monitors its own broadcasts for jamming or interference and employs “quick-response countermeasures” to maintain a clear signal.

The programs include various types of Christian content, such as Bible readings in the Chosun (North Korean) dialect, often delivered by North Korean voice actors, along with drama and storytelling. Occasionally, there are “live” segments or more conversational styles where announcers share their own experiences, making the content feel more personal and relatable.

The station reports that a large part of its broadcasts are received clearly. For instance, their “Year-end Summary” for 2024 noted that over 50% of broadcasts during autumn were heard without jamming, and very few were “substantially jammed.” While exact audience figures within North Korea are difficult to verify, some sources estimate that about 10% of the North Korean population may have been exposed to its broadcasts, according to confidential radio industry sources. Such claims might be questionable!

Recently, broadcasts have been transmitted from Tashkent at 1200-1230, 1330-1400, 1530-1600, and 2100-2130 UTC, or via the Reach Beyond transmitters at Kununurra, Western Australia, from 0930 to 1000 UTC. Check online sources for the latest frequency updates (and expect changes!).

Revival Broadcasting System (RBS)

The Revival Broadcasting System is another “unofficial” shortwave Christian or religious broadcast aimed at North Korea. It describes itself with a rough translation as “RBS North-Korean Revival & Unification Broadcast.” The station makes a modest contribution to the shortwave scene, transmitting only on two days (Tuesday and Friday) from 1400 to 1430 UTC on 9470 kHz via Tamsui, Taiwan, using 300 kW.

Voice of Wilderness is part of Cornerstone Ministries International (CMI)

Voice of Wilderness

Another minor shortwave presence is the Voice of Wilderness, produced by the South Korean branch of Cornerstone Ministries International (USA). It airs daily from 1400 to 1530 on either 7610v or 9335 kHz via Tashkent, using 100 kW.

Other Players in the Korean Space

BBC operates Korean services through transmitter sites in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Radio Japan continues to provide extensive Korean programming via its powerful Yamata transmitters. CRI broadcasts six hours of Korean content for its Korean neighbors on 5965 and 7290 kHz. KNLS, located at Anchor Point, Alaska, offers two hours of daily coverage to the Korean Peninsula. Adventist World Radio airs daily in Korean via their KSDA station at Facpi Point, Guam. KTWR has beamed Korean broadcasts through their Merizo, Guam transmitters for many years, but this site closed towards the end of October. They now continue Korean broadcasts through Reach Beyond, FEBC, and transmitter sites at Tashkent and Tajikistan.

References:

• Mount Evelyn DX Report – http://medxr.blogspot.com

• Now on the Radio - https://radio.chobi.net

• North Korea Has Scored a Major Victory in the Battle Against Information - Martyn Williams - https://www.38north.org/

• Spy Agency Suspends Propaganda Broadcasts into N. Korea - https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/news

• South Korea stops decades-old propaganda broadcast into North Korea to ease tensions - https://https://www.straitstimes.com/

• South stops loudspeaker broadcasts to North as administration aims to relieve tensions - https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/

• South Korea adjusts some radio frequencies to escape jamming - https://www.northkoreatech.org/

• South Korea halts propaganda broadcasts along border with rival North in a move to ease tensions - https://apnews.com/

• South and North Korea end propaganda broadcasts aimed at one another - https://english.hani.co.kr/

• S. Korea not to resume anti-NK propaganda broadcasts unless Pyongyang does first: official - https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/

• Farewell, Pyongyang Broadcasting? - https://www.38north.org/

• North Korea will no longer pursue reconciliation with South because of hostility, Kim Jong Un says - https://www.abc.net.au/news/

• South Korea suspends anti-North Korea radio broadcasts - https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/

• Military Halts "Voice of Freedom" Broadcasts to North Korea After 15 Years as Part of Tension-Easing Measures - https://www.asiae.co.kr/en/

• Has There Been a Thaw in the Inter-Korean Radio War? - https://www.radioworld.com/global/

• A North Korean voice Kim Jong-un would love to silence - https://www.theage.com.au/

• Voice of the Martyrs - https://vomkorea.com/en/

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

And so we come to the end of Part 2 of

The Changing Korean Broadcasting Landscape.

👉👉 CLICK HERE FOR PART 1 👈👈

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

THE CHANGING KOREAN BROADCASTING LANDSCAPE - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 09:26:00 +0000

THE CHANGING KOREAN
BROADCASTING LANDSCAPE
Part 1

Click on all images to zoom in for a closer look.

The international services of the Voice of Korea (North) and KBS World Radio (South Korea) maintain their extensive global broadcasting schedules. However, there have been changes to the opposition broadcasts used by each country, mainly due to shifts in the political policies of the two governments. We will discuss some of these changes, but first, a quick look at the respective countries’ international services.

North Korea’s Voice of Korea broadcasts in multiple languages, including Korean, English, Arabic, Russian, French, Spanish, German, Mandarin, and Japanese. From 0300 to 2400 UTC, these languages can be heard from 200 kW transmitters near Kujang. An exception is the Japanese service on 6070 kHz via the 250 kW Kanggye transmitter, which operates from 0900 to 1250 UTC.

Apart from the Voice of Korea international service, listeners can also tune in to the Korean Central Broadcasting System (KCBS), a domestic network, between 2000 and 1800 UTC on 2350, 3250, 3959, 6100, and 11680 kHz daily in Korean. The transmitter power ranges from 5 kW to 125 kw. Additionally, some KCBS programming is also relayed through several regular Voice of Korea frequencies.

In the south, KBS World Radio operates for most of the day, broadcasting in a slightly broader range of languages, including Korean, English, Japanese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Indonesian, Russian, French, German, and Arabic. The World Radio programmes mainly originate from 100- or 250-kW transmitters at Gimje. However, at the time of writing, it also utilises additional facilities at Woofferton, England, and a French broadcast to Africa via either Ascension Island or Issoudun, France.

Regular readers know I enjoy exploring and inspecting the transmitter sites of our international broadcasters. For KBS, this was fairly straightforward on Google Maps. In fact, there are some excellent images of the extensive antenna system. Copy and paste the following coordinates for the main transmitter site: 35.820565511349486, 126.86371683217179. There is even a fantastic shot of the feeder network that crosses above the road: 35.82240978760683, 126.86677455034803.

However, the North Korean transmitter site was much harder to find. It’s not in Kujang, but about 25 km north of that township. This is a smaller facility located in a less developed area, with a mix of farmland and woodland. Take a look at the following Google Map coordinates: 40.08189449387952, 126.1103502280814.

North Korean Stations Disappear

In January 2024, two long-established stations unexpectedly stopped broadcasting on their usual frequencies. Pyongyang Broadcasting Station (also known as Pyongyang Pansong) had previously transmitted to Korean citizens in South Korea, Japan, and China on 3220, 3320, 4557, and 6160 kHz. PBS had been on air since 1955 and was regarded as North Korea’s second radio network. However, its main goal was to reach listeners in South Korea and Japan. Because it was not officially accessible to North Korean listeners, Pyongyang Pansong occasionally commented on international issues not widely discussed within North Korea, although its output was heavily regulated.

The Echo of Unification, also known as Voice of National Unification, began in December 2012 and served as a propaganda outlet for the North Korean government on 3945, 3970, and 5905 kHz, targeting South Korean listeners. Suddenly, both stations ceased broadcasting.

The reasons behind the disappearance of these two broadcasters remain unclear. Reports mention changes in policy and constitution. Around late 2023 or early 2024, Kim Jong-un redefined the relationship with South Korea as one between two separate states, rather than a matter of reunification or kinship. Kim is said to have ordered the removal of references to peaceful unification from the constitution and the abolition of certain agencies related to inter-Korean tourism and unification.

Due to the change in policy language—from kinship and unification to hostility—continuing radio broadcasts aimed at the South no longer aligned with the new stance. Suspending the broadcasts was consistent with this broader policy shift. The suspension was symbolic, emphasising that North Korea no longer views “peaceful unification” as a policy goal.

Changes in South Korea

In June this year, South Koreans elected Lee Jae-myung as their president. This has resulted in important national policy shifts, including the new administration’s stance towards the North.

The Lee administration has been making significant efforts to ease tensions and show goodwill towards Pyongyang, following through on promises to reduce provocative actions against it. The new government’s approach is to rebuild North-South relations and seek new opportunities for dialogue and engagement, as indicated by official statements from President Lee Jae Myung and National Intelligence Service Director Lee Jong-seok. This move also coincides with a broader halt of other propaganda activities, such as loudspeaker broadcasts along the border and leaflet launches.

Intelligence community sources say the move was partly reciprocal, with North Korea halting its cross-border broadcasts in January 2024 (as previously mentioned, e.g., the Echo of Unification’s suspension of transmissions), and was intended as a visible confidence-building measure to restore dialogue channels.

North Korean watchers often question whether shortwave broadcasts are genuinely effective. Pyongyang’s 2006 order banning citizens from tuning to any channels other than their own, under threat of severe punishment, was a strong deterrent to listening to foreign broadcasts. Furthermore, efforts to jam South Korean stations have not always been successful on various levels. Some argue that shortwave propaganda is more difficult to sustain due to jamming issues, limited access to broadcasts within the DPRK, and the high costs compared to the impact. Analysts see the suspension as partly a practical recognition that shortwave’s effectiveness has declined and that the diplomatic costs now outweigh the benefits.

The South Korean Stations that have Vanished

In early July this year, shortwave broadcasts by Echo of Hope (on air since 1973) and Voice of the People (launched in the mid-1980s), both operated by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), ceased or were suspended. Frequencies vacated by Echo of Hope include 3985, 4885, 5995, 6250, 6350, and 7720 kHz. The regular Voice of the People outlets at 3480, 3910, 3930, 4450, 4560, 6520, and 6600 kHz are also silent. Both broadcasters ran 24-hour services daily.

On August 31, a third station, Voice of Freedom, ceased operations. It was run by the Ministry of National Defence (MND) and transmitted on a single frequency of 5920 or the alternative 6040v kHz from a 10 kW transmitter at Hwaseong, about 40 km south of Seoul.

With all three stations, we’re unsure whether the closures are permanent or just a temporary suspension of broadcasts. I’d be surprised if they’ve closed for good, but you can never tell what politicians are thinking!

Another impact on broadcasting to North Korea is the Trump administration’s dismantling of the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM). This has affected Korean broadcasts from the Voice of America and Radio Free Asia.

What are the effects of reducing South Korean broadcasts aimed at North Korea? Unlike many other parts of the world, North Korea still lacks reliable alternatives to radio, such as the Internet or satellite TV, for breaking through its information barrier. The reduction in broadcasts means the North Korean population will have less access to relevant external news, and the remaining sources will become more outdated. One writer, Martyn Williams, warns that if the political or security situation on the peninsula worsens, South Korea and the U.S. might regret losing these direct broadcast links.

A Word on Dialects

There are differences between the Korean language spoken in North Korea and that spoken in South Korea. The North Korean dialect is officially called “Munhwaŏ,” which means “cultural language” in Korean. This standard is mainly based on the Pyongan dialect, spoken in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. It is the standard form of Korean promoted by the DPRK government.

North Korea officially adopted Munhwaŏ as its national standard language in 1966, replacing what they considered “bourgeois” or “foreign-influenced” usages from the South, especially English and Japanese loanwords. The common term North Koreans use for their language is Chosŏnŏ. Although Munhwaŏ is the official standard, other regional dialects like the Hamgyong and Hwanghae dialects also exist within North Korea.

In contrast, the South Korean standard, Pyojunŏ, is based on the Seoul dialect. It includes more English and Chinese loanwords, reflecting various forms of modernisation and international influences. Despite official and regional differences, the languages remain highly mutually intelligible, with most distinctions focused on vocabulary, pronunciation, and ideology rather than core grammar.

Korean street scene

North Korea on Shortwave Today

From January 2024 onwards, shortwave broadcasts are now solely from the Voice of Korea and the domestic network of the Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS). Refer to the WRTH and various online frequency lists for the current schedule.

Reports suggest that KCBS also uses DRM on 6140 and 3205 kHz between 2000 and 1800 UTC, but I’ve never received these signals here in southeastern Australia. I also question the purpose (or wisdom!) of transmitting in DRM for a domestic audience that cannot access DRM radios and is limited to AM broadcasts on fixed frequencies!

South Korea on Shortwave Today

The South’s national broadcaster offers three services. The first two include the well-known KBS World Radio (via Gimje, Woofferton, and Ascension or Issoudun) and the rebroadcast of KBS World Radio programming through the WRMI transmitters in Okeechobee, FL. Here is the latest KBS broadcasts over WRMI:

Time (UTC)	Days	Language	kHz	Transmitter Site	Power (kW)	Target Area
0300–0400	Tue–Sat	English	5850	Okeechobee, FL	100	North America
0300–0400	Mon–Fri	English	9455	Okeechobee, FL	100	North America
1300–1400	Daily	English	9395	Okeechobee, FL	100	North America
1600–1630	Sat	English	7730	Okeechobee, FL	100	Eastern North America
1600–1630	Sat	English	9395	Okeechobee, FL	100	North America
2100–2200	Daily	English	9395	Okeechobee, FL	100	North America

The third, lesser-known service is KBS Global Korean Networks 1 and 2, which provide specialised programming for Koreans living outside South Korea. On shortwave, the Network 1 service broadcasts in Korean on 6015 from 0350 to 2400 UTC via the Hwaseong transmitter site and is beamed to East Asia. Both networks are also broadcast on mediumwave.

Here is the KBS World Radio schedule (current as of December 27, 2025 and subject to change):

Time (UTC)	Language	kHz	Transmitter Site	Power (kW)	Target Area
0000–0100	Korean	11810	Kimje, South Korea	250	Non-Directional
0100–0300	Japanese	11810	Kimje, South Korea	250	Japan
0200–0300	Spanish	15575	Kimje, South Korea	250	North America
0300–0400	Japanese	11810	Kimje, South Korea	250	South America
0700–0800	Korean	9870	Woofferton, UK	250	Europe
0800–1000	Japanese	6155	Kimje, South Korea	100	Non-Directional
0800–0900	Korean	9570	Kimje, South Korea	100	South-East Asia
0800–1030	English	9770	Kimje, South Korea	100	South-East Asia
0900–1000	Korean	9570	Kimje, South Korea	100	South-East Asia
0900–1000	Korean	15160	Kimje, South Korea	250	Middle East, Africa
1000–1100	English	9570	Kimje, South Korea	250	South-East Asia
1030–1100	Vietnamese	9770	Kimje, South Korea	250	South-East Asia
1100–1200	Spanish	11795	Kimje, South Korea	250	South America
1130–1230	Chinese	6095	Kimje, South Korea	250	China
1130–1230	Chinese	9770	Kimje, South Korea	100	South-East Asia
1200–1300	Indonesian	9570	Kimje, South Korea	100	South-East Asia
1230–1330	Chinese	6095	Kimje, South Korea	250	China
1300–1400	English	9570	Kimje, South Korea	100	South-East Asia
1300–1400	English	15575	Kimje, South Korea	250	North America
1300–1400	Russian	9645	Kimje, South Korea	100	Europe
1400–1500	Indonesian	9570	Kimje, South Korea	100	South-East Asia
1400–1500	English	9630	Kimje, South Korea	250	India
1400–1500	Korean	15575	Kimje, South Korea	250	North America
1500–1600	English	9515	Kimje, South Korea	100	Europe
1500–1600	English	9630	Kimje, South Korea	250	India
1530–1600	Vietnamese	9640	Kimje, South Korea	100	South-East Asia
1600–1700	Korean	7275	Kimje, South Korea	250	Europe
1600–1700	Korean	9740	Kimje, South Korea	250	Middle East, Africa
1600–1700	English	9515	Kimje, South Korea	100	Europe
1600–1700	English	9640	Kimje, South Korea	100	South-East Asia
1700–1800	Korean	9515	Kimje, South Korea	250	Europe
1700–1800	Spanish	9740	Kimje, South Korea	250	Europe
1800–1900	Russian	6040	Woofferton, UK	250	Europe
2000–2100	German	3955	Woofferton, UK	250	Europe
2000–2100	Arabic	6090	Woofferton, UK	250	Middle East, Africa
2000–2100	French	9655	Ascension Island	250	Africa
2100–2200	French	3955	Woofferton, UK	250	Europe
2200–2300	English	11810	Kimje, South Korea	250	Europe
2300–0000	Chinese	7215	Kimje, South Korea	100	China

And so we come to the end of Part 1 of

The Changing Korean Broadcasting Landscape.

👉👉 CLICK HERE FOR PART 2 👈👈

In Part 2, we look at external broadcasters that aim their messages at the Korean Peninsula daily, including Free North Korea Radio, National Unity Radio, North Korea Reform Radio, Voice of the Martyrs, and more.

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

THE TOP MEDXR POSTS OF 2025

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Sun, 28 Dec 2025 06:01:00 +0000

THE TOP MEDXR POSTS
OF 2025

Thank you for your support of the Mount Evelyn DX Report throughout 2025. Without your "views", "likes", "shares", and "retweets", I doubt I would have continued writing this blog. I appreciate your generous words of encouragement and friendship. It is always much appreciated.

It is fascinating to see which posts on this blog captured our readers' interest. In category order, here are the "most-clicked-on" posts from the past twelve months.

THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL POSTS!

Without a doubt, two posts caused quite a stir and generated the most discussion. These were about listeners who use the Internet to access Kiwi and Web SDRs to gather information for their reception reports. They compile the report and send it off to the station, requesting a QSL card or eQSL. I listed many reasons why this was a problem (....for me) and why I don't think this is in the true spirit of the hobby. The first post ended up being shared in DX newsletters and online. The second post, in which readers shared their opinions on this topic, was equally important. You can read both posts here:

QSL CHEATING - A BLIGHT ON THE SWL HOBBY

READERS RESPOND TO MY QSL CHEATERS POST

INDEPTH BROADCASTING RESEARCH

As a writer for The Spectrum Monitor magazine, I get to research the past and current situation of shortwave broadcasting. Four detailed posts examined the importance of shortwave radio in the Philippines and Indonesia. These were well received by both TSM and MEDXR readers, and I thank them for their interest in my research. Read the four posts here:

PHILIPPINES: A POWERFUL BROADCASTING VOICE TO THE WORLD - Part 1

PHILIPPINES: A POWERFUL BROADCASTING VOICE TO THE WORLD - Part 2

INDONESIA ON SHORTWAVE: THEN AND NOW - Part 1

INDONESIA ON SHORTWAVE: THEN AND NOW - Part 2

RETRO RECEIVERS

In our ongoing Retro Receiver Review series, we look back at classic receivers from years past. Once again, Craig Seager VK2HBT has taken a close look at the very popular Sony ICF-6800W, a rig released in 1980. I took the fabulous Yaesu FRG100 receiver, a 1990s-era device, and gave it a spin out in the great Aussie bush with considerable success. Also, I made a brief video on the mid-1970s classic Panasonic DR-48 in action. Expect more Retro Reviews in 2026.

RETRO RECEIVER REVIEW # 23 - The SONY ICF-6800W

THE YAESU FRG100 GOES BUSH!

THE AMAZING PANASONIC DR-48 IN ACTION

PROPAGATION

Long path propagation is a much misunderstood concept amongst the SWL DXing fraternity. During my winter months, I got to observe some classic LP prop. I delve into why and how this phenomenon occurs with some recorded video examples and maps. Late in 2025, the VOACAP propagation prediction software got a significant facelift!

LONG PATH PROPAGATION - An Introduction for Shortwave Listeners

ANOTHER LONG PATH EXAMPLE: RADIO MALI

NEW! VOACAP ONLINE TOOLS FOR SHORTWAVE LISTENERS

DXING OUTDOORS

These days, I don't get out as much as I used to, but I just LOVE DXing away from home! Nothing beats DXing in the mountains, parks or by the sea. Armed with my (almost) new SDRPlay RSPduo receiver, I have really enjoyed some great listening this year. I also put together a little article on the ins and outs of outdoor DXing.

DXING IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

DXING IN THE PARK WITH THE RSPduo SDR

DXING OUTDOORS - SHORTWAVE RADIO IN THE FIELD

SPOTLIGHT ON.......SOME ODD STUFF! 😃

Here are a few blog posts that capture the imagination and interest of our readers! Especially popular were the Taiwanese numbers station and Australia's JORN over-the-horizon project.

XING XING - TAIWAN'S NUMBERS STATION

WHAT ARE ALL THOSE WEIRD NOISES?

DON'T ALWAYS BELIEVE ChatGPT!

SPOTLIGHT: SICHUAN ETHNIC RADIO

DXING IN THE GOLDEN AGE

I have been reminiscing about my early days in DXing, when stations crowded the bands, and QSLs were plentiful. This has developed into a new series called Opening The Logbook. The first three of these appeared towards the end of this year and take us back 54 years to 1971. I have received some great feedback from long-time DXers and newcomers to the hobby about this series.

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - OCTOBER 1971

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - NOVEMBER 1971

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - DECEMBER 1971

So there you have it! A highlights summary of the blog posts for 2025. A total of 53 posts for the year (not counting this one!), so there is plenty of reading with lots of DX tips and interesting items about shortwave radio. It has been a good year! So take a look back at some of the other posts as well, in case you missed something!

My very best wishes for the New Year. May you and your family have a safe, healthy and peaceful year ahead. May you continue to enjoy this fabulous radio hobby.

73 and good DX to you all!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

RADIO SINGAPORE ON MEDIUMWAVE - ARCHIVE RECORDING FROM 1973

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 03:50:00 +0000

RADIO SINGAPORE ON MEDIUMWAVE

ARCHIVE RECORDING FROM 1973

The recording below of Radio Singapore on 790 kHz in the mediumwave band was made on October 13, 1973. You will hear the station sign-off announcement and the national anthem. This recording was made using a Lafayette HA230 valve receiver and a small MW loop antenna. The distance the signal travelled was 6,081 km.

In the 60s and 70s, Radio Singapore operated on a range of frequencies in the mediumwave and shortwave bands. As part of the 1975 Geneva Frequency Plan, this 790 kHz channel moved to 792 kHz on November 23, 1978.

Over time, FM channels were introduced and became popular with listeners. Suddenly, with very little fanfare, the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation ceased all its mediumwave outlets on December 31, 1993.

A disgruntled listener complained about the sudden closure in the
January 8, 1994, edition of The Straits Times newspaper.
Does this sound familiar....suddenly disappearing stations?
This is something we have seen in recent years on shortwave, too!

73 and good DX!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - DECEMBER 1971

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 02:39:00 +0000

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - DECEMBER 1971

All frequencies in kHz; all times are UTC (or GMT, as we used to say in those days!).

The Logbook

The big highlight during December was the inaugural test transmissions from Radio Nederland's relay station in Talata, Madagascar. Initially, three frequencies were heard: 6020, 15260, and 15330 kHz.

Another interesting new service was Colombo, Ceylon, on 21445 kHz. Test transmissions were noted by some ARDXC members, beamed to Europe in German and English. The tests were scheduled between 0700 and 1130 UTC on this frequency, and between 1200 and 1600 UTC on 17830. The tests were not operating every day. Remember, at this time, the country's name was Ceylon, which changed to Sri Lanka on May 22, 1972.

Perhaps because of variable sunspot activity, there was some rather strange reception - on one day only - from Europe and Africa on 41 metres at 0345 UTC (1:45 pm in the southern hemisphere's summer!), that included VOA-Monrovia 7195 and 7280, BBC-UK 7260, and SABC (South Africa) on 7270.

The following are from my logbook during December:

3380 Blantyre, Malawi. Heard on Dec 23 at 1932 with a talk in English on Australia and its people! I wasn't expecting that! 😮

4750 Lubumbashi, Republic of Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo). African music and French anncts and a fair signal on Dec 23.

4765 Lourenco Marques, Mozambique. This was always heard quite well at my home. At 1915 with religious programming on Dec 23. The city was named after Lourenço Marques, a Portuguese trader and explorer. The capital is now known as Maputo.

5052 R. Singapore. English service at 1230 with a radio play, Good signal on Dec 28.

7180 BBC - Far East. On Dec 24 at 2315 UTC (Dec 25 Aussie time!) there was an Indonesian Christmas program. This was a good signal, considering that the station was not heard this late at this time of year (9:15 am local time here... in summer!). I made a comment that perhaps all the machines and other electronic noise makers had stopped for Christmas Day, allowing this signal to pop through!

9715 R. TV Congolaise - Brazzaville, Rep. of Congo. French talks and wonderful African music at 1945 with a good signal, Dec 23.

11835 R. Omdurman, Sudan. Arabic chants (possibly Qur'an?) at 1832. A poor signal with QRM from Algiers on the same frequency, Dec 6.

11940 ELWA, Monrovia, Liberia. Service in the Yoruba language, followed by local music, a fair signal on Dec 28.

15330 R. Nederland - Talata, Madagascar. This was one of the first test transmissions from the new relay station, noted on Dec 19. Heard testing at 1250 with English pop songs. Although the signal was fair to good, it clashed with AFRTS on the same frequency!

21590 R. Pakistan. A new service in French with music and talk. Dec 27.

21705 R. Mexico. Spanish songs at 1430, Dec 22.

Red Cross Broadcasting Service - Back of the QSL card

Emissora Oficial de Angola (a.k.a. Radio Angola) - Luanda on 4820.
This card took ELEVEN MONTHS to arrive in the mail! Not uncommon in those days! And these days, I've seen people complain if the haven't received their eQSL inside 48 hours!

Reception Reports

As December was the start of the long summer school holidays, my typewriter was kept very busy with 54 reception reports! Talk about giving the fingers a workout! Of course, there was no Internet, no social media, no smartphone and no texting to distract the young Rob! Highlights included:

Hanoi 12025, Aden 5060, Omdurman 11835, R. Nederland-Talata 15330, Mexico 21705, Abidjan 11920, Brazzaville 9715, Voice of Hope - Sines 9670, R. Sutatenza 6075, RTV Morocco 6170, R. Republik Indonesia-Sorong 4872, Brussels 21450, Cairo 17640, and many of the big international broadcasters (too many to list here)

All images can be clicked on to enlarge for a closer look.

The Colombian station, Transmisora Caldas, was a 1 kW broadcaster on 5017 kHz.
I wrote my reception report in Spanish and the verification letter arrived after four months.

QSLs in the Mailbox

The family's letterbox received around 22 QSLs that month. Some of the highlights were

Accra, Ghana 6130

Hanoi, Nth Vietnam 10038

Transmisora Caldas, Colombia 5017

Brazzaville, Rep of Congo 4765

Cairo, Egypt 9475 and 9805

Red Cross 9590, 11775 and 21520

Luanda, Angola 4820

Radio Brazzaville, Republic of Congo on 4765 kHz. This station was a good verifier although sometimes it took a long time to get to Australia - this one took six months.

The Vietnam War was still raging away but gradually drawing to a close. Australia began withdrawing troops in April 1970. But the last group of Aussie troops did not leave until 1973, around the same time as U.S. soldiers. This Voice of Vietnam paper QSL is for a reception report sent in October 1971. Along with the verifications, the station would often include an English language newspaper, written and printed in Hanoi, filled with plenty of propaganda.

"From the Verifications" section of ADXN, I reported receiving the following cards and letters in the previous few months:

Indonesia: R. Republik Indonesia - Jogjakarta 5047 - A card with an Indonesian design, signed by "Tjipto".
Rhodesia: Salisbury 3306 - Antelope card, signed by E. McKenzie and received in 7 weeks.
Saudi Arabia: 9670 - The elegant white card, always signed by the Chief Engineer, Werner Storg, received in 7 weeks via air. He must have signed hundreds of cards during his time at the station!
Sarawak: RTV Malaysia - Sarawak 7160. A card received in three weeks by airmail, showing the station's broadcasting building.
Canada: CBC 11945. Card showing the new 250 kW transmitter, received in three weeks.

Radio Cairo was a good verifier and an easy DX catch here in Australia.

Other News in December 1971

Adrian Peterson reported that the British Forces Broadcasting Service in Singapore on 5010 had recently closed down. However, Radio Singapore was then heard on that frequency with its usual English service. Adrian speculated that this indicated the complete installation had been handed over to the Singapore government.
Queensland members Mervyn Joyce and Sam Dellit reported good mediumwave reception from North America. They found that some correlation appeared to be observed between good NAm nights and geomagnetic indices of 5 or less. During December, other members in Melbourne and Sydney reported hearing KUAM 610, CFCN 1060, KNX 1070, King 1090, KEX 1190, KOMA 1520 and KPOL 1540.
Mr Jens Frost, publisher of the World Radio TV Handbook, advised that the Summer Edition would no longer be published. Average sales were well down, about 1/12th of the total sales of the main handbook itself.
Finally, on December 18, 1971, ten Victorian ARDXC members (including myself!) went on a hike into the bush at Starling Gap, some 45 miles from Melbourne. The hike was 10 miles (I couldn't do that these days!). Apparently, this proved that DXers weren't just a bunch of indoor-loving weaklings!!

I hope you enjoyed this walk down memory lane. Next month, we will open the logbook on January 1972.

73 and good DX,

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

STATION NEWS AND DX QUICK TIPS - December 5, 2025

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 22:06:00 +0000

STATION NEWS AND DX QUICK TIPS
December 5, 2025

GLOBAL TALK AMERICA - New Station!

Suddenly appearing in November is the new Global Talk America. Apparently, programs are produced by ex-VOA Hausa staff in Washington. It primarily targets audiences in West Africa, particularly the Hausa-speaking regions of Nigeria, Niger, Ghana, Cameroon, and Chad. Their core coverage area includes Nigeria — a region with one of the largest concentrations of Hausa speakers in the world. The service also reaches diaspora Hausa-speaking communities in Europe, North America, and the Middle East, who follow Hausa-language news for updates on political, social, and cultural developments back home. It has a constantly updated Facebook page that has a mix of posts in Hausa and English https://www.facebook.com/gtahausa/

Here is the current schedule:

Language	Time (UTC)	Days	Area	kHz	TX Site
Hausa	0500–0530	daily	WAf	6170	Ascension
Hausa	2030–2100	daily	WAf	9765	Woofferton

RADYO PILIPINAS RETURNS

There was much excitement amongst the SWL community this week when Radyo Pilipinas returned to the airways after more than eight months off the air due to the suspension of all transmissions at the Philippines transmitter site of Tinang. The Philippine News Agency (Gov) has an interesting article titled "RP world service returns: Filipinos abroad to share their stories on the station's return."

The new schedule is beamed to the Middle East, but the signal is being widely heard across the globe:

English - 0200-0330 daily on 12020, 15640 and 17665

Filipino - 1730-2030 daily on 9370, 9925, and 12120

Radyo Pilipinas is responding quickly to reception reports, which you can send to dzrp.radyopilipinas@gmail.com

My QSL arrived within a few hours of sending my report:

RADYOYA DENGÊ GEL LEAVES SHORTWAVE

These days, it seems, they come, and they go! This week also saw the closure of the Radio Dengê Gel shortwave transmissions. Transmissions stopped on, or around, December 1, at the same time as this news article appeared: The voice of the revolution, Radyoya Dengê Gel, has ended its broadcasts. The article states:

One of the unshakable cornerstones of the free press, Radyoya Dengê Gel has brought its 23-year broadcasting journey to an end. The radio station that carried the memory of Kurdish media began its journey in 2002 under the name Radyoya Dengê Mezopotamya, continued under the names Dengê Kurdistan and Dengê Welat, and finally, as Dengê Gel, carried its voice from prisons to mountains across Kurdistan.......

....the Kurdish freedom struggle has entered a new phase. Undoubtedly, the role of the press and broadcasting is also changing. The character of the era requires this. It is clear that it cannot proceed with old methods and ways. The press is rebuilding itself with a new perspective in line with the new era.

In recent years, DengêGel transmitted in the lower portion of the 25 mb, between 11500 and 11570 kHz via the Gavar transmitter site in Armenia. Early reports indicate that jamming of Dengê Gel from Radio Recep Erdogan (or simply “the Turkish jammer”) has also stopped.

VIETNAMESE DOMESTIC SHORTWAVE OUTLETS

I am beginning some research on the Voice of Vietnam's domestic and regional outlets. It appears that many of them are not operating at the moment. Below are the ones I should be hearing;

5925 Xuan Mai, Lang Son Province. 50kW - 2145-0100, 0300-0600, 1100-1500 VoV-1

5975 Me Tri, Hanoi. 50 kW - 2145-0100, 0400-0600, 1100-1500 VOV-1

6020 Buon Ma Thuot, Dac Lac Province. 20 kW - 2200-1530 VOV-4

6165 Xuan Mai, Lang Son Province 50 kW - 2200-2300 0130-0200, 1145-1200, 1230-1400 VOV-4

7210 Buon Ma Thuot, Dac Lac Province. 20 kW - 2145-1700 VOV-1

7435 Son Tay, Hanoi. 100 kW - 2145-1030 VOV-1

9635 Son Tay, Hanoi 100 kW - 24 hours VOV-1

9850 Xuan Mai, Lang Son Province 50 kW- 0400-0530 VOV-4

11720 Son Tay, Hanoi 100 kW - 1030-1330 VOV-4

11720 Xuan Mai, Lang Son Province. 50 kW - 1030-1300

I don't know if those stations are still on the air. We need some detective work to see which ones are still operating. The trap is that many of these frequencies also have various Chinese stations on them at the same time! Careful ID'ing is required to sort it out. Please let me know if and when you can hear these stations.

RADIO MARTÍ

Here is the current schedule for Radio Martí. All shortwave transmissions are from Greenville, NC, USA and beamed to Cuba:

Language	Time (UTC)	Days	Area	kHz
Spanish	0000–0500	daily	CUB	7435
Spanish	0100–0300	daily	CUB	7365
Spanish	0100–0500	daily	CUB	6030
Spanish	0300–0500	daily	CUB	7355
Spanish	1400–0100	daily	CUB	11930
Spanish	1400–2300	daily	CUB	13570
Spanish	1500–2200	daily	CUB	13820
Spanish	1600–2200	daily	CUB	15380
Spanish	2100–0100	daily	CUB	9565
Spanish	2300–2400	daily	CUB	7355

DX TIPS

6035 CHINA. Yunnan Radio Int’l - Kunming. 0949 Mandarin. Severe QRM from CNR 1 on 6030, minimised by tuning in USB.

6075 USA. KNLS - Anchor Point, AK. S/on 0800 English to EAs. Surprisingly good signal for late Spring, early evening propagation.

7235 TAIWAN. National Unity Radio - Tamsui. S/on 1100 Korean to DPRK. Talk and music selections. Good signal.

9710 VATICAN. Vatican R. - SM Galeria. S/on 0500 Russian, 0520 Ukrainian to s/off 0540 to EEu. Weak level and one of the two signals on the band in the mid-afternoon, the other being Turkey on 9650.

11780 IRAN. VoIRI - Sirjan. 0530 Turkish to ME. Usual problem - plenty of carrier, but audio levels are well down.

11660 TURKEY. VoTurkey - Emirler. 0545 Turkish to ME. Fair signal, beaming 150 degrees. A weaker signal than the // 9650, which is beaming 310 degrees to Eu, allowing us to grab it via the mostly in-darkness long path.

11830 JAPAN. R.Japan - Yamata. 0620 Mandariin, then Korean at 0630 to s/off 0650. Poor signal,

73 and good DX to you!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

AKASHVANI LOOKING FOR RECEPTION REPORTS

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 20:51:00 +0000

AKASHVANI LOOKING

FOR RECEPTION REPORTS

From our friend in New Delhi, India, Alokesh Gupta, comes this advice with the opportunity to receive "real" QSL cards for reception reports. Here's Alokesh's note:

Akashvani (All India Radio) is looking for reception reports for the following transmissions. All reception reports will be verified by paper QSL cards.

UTC	Language	kHz (Tx site)	Target Area
0100-0130	Sindhi	9860 (B)	Pakistan
0100-0230	Tibetan	11710 (D)	Tibet
0300-0430	Baluchi	11805 (D)	Pakistan
0430-0600	Dari	11805 (D)	Afghanistan
0430-0600	Pashtu	15185 (B)	Afghanistan
0900-1030	Nepali	11865 (D), 15410 (B)	Nepal
1030-1200	Chinese	15410 (B)	China
1045-1215	Tibetan	11865 (D)	Tibet
1230-1330	Baluchi	9870 (D)	Pakistan
1230-1400	Pashtu	11810 (B)	Afghanistan
1330-1500	Dari	9870 (D)	Afghanistan

Transmitter Sites :

B - Bengaluru ( 3 x 250 kW)

D - New Delhi (2 x 100 kW)

Reception Reports to: spectrum-manager@prasarbharati.gov.in

* * * * *

Remember to write detailed reception reports that are useful to the station and prove that you heard the station. Provide detailed comments on reception conditions and program content. Not sure what to do? Sometimes, it can pay to do a "refresher" on report writing. If in doubt about how to improve your report writing, check out the following:

And, of course, we can attach a recording (either audio or video) in the email as evidence of our reception of the broadcasts.

73 and good luck QSLing Akashvani!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

NEW! VOACAP ONLINE TOOLS FOR SHORTWAVE LISTENERS

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 22:33:00 +0000

NEW!
VOACAP ONLINE TOOLS FOR SWL

For many years now, I have been using the VOACAP propagation tools for both my amateur radio and shortwave listening activities. These fabulous resources help me understand the signal paths from transmitter sites anywhere in the world to my home QTH.

They also allow forward predictions of likely propagation given frequencies, antenna types, time of year, time of day, sunspot numbers, short- and long-path conditions, local noise levels, and many other qualifiers.

These tools have recently undergone an upgrade to their user interface, starting with the amateur radio propagation charts. Now, the tools designed explicitly for shortwave listeners are available for you to enjoy. I have had access to the new SWL features for a while and have watched them being refined over recent months. Now, these tools are available to all listeners.

But, rather than me banging on about the features of VOACAP, below is the official announcement from my good friend, Jari Perkiömäki, OH6BG.

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

* * * *

Announcing the Launch of VOACAP Online for SWL
A New Era for Shortwave Listening!
By Jari Perkiömäki OH6BG

I am thrilled to introduce VOACAP Online for SWL – a free-of-charge dedicated shortwave propagation prediction service designed specifically for shortwave listeners (SWL). Accessible at https://www.voacap.com/swl/, this powerful online tool brings professional-grade propagation analysis to your fingertips.

This service empowers shortwave enthusiasts with professional-grade tools previously reserved for broadcasters and engineers. Whether you’re planning your listening schedule or exploring propagation science, VOACAP Online for SWL delivers clarity, precision, and flexibility.

What is VOACAP Online for SWL?

VOACAP Online for SWL leverages the renowned Voice of America Coverage Analysis Program (VOACAP) as its primary prediction engine, ensuring accurate and reliable HF propagation forecasts. For point-to-point predictions without HFCC antennas, the service also integrates ITU’s ITURHFProp engine.

Key Features at a Glance

User-Friendly Point-to-Point Tools:

Propagation Wheel (Prop Wheel): The fastest way to visualize 24-hour reliability across all bands. This displays the probability of hearing the station based on user-set BC Quality.
Propagation Charts (Prop Charts): For in-depth, detailed band-by-band analysis.
Advanced Prediction Tools:
Coverage Maps: Generate three map types from the transmit site to the world:

SNR50 (Signal-to-noise ratio for 15 days/month)
SNR90 (Signal-to-noise ratio for 27 days/month)
Signal Strength (S-meter reading for 15 days/month)

Band-by-Band Analysis: Explore propagation for all major HF broadcast bands.
Quick Frequency Recommendations: Identify the best three broadcast bands for any hour of the day.
All-Year Overview: See propagation trends on any band for any hour of the day for all 12 months.
Sun Times Analysis: Calculate sunrise, sunset, dawn, dusk, and celestial midnight for both sites and the circuit midpoint.
Extensive Antenna Options: Choose from nearly 500 HFCC and tailor-made transmit antenna models and 50 receive antenna models for precise simulations.
Comprehensive Site Database: Access a curated list of current and historical HF broadcasting transmit sites and representative receive sites – all predefined for convenience.
Customizable Parameters: Define transmit and receive coordinates manually or via Maidenhead Grid locators, select transmit power from 1 watt to 800 kilowatts, and adjust antenna beam directions.
Solar Activity Awareness: The system automatically uses the latest monthly smoothed sunspot numbers, but you can experiment with your own values.

For detailed guidance, refer to the https://www.voacap.com/2023/documents/VOACAP_Manual.pdf . While written for the Ham Radio version, the principles remain the same.

73, Jari OH6BG

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - NOVEMBER 1971

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 10:47:00 +0000

Radio Nepal

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - NOVEMBER 1971

All frequencies in kHz; all times are UTC (or GMT, as we used to say in those days!).

The Logbook

As we all know, seasonal changes are required for the transmission schedules of international broadcasters. So, a new transmission period began on November 7, 1971, and ended on March 4, 1972. Many of us were logging and reporting new frequencies during November.

Although we were on the back end of Sunspot Cycle 20, reception conditions continued to hold out on 13 mb, where 29 frequencies were reported during November. There were even some openings on the 11 mb during our evenings with loggings of three strong 25 MHz freqs in use by VOA's transmitter sites at Greenville, Tangier and Monrovia! We were, of course, coming into the start of the southern hemisphere's summer season.

There was also widespread reception of the new outlet for WINB, Red Lion, PA, on 15340. And we waited expectantly for the new Radio Nederland relay station on Madagascar to begin test transmissions during December. The station was offering a special QSL card for all correct reports.

The following are from my logbook at that time:

9545 Deutsche Welle - Sines, Portugal. S/on 2115 in Czech, NF (ex 9650), but with QRM from Accra, Ghana on the same frequency, Nov 12.

9550 Radio Finland, Helsinki. S/on 0557, NF (ex 9555) with a poor signal on Nov 20.

9570 R. Portales, Santiago, Chile. Noted at 1015 when the R. Australia carrier was off, Nov 6.

9590 International Red Cross via Switzerland. A special test transmission to Australia 0930-1000 in English with news and pop music. I also noted this on 11775 (fair signal) and 15305 (poor). The other frequency, 21520, was not heard at all on Nov 23.

9760 R. Havana, Cuba. Spanish to LAm 0500, ID and news, NF (ex 11735), poor signal, Nov 22.

11875 VOA - Monrovia, Liberia. English to SAs at 0240, another NF on Nov 21.

11890 WNYW - New York. 2035 with pop music on this NF. Changes to 11885 at 2100.

15165 Radio Denmark, Copenhagen. Danish at 0945, beaming to Greenland, Nov 30.

15310 Conakry, Republic of Guinea. 0650 in a local language with West African music to past 0745. Rarely heard at my QTH, and on this occasion, it suffered QRM from Prague on the same frequency, Nov 4.

15340 WINB, Red Lion, PA. English Gospel program at 2110, NF and I noted that it was a significant improvement on the old 11795, Nov 28.

17640 Cairo. Voice of Arabs service 0853. I also hear it on 17670 at the same time with their General Service to NAf. Nov 20.

21500 AFRTS - Delano, CA.News at 2200, Nov 26.

21580 Cairo. Malay to SEAs at 1325. Shared the frequency with Paris, which was the weaker signal. Nov 26.

21610 VOA - Dixon. News in Special English 2200, Nov 26.

DXers with long memories will recall the impressive, informative multi-folded QSL from Papua New Guinea, featuring a map and chart of PNG stations scattered across the country. Most stations sent out the same folded verification, wrote in their own personal details, and gave it the station's official rubber stamp. This one is from Radio Daru (Western Districts).

Hashemite Broadcasting Service in Jordan

Reception Reports

As November was the month of new frequencies, most of my reports were going to the standard international broadcasters, including:

Hanoi, NHK, Radio Free Europe, Radio Moscow, Deutsche Welle - Koln and Sines, VOA - Monrovia, Havana, HCJB, All India Radio, FEBC, Paris, BBC-Ascension, R. Australia - Darwin and Shepparton, Lisbon, Vienna, Red Cross, ORTF Brazzaville, Prague, R. Mexico (XERMX) (17835), WINB, R. Canada, WNYW and Rome. All in all, I sent 37 reports in that month.

My QSL from the Rhodesia Broadcasting Corporation, Salisbury. Between the 1950s and the 1970s, political and boundary changes occurred frequently in this part of the world. Sometimes, new QSLs with name changes weren't sent off to the printer! The country is now known as Zimbabwe (since 1980), and Salisbury is now called Harare (since 1982).

QSLs in the Mailbox

The family's letterbox received around 34 QSLs that month. Some of the highlights were

Voice of Free China 9685,

R. Western Districts, Daru, PNG 3305 (see above)

R. Republik Indonesia - Jogjakarta 5047,

R. Malaysia - Kuching 7160 (see below),

Rhodesia Broadcasting Corp, Salisbury 3306 (see above)

Jeddah 9670,

Tenerife 11800

From 1971 is this verification from Rádio Clube do Pará, Brazil.
I wrote my reception report in Portuguese.

"From the Verifications" section of ADXN, I reported receiving the following cards and letters in the previous few months:

Ecuador: Canal Manabita 4815 (actually logged on 4823 kHz!), along with a large pennant and postcard. It arrived in 2.5 months for my report in Spanish.
Honduras: La Voz Evangelica 4820 - a card and attractive stamps on the envelope. Arrived in 3 weeks for an English report.
Brazil: Radio Clube do Para 4865 - Letter in Portuguese confirming the report and also sent a selection of Brazilian stamps. Arrived in 6 weeks for a report in Portuguese. (see above)
Argentina: Radio Nacional 6060 - Received the usual green-and-white card, but they mistakenly quoted the frequency for the international service! Arrived in 4 months for an English report.
Thailand: Thai TV 6012 - Letter received via registered mail, indicating that transmitter power was 15 kW. Arrived in 3 weeks.
Nepal: Radio Nepal 4600 - Full detailed white card, signed by K. B. Khatry, Chief Engineer, received in 5 weeks. (see above)
Jordan: Hashemite Broadcasting Service (later known as Radio Jordan) 7155 - Colour postcard of a church, received in 4 weeks airmail. (see above)
Comoro Islands: ORTF - Moroni 3331 - Letter in French, reply in 3 weeks for an English report.
Botswana: Radio Botswana 4845, colour card showing desert patrol camels, received in 1.5 months.

Radio Malaysia, Sarawak, with its transmitter site in Kuching, the capital of Sarawak.

Other News from the November 1971 ADXN

Some Aussie DXers were enjoying reception of Radio Nacional de Venezuela in Caracas on 11725 and 15400 kHz between 2000 and 2300 UTC. There was speculation on how long this new "International Service" would last! Propagation was via the long path, across Africa and the Indian Ocean.
A new station, Radio Ayacucho, Peru, was heard on 9601 kHz at 1040 with Andean music, as reported by "BADX".
The clandestine, Radio Euzkadi, "the Voice of the Basque Underground," was noted here in Australia on 12075 at 2130 in Spanish, and 13280 at 2055 with an English commentary. This well-known clandestine organisation represented the Basque people's struggle for autonomy. It was a good QSLer, too!
The newsletter mentioned the Pakistan-India border crisis, which was drawing to a close. There was speculation that the three countries involved - India, West Pakistan (known as Pakistan today) and East Pakistan (now known as Bangladesh) - would all become "deleted countries" for the purposes of the ARDXC Countries List.

I hope you enjoyed this walk down memory lane. Next month, we will open the logbook on December 1971.

73 and good DX,

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

QSLS FROM THE MAILBOX

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 22:21:00 +0000

QSLS FROM THE MAILBOX

Over the last few months, there has been a steady stream of "real" paper QSLs (not the eQSL stuff). All of them are through contacts in the ham bands. While broadcasters in many of these countries have left the shortwave bands, amateur radio operators are keeping these far-off countries on the air. The cards come from exotic places and remote islands, are brightly coloured and are great additions to my collection.

Here are a few to share with you, focusing on Africa. Click each card to view an enlarged version.

AFRICAN QSLs

ETHIOPIA

ALGERIA

BOTSWANA

TANZANIA

ALGERIA

UGANDA

NAMIBIA

LIBERIA

MOZAMBIQUE

A lovely folding card

First photo is the outside front and back, then the two inside pages.

Let me know if you would like to see some more recent QSLs that I've received from other parts of the world. We might feature the Pacific Islands next time.

73 and good DX to you, my friend!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

VORW RADIO versus KNLS - RESOLVED!

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 04:55:00 +0000

VORW RADIO vs KNLS - RESOLVED!

I just received a friendly email and eQSL from John Jurasek, the host and operator of VORW Radio International. His new broadcast on 9705 kHz to Asia on October 30 at 0900 UTC was well received at Mount Evelyn....until KNLS, Anchor Point, Alaska, fired up a few minutes into the VORW transmission. It was great to hear his program here in southeastern Australia, as most of the other scheduled times, frequencies and transmitter sites do not propagate well into my part of the world. This is how the broadcast was received here:

I sent John the above video so he could hear the problem for himself. And I wrote:

As you will see, the transmission began well with good reception in Mount Evelyn, Victoria, Australia. However, two minutes in, KNLS came up with their Russian service. I guess you will have to talk to their engineers again! Alternatively, convince Paochung to find a better frequency for your broadcasts.

Importantly, you have proved that reception to Australia is possible at this time. This time slot and metre band is a good choice if you wish to attract listeners in my part of the world. Most of your other broadcasts don’t reach my location near the bottom of southeastern Australia. I hope the clash with KNLS can be resolved.

The receiver is an SDRPlay RSPduo running on an Apple M4 MacBook Pro. The antenna used for this reception is a vertical Delta Loop, cut for 9 MHz (approx 30 m long).

Anyway, I hope you find this report of some interest. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

I received John's reply today:

Hello Rob! Thank you for tuning in to VORW Radio International on 9705 kHz and for sending in your reception report! I’ll be happy to send a QSL card your way to confirm your report, and I've noted the technical details you mentioned as well.

The interference issue with KNLS is unfortunate but is still in the resolution process - KNLS has been more than willing to move to 9860 kHz or 9865 kHz but they needed permission from the U.S FCC in order to make that move; and with the ongoing U.S Government shutdown, that process is taking considerably longer than normal - as most FCC workers are presently furloughed.

We will see how things go this week!

I also just wanted to mention that this broadcast isn’t going anywhere—you can continue to count on VORW airing every Thursday at 0900 UTC on 9705 kHz, featuring the latest News Analysis and Listener-Requested Music. I always appreciate having you as a listener!

Thank you again for your report, and I hope you’ll keep tuning in.

Best regards,

John Jurasek (VORW Radio International)

It's good to hear that KNLS was willing to resolve this issue with VORW, especially as John's program airs only once a week while KNLS is beaming to eastern Russia daily. As I write this, I note in the WRTH online web app that KNLS is now listed on 9860 kHz for its 0900 UTC broadcast to eastern Russia. That should now give VORW Radio International a clear channel on 9705 kHz to be heard throughout Asia and the Pacific on Thursdays, using the Paochung, Taiwan transmitter site.

UPDATE: I was away from the radio when the latest broadcast happened at 0900 on November 6. However, I'm seeing reports that VORW has also moved—now on 9740 kHz. Permanent? Who knows?! However, 9705 is clear now that both stations have moved!!

UPDATE #2 (Nov 7): John at VORW has just advised that the November 6th transmission on 9740 kHz was an error at Paochung's transmitter site! We can expect VORW to return to the registered 9705 kHz next week.

This just in from him:

73 and good DX to you!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

B25 TRANSMISSION CHANGES - Some New Frequencies

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Wagner) — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:21:00 +0000

B25 TRANSMISSION CHANGES

Some New Frequencies

In the coming week, I have some essential non-radio-related radio projects that require my attention. I won't have much time to spend at the radios. So, for the first time in some years, I won't be developing a massive list of new frequency observations for publication here on the MEDXR blog.

However, below is a list of 60 schedule changes made by some broadcasters that I have monitored in the past few days since the start of the new B25 transmission season last Sunday.

For each item, I have tried to identify the former frequency used in the A25 season. But this can be hard because schedules can be complex or drastically changed by the broadcaster, making direct comparisons difficult.

The list is in frequency order. The countries listed are where the transmitter sites are located. Many broadcasters use transmitters in other countries to improve reception in their target zones. For example, the world-famous BBC is currently using this long list of relays for the B25 transmission season: Oman, Ascension Island, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, United Arab Emirates, Vatican City, and Madagascar, as well as its own transmitters in Woofferton, England!

In most cases, I have listed the sign-on and sign-off times for each broadcast. These are represented by asterisks * before the sign-on time and after the sign-off time. I hope readers will find this information more useful. Comments on signal strength, as noted here at Mount Evelyn, are largely irrelevant and have not been included, except for a few remarks on interference (QRM) from other stations.

Equipment: SDRPlay RSPduo, Yaesu FTDX3000 transceiver, Kenwood R5000 receiver, Yaesu FRG 100 receiver, Kenwood TS2000 transceiver.

Antennas: 80m long horizontal sky loop antenna, a delta loop antenna for 10 MHz, a double bazooka antenna for 14 MHz and a 5/8λ centre-fed vertical for 21 MHz and above.

Abbreviations:
NF = New Frequency for the A24 transmission season

NS = New Site (i.e. a change in relay station for a specific broadcast)
QRM = Interference from another station
// = The same broadcast simultaneously on another frequency, i.e. in parallel.

WS = BBC World Service

AF = Africa. Eu = Europe, As = Asia, ME = Middle East, NAm = North America, CAm = Central America, SAm = South America, Oc = Oceania, AFG = Afghanistan,

N = North, S = South, E = East, W = West

ENAm = Eastern North America, NEAs = North East Asia, etc.

★★★★★★

49 mb

5955 CHINA. CRI - Xian. *1000-1600* English to EAs, NF (ex 15260), Oct 27.

6075 USA. KNLS - Anchor Point, AK. *0800-0900* English to EAs, NF (ex 9695), Oct 26.

6190 JAPAN. R. Japan - Yamata. *1100 Korean, 1120 Mandarin, 1140 Korean, 1200 Mandarin, 1220 Korean to 1240*, to EAs, NF (ex 11660), Oct 26.

41 mb

7215 CHINA. CRI - Xian. *1000-1100* English to CAs, NF (ex 11895), Oct 27.

7250 ROMANIA. R. Romania Int’l - Tiganesti. *2130-2157* English to ENAm, NF, Oct 27.

7285 CHINA. CRI - Xian. *2000-2100* English to Eu, NF (ex 11770), Oct 28.

7300 VATICAN. Vatican R. - SM Galeria. *2200-2230* Mandarin to EAs, NF (ex 11895), Oct 28.

7370 USA. KNLS - Anchor Point, AK. *0800-1000* Mandarin to EAs, NF (ex 11875), Oct 26.

7380 JAPAN. R. Japan - Yamata. *0700-0900* Japanese to SAm, NF (ex 13860), Oct 26.

7390 FRANCE. R. France Int’l - Issooudun. *0600-0700* French to NAf and WAf, NF, Oct 28.

7430 JAPAN. R. Japan - Yamata. *1030-1050* Russian to EAs, NF (ex 7375). Some adjacent-channel QRM from the HLL Seoul Weather Fax outlet on 7433.5 kHz, Oct 27.

31 mb

9410 ASCENSION IS. BBC-Ascension. *0500-0700* English WS to WAf, NF, Oct 27.

9415 CHINA. CRI - Xian. *0800-0900* English to EAs, NF (ex 11710), Oct 27.

9440 JAPAN. R. Japan - Issoudun. *0500-0520* French to CAf, NF (ex 13600), Oct 28.

9540 USA. KNLS - Anchor Point, AK. *1000-1100* Mandarin to EAs, NF (ex 9685). The signal was in the clear until 1007 when China jammed it with CNR programming, Oct 26.

9610 TURKEY. VoTurkey - Emirler. *2130-2225* English to Oc and SEAs, NF (ex 9875) and one hour later, Oct 27.

9625 TURKEY. VoTurkey - Emirler. *2030-2130* French to NAf and WAf, NF (ex 9880) and one hour later, Oct 28.

9680 USA. KNLS - Anchor Point, AK. *1000-1100* English to Pacific Rim, NF (ex 9580), Oct 26.

9705 USA. KNLS - Anchor Point, AK. *0900-1000* Russian to ERus, NF (ex 9545), Oct 26.

9720 USA. KNLS - Anchor Point, AK. *1100-1200* Korean to EAs, NF (ex 9870), Oct 26.

9740 FRANCE. R. France Int’l - Issoudun. *0430-0500* Swahili to EAf, NF (ex 11790), Oct 28.

9790 FRANCE. R. France Int’l - Issoudun. *0500-0700* French to EAf and CAf, NF (ex 13695). Beam changes to WAf at 0600, Oct 28.

9840 TURKEY. VoTurkey - Emirler. *0900-0930* Georgian to the Caucasus region. NF (ex 9655), Oct 28.

9855 FRANCE. R. Japan - Issoudun. *2030-2050* French to WAf, NF (ex 7425), Oct 28.

9860 CHINA. CRI - Kashi. *2200-2300* Esperanto to SAm, NF (ex 9880), Oct 27.

25 mb

11630 JAPAN. R. Japan - Yamata. *2100-2300* Japanese to SEAs, NF (ex 11965), Oct 26.

11645 OMAN. BBC - Al Seela. *2200-2400* English to SEAs, NF (ex 13825), Oct 27.

11675 JAPAN. R. Japan - Yamata. *2100-2300* Japanese to ME/NAf, NF (ex 11625), Oct 26.

11700 FRANCE. R. France Int’l - Issoudun. *0700-0800* French to WAf, NF (possibly ex 13660), Oct 28.

11700 GERMANY. AWR - Nauen. *1900-2100* to WAf, 1900 Hausa, 1930 Igbo, 2000 Yoruba, 2030 Nigerian Pidgin. NF (ex 15440), Oct 28.

11735 FRANCE. R. Japan - Issoudun. *0500-0530* English to SAf, NF (ex 15310), Oct 28.

11810 ASCENSION IS. BBC - Ascension. *0600-0700* English WS to EAf, NF (ex 9915), Oct 27.

11825 JAPAN. R. Japan - Yamata. *1000-1020* Mandarin to EAs. NF (ex 7375), Oct 26.

11825 AUSTRALIA. Reach Beyond - Kununurra WA. *1200-1230* Matu Chin (a.k.a. Nga La) to Myanmar. NF (ex 12010), Oct 27.

11830 JAPAN. R. Japan - Yamata. *0610-0650*, 0610 Mandarin, 0630 Korean, to 0650*, to EAs, NF (ex 15195), Oct 27.

11900 INDIA. Akashvani - Bengaluru. *1930-2030* French to WEu, NF (ex 9620), Oct 28.

11955 JAPAN. R. Japan - Yamata. *2200-0100* Japanese to As, NF (ex 11885), Oct 26.

11965 AUSTRALIA. Reach Beyond - Kununurra WA. *1030-1045* English to Asia. NF (ex 11925), daily except Sat, Oct 26.

11965 AUSTRALIA. Reach Beyond - Kununurra WA. *1130-1145* Rohingya to SAs, NF, Oct 27.

12040 JAPAN. R. Japan - Yamata. *2000-2100* Japanese to Oc, NF (ex 9480), Oct 28.

22 mb

13610 CHINA. CRI - Xian. *0700-0800* Yue Chinese to Eastern China. NF (ex 15230) and clashes with co-channel CNR-Nanning. Oh, and 15230 is now vacant! Good one, China! Oct 27.

13705 JAPAN. R. Japan- Yamata. *2310-2350* Thai at 2310, Vietnamese at 2330, to SEAs, NF (ex 13600), Oct 27.

13710 FRANCE. R. France Int’l - Issoudun. *0730-0800* Fulani to WAf, NF (ex 15330), Oct 28.

13790 U.A.E. BBC - Dhabayya. *0400-0430* Somali to EAf, NS (ex Madagascar), Oct 27.

19 mb

15130 FRANCE. R. Japan - Issoudun. *1900-2100* Japanese to CAf, NF (ex 13780), Oct 28.

15210 CHINA. CRI - Kunming. *0900-1100* English to Oc, NF (ex 13800), Oct 27.

15350 CHINA. CRI - Kashi. *0200-0300* English to SAs, NF (ex 15110). Into Hindi at 0300, Oct 28.

15420 MADAGASCAR. BBC - Madagascar. *0400-0430* Somali to EAf, NF (ex 17745 via Dhabayya), Oct 27.

15455 FRANCE. R. France Int’l - Issoudun. *0800-0830* Mandingo to WAf, NF (ex 17620), Oct 28.

16 mb

17660 FRANCE. R. France Int’l - Issoudun. *0830-900* Fulani to WAf, NF (ex 17620), Oct 28.

17690 CHINA. CRI - Jinhua. *0900-1100* English to Oc. NF (ex 11905), Oct 27.

17690 U.A.E. BBC - Dhabayya. *0500-0600* English to EAf, NF (ex 21560), Oct 28.

17770 TURKEY. VoTurkey - Emirler. *0900-0930* Turkmen to CAs, NF (ex 17730), Oct 28.

17780 ROMANIA. R. Romania Int’l - Galbeni. *0630-0700* English to Aus, NF (ex 17760). A poor frequency choice due to co-channel QRM from CNR 1 jamming of Sound of Hope. Oct 28.

17780 TURKEY. VoTurkey - Emirler. *0700-0800* Swahili to Af, NF (ex 15320 and one hour later). Another poor frequency choice with co-channel QRM from CNR 1 jamming, Oct 28.

17870 JAPAN. R. Japan - Yamata. *0200-0300* Japanese to EAs, NF (ex 9550), Oct 26.

13 mb

21500 ENGLAND. BBC - Woofferton. *1200-1230* French to NAf, NF (additional freq for B25), // 17535, 17640 and 21660 also heard, Oct 27.

21690 FRANCE. R. France Int'l - Issoundun. *0800-1000* French to Af, NF, Oct 28.

And finally....

Some choppy reception recently from the Voice of Korea on 13650 kHz. They do really need to fix that problem!!

73 and wishing you good DX,

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

Current local time in
Mount Evelyn, Australia

CLICK HERE for VK3BVW Live Stream (Clublog)

QRZ callsign lookup:

Mount Evelyn DX Report

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - APRIL 1972

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - APRIL 1972

Shortwave News

Spotlight on Radio Bolívar, Venezuela

A Crush of Radio Signals

QSLs in the Mailbox

BUYING USED SHORTWAVE RECEIVERS: Practical advice for DXers.

BUYING USED SHORTWAVE RECEIVERS:Practical Advice for DXers

STRONG SIGNAL, NO DECODES: Auroral Flutter and the Bouvet-Australia FT8 Puzzle

Strong Signals, No Decodes:

Auroral Flutter and the Bouvet–Australia FT8 Puzzle

Bouvet and the Southern High-Latitude Path

The Auroral Oval

When the Ionosphere Becomes Turbulent

The Role of Doppler Spread

Why FT8 Is Especially Sensitive

The Geometry of the Bouvet–Australia Path

A Long Encounter with the Auroral Zone

Another look at the great circle path, this time on a "flat map". This version was calculated for my QTH at Mount Evelyn, Victoria, for March 1, 2026, at 0900 UTC

Strong Signals but No Decodes

Not the Only Possible Factor

A Reminder from the Ionosphere

References

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - MARCH 1972

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - MARCH 1972

Shortwave News

Remembering ETLF - Radio Voice of the Gospel

The Logbook

Reception Reports

QSLs in the Mailbox

ARCHIVE RECORDING: Djibouti Radio on Mediumwave in 1972.

ARCHIVE RECORDING:DJIBOUTI RADIOON MEDIUMWAVE IN 1972

WHY ANTENNA SIZE MATTERS ON HF: Portable Radios, SDRs, and Overload

WHY ANTENNA SIZE MATTERS ON SHORTWAVEPortable Radios, SDRs, and Overload

Other whip problems

The poor designs of many portables

What about SDRs?

Workarounds

Summary

References:

DX QUICK TIPS - February 21, 2026.

DX QUICK TIPSFebruary 21, 2026

AND FINALLY.....

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - FEBRUARY 1972

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - FEBRUARY 1972

Shortwave News

Some Shortwave History!

The Logbook

Radio Liberation

An oversized QSL from "Radio i" in Auckland, New Zealand. The 5 kW transmitter put out a good signal into Australia on 1590 kHz. Since then, the station has been rebranded several times.

NEW VOACAP VIDEO - HOW TO MAKE COVERAGE MAPS FOR SHORTWAVE

NEW VOACAP VIDEO:HOW TO MAKE COVERAGE MAPSFOR SHORTWAVE

DX QUICK TIPS (Jan 29, 2025) AND JAPAN SHORTWAVE CLUB PROGRAM

DX QUICK TIPS (Jan 29, 2026) AND JAPAN SHORTWAVE CLUB PROGRAM

JAPAN SHORT WAVE CLUB OVER HCJB

ARCHIVE RECORDING - HIJP - Radio Comercial, Dominican Rep.

ARCHIVE RECORDINGHIJP - RADIO COMERCIAL, DOMINICAN REPUBLICFROM 1973

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - JANUARY 1972

OPENING THE LOGBOOK - JANUARY 1972

The Logbook

Reception Reports

QSLs in the Mailbox

Other News in January 1972

VIDEO - CHECKING OUT THE VOACAP 2026 CHANGES AND REDESIGN

VIDEO:CHECKING OUT THE VOACAP 2026 CHANGES AND REDESIGN

THE CHANGING KOREAN BROADCASTING LANDSCAPE - Part 2

THE CHANGING KOREANBROADCASTING LANDSCAPEPart 2

External Services Aimed at the North

Free North Korea Radio

National Unity Radio

North Korea Reform Radio

Furusato no Kaze and Nippon no Kaze/Ilbon no Baram (Japan Wind)

Shoikaze (Sea Breeze)

Voice of the Martyrs Korea

Revival Broadcasting System (RBS)

Voice of Wilderness

Other Players in the Korean Space

References:

And so we come to the end of Part 2 of

BUYING USED SHORTWAVE RECEIVERS:
Practical Advice for DXers

ARCHIVE RECORDING:
DJIBOUTI RADIO
ON MEDIUMWAVE IN 1972

WHY ANTENNA SIZE MATTERS ON SHORTWAVE
Portable Radios, SDRs, and Overload

DX QUICK TIPS
February 21, 2026

NEW VOACAP VIDEO:
HOW TO MAKE COVERAGE MAPS
FOR SHORTWAVE

DX QUICK TIPS (Jan 29, 2026)
AND
JAPAN SHORTWAVE CLUB PROGRAM

ARCHIVE RECORDING
HIJP - RADIO COMERCIAL,
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
FROM 1973

VIDEO:
CHECKING OUT THE
VOACAP 2026 CHANGES AND REDESIGN

THE CHANGING KOREAN
BROADCASTING LANDSCAPE
Part 2

THE CHANGING KOREAN
BROADCASTING LANDSCAPE
Part 1

THE TOP MEDXR POSTS
OF 2025

RADIO SINGAPORE ON MEDIUMWAVE

ARCHIVE RECORDING FROM 1973

Red Cross Broadcasting Service - Back of the QSL card

Emissora Oficial de Angola (a.k.a. Radio Angola) - Luanda on 4820.
This card took ELEVEN MONTHS to arrive in the mail! Not uncommon in those days! And these days, I've seen people complain if the haven't received their eQSL inside 48 hours!