DX information, logs, photos,videos from Swopan Chakroborty

Frequency change for Radio Japan, Bengali Service, & new Post Box address in Kolkata, India

2014-03-18T09:03:00.001+05:30

Radio Japan, NHK World, Bengali Service, shall change their frequency from Sunday, 30.03.2014, (A14 summer season) to 11685 kHz (ex 13615 kHz). Broadcasting time shall remain same i.e. 1300-1345 UTC. Relay transmitter site was shifted from Singapore to Uzbekistan in B13 winter season. Listeners reported almost inaudibility in the target area of India east and Bangladesh during the whole B13 season. Even replacing the frequency in B13 season, could not bring any improvement in reception. In A14 summer season, Radio Japan shall again use Singapore transmitter site which provides excellent reception in South Asia.

Radio Japan has also changed their Post Box address in Kolkata, India. New PO Box address is PO Box-9477, Kolkata 700016, India. It was requested not to mention any host/presenters name in the listeners letters towards safe delivery.

Bangladesh Betar : Change of frequency for external service

2014-03-09T21:31:00.001+05:30

Bangladesh Betar external service has changed their frequencies for Nepali and English broadcast:

1315-1345 UTC, Nepali, 9455 kHz (ex 7250 kHz)
1745-1900 UTC, English to Europe, 13580 kHz (ex 7250 kHz)

However, there is no change in schedule as appearing in their official website so far: http://www.betar.org.bd/frequency.html

Bangladesh Betar issues paper QSL card without any reply postage. Send your reception report by email to rrc@dhaka.net in attn. of Mr. Zia Hassan, Dy. Station Engineer.

Postal address for reception reports:

Bangladesh Betar
Research and Receiving Centre
121, Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue
Dhaka 1000
Bangladesh

All India Radio Kolkata A programme via 1000 kW Chinsurah transmitter

2014-03-07T18:50:00.000+05:30

May be due to a report in Bengali daily 'Bartaman' on 1.2.2014, Prasar Bharati has published an advertisement in today's Bengali daily 'Ananda Bazar Patrika' regarding regular transmission of Kolkata A programme via its new 1000 kW Chinsurah transmitter. Kolkata A programme shall now be relayed from Chinsurah transmitter site in parallel to Amtala site.

Schedule: 0025-0930 UTC on 594 kHz
1130-1745 UTC on 1134 kHz.

Earlier, Chinsurah transmitter (actually at Mogra) site was testing with feed from various other Bengali programme like Kolkata A, AIR FM Gold, DTH etc.

Here is the advertisement published in Bengali daily 'Anandabazar Patrika' on 7th March 2014.

Here is the report which was published in Bengali daily 'Bartaman' on 1 February 2014.

Here is the editorial which came on the next day i.e.2 February 2014

Here is my feedback which was published in Bengali daily 'Bartaman' on 17.2.2014

Bangladesh Betar, Barishal, testing new 20 kW Mediumwave transmitter

2013-12-09T00:21:00.001+05:30

Bangladesh Betar, Barishal, is testing their new 20 kW Medium Wave transmitter on 1287 kHz. The station is playing continuous Bengali songs.

Station will shortly start DRM test transmission.

Voice of Indonesia QSL card

2013-12-08T08:13:00.001+05:30

Received long desired QSL card from Voice of Indonesia but without any data.

Change in frequency of Radio Japan Bengali w.e.f. 1.12.2013

2013-12-01T01:43:00.001+05:30

Radio Japan Bengali service is changing their frequency from 12035 kHz to 13615 kHz. (1300-1345 UTC) from 1.12.2013 to avoid poor reception and co-channel interference from VO Turkey.

Verification letter from All India Radio, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh

2013-12-01T01:32:00.001+05:30

All India Radio, Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh, is now issuing verification letter. Following verification letter was received by Speed Post within 18 days from the date of posting.

Radio Japan new Post Box address in Kolkata, India

2013-07-27T22:16:00.000+05:30

When dependency on regular postal mail is decreasing day by day, Radio Japan, NHK World, is encouraging its listeners to write more and more letters using snail mail by opening a new Post Box in Kolkata, India. Listeners letters can be sent to Radio Japan, NHK World, Tokyo office using the following Post Box.

Radio Japan / NHK World

Post Box - 16233

Kolkata 700029

India

All India Radio, Kolkata A, still to return on shortwave 4820 kHz

2013-07-27T21:44:00.000+05:30

All India Radio, Kolkata, announces return of its Kolkata A programme via its shortwave outlet 4820 kHz. As on date (27.07.2013) Kolkata B programme is still noticed on above shortwave frequency. Transmitting Amtala site confirms that they don't have any instruction to switch over to Kolkata A programme and new Mast for 1008 kHz, is also not ready.

It is to be noted that MW Mast for Kolkata B of frequency 1008 kHz fell down in 2012 after a thunderstorm. Hence, Kolkata B programme was shifted to shortwave channel. Kolkata B progarmme is also transmitted on 1008 kHz using a low power (10 kW) DRM enabled transmitter. Now to observe when actual Kolkata A programme return on shortwave channel 4820 kHz.

Bangladesh Betar on new 7205 kHz

2012-08-26T22:46:00.002+05:30

Today (26.08.2012) onwards Bangladesh Betar is testing on new frequency 7205 kHz (ex 7105 kHz).

Reports are welcome at rrc@dhaka.net

Present schedule of Bangladesh Betar

2012-08-14T08:12:00.000+05:30

Here is the present broadcasting schedule of Bangladesh Betar:

1230-1300: 15105 kHz/English

1400-1430: 15505 kHz/Urdu

1515-1545: 15505 kHz/Hindi

1745-1900: 7105 kHz/English

1915-2000: 7105 kHz/Bangla

They have some problem in audio input to the Thomson make transmitter.

Bangladesh Betar on new frequency 15105 kHz

2012-08-12T18:37:00.001+05:30

Tonight (12.08.2012) Bangladesh Betar again testing on a new frequency, 15105 kHz. Time remain same i.e. 1200-2000 UTC. Research and Receiving Centre (RRC), Dhaka, is eagerly waiting for your feedback. Send your reception feedback to rrc@dhaka.net and programme feedback to betar.external@yahoo.com

Bangladesh Betar test broadcast on 15520 kHz

2012-08-08T18:47:00.000+05:30

Tonight (08.08.2012) Bangladesh Betar is testing on 15520 kHz towards Europe. Reports are welcome specially from UK and France. Transmitter shall remain same i.e. the new 250 kW one but with old antenna system. Irregular broadcast between 1200-2000 UTC.

Bangladesh Betar is extremely pleased for the reception reports for 7250 kHz test broadcast. Further reports are welcome to rrc@dhaka.net

Test transmission from Bangladesh Betar on SW 7250 kHz, 0400-2000 UTC

2012-08-06T11:40:00.000+05:30

Bangladesh Betar's new 250 kW shortwave transmitter and antenna system at Kabirpur is now ready for commissioning. An irregular test transmission is going on 7250 kHz in between 0400-2000 UTC. If you get signal of this test transmission then send a reception report or audio file to rrc@dhaka.net. Please note, it is a occasional broadcast in between above time.

60 Meter Band observation in the evening

2012-04-20T13:09:00.000+05:30

Noted strong signal on 4850 at 1715 UTC on 19th April 2012. Song by YL. Like a Chinese one but was not 100 percent sure. Later Mr. Anker Peterson from Denmark confirmed in DXLD that it is PBS, Urumqi in Kazakh language shifting from their original out of band frequency 4330 kHz.

Bangladesh Betar, 4750 kHz, has revised its schedule. Now broadcasting from 0500-1710 UTC. Earlier used to switch off at 1500 UTC.
AIR Mumbai now a days found more clearly audible on 4840 kHz in the evening.

Strong het. noted on 4940 kHz on 18th April 2012 after 1600 UTC. But clear on 19th April.

Strong humming sound is still continuing on 4970 kHz, AIR Shillong. Surprisingly, no action has been taken upon reporting to concerned station engineer.

Radio Pakistan on 9550 kHz 22 March 2012

2012-03-23T08:54:00.000+05:30

Radio Pakistan was noted on 9550 kHz, 22 March 2012, in parallel 9470 kHz suppressing co-channel All India Radio. News in English by YL ended with weather forecast for next 24 hours. Switched off at 1710 UTC. 9550 kHz frequency is not listed anywhere.

Here is the video file of logging on 23 March 2012: http://youtu.be/I5WfxdVeg7A
(News by OM started with celebration of national day in Pakistan.)

Channel Africa, 15235 kHz, news report and interview, stn id at 1719 UTC. 22 March 2012

Receiver: JRC NRD-61A
Antenna: 15 mtr. longwire with 10:1 Balun

Mandarmani Dxpedition 2012 loggings

2012-03-19T00:48:00.000+05:30

Loggings during the Dxpedition organised by Indian Dx Club Int (www.idxci.in) at Mandarmani,West Bengal, India.

DATE	STATION	TIME	FREQ	SIO	LANG	REMARKS
01/20/12	AIR PORT BLAIR	1400	4760	353	HINDI	HINDI SONGS
01/20/12	TAZIK RADIO	1443	4765	252	TAZIK	TALK BY YL
01/20/12	RRI PALANGKARYA	1507	3325	232	INDO	PHONE IN PROG AND MUSIC
01/20/12	BANGLADESH BETAR	1601	1413	343	BENGALI	ISLAMIC SONG
01/20/12	IRIB ZABOL	1616	1098	343	UNID	JOINT REPORT BY ON & YL
01/20/12	AFN DIEGO GARCIA	1743	4319	454	ENG	SONGS AND ADV
01/20/12	UNIDENTIFIED	1750	1449	232	UNID	TALK BY YL
01/20/12	TUNESIAN R & TV	1827	9725	454	ARABIC	NEWS COMMENTARY BY OM
01/21/12	AZAD KASHMIR R	1500	3975	343	URDU	STN ID, NEWS BY YL
01/21/12	PBS, URMQUI	1506	3950	353	CHINESE	PHONE IN PROG
01/21/12	AIR GORAKHPUR	1508	3945	443	HINDI	LOCAL NEWS
01/21/12	GALEI ZAHAL	1515	15850	232	HEBREW	SONG BY YL
01/21/12	KOL ISRAEL	1536	9985	343	FARSI	REPORT BY YL ABOUT IRAN
01/21/12	RT AFGHANISTAN	1545	7200	343	ENG	LOCAL SONG, CO CHANNEL FROM SUDAN RTVC
01/21/12	R TAIWAN INT	1608	9440	433	ENG	TODAY IN HISTORY
01/21/12	R AUSTRALIA	1613	9580	454	ENG	INTERVIEW OF A YL
01/21/12	UNIDENTIFIED	1622	13450	343	ENG	REPORT MENTIOING IRAN AND AYATOLLAH KHOMEINI
01/21/12	R ETHIOPIA	1630	7200	232	ENG	STN ID AT 1630, NEWS BY YL, CO CHANNEL SUDAN
01/22/12	SRI LANKA BC	356	15745	242	ENG	DEVOTIONAL SONGS
01/22/12	RT AFGHANISTAN	1555	7200	444	ENG	LOCAL PASHTU SONG
01/22/12	AWR	1610	11690	454	ENG	INTERVIEW WITH ALLEN GRAHAM
01/22/12	KBS	1630	9640	343	ENG	KOREAN POP SONGS
01/22/12	WYFR	1631	17545	454	ENG	GOSPEL TALK
01/22/12	RTM SARAWAK	1641	11630	343	MALAY	PHONE IN PROG WITH MALAY SONGS

Here some audio files:

Unidentified 1449 kHz 1750 UTC 20.01.2012

http://soundcloud.com/swopan/unidentified-1449-khz-1750-utc

AFN 4319 kHz USB 1743 20.01.2012

http://www.box.com/shared/2angrau6sy

AFN 4319 USB 1745 UTC 20.01.2012

http://www.box.com/s/hhqplnh1j778dgr1vjiu

AIR Portblair 20.1.2012 1400 UTC

http://www.box.com/s/z3mkbtigzuevc67d9h8b

WYFR 17545 kHz 22.1.2012 1631 UTC

http://www.box.com/s/lsv8yzzd1t9udo8pv4y0

Azad Kashmir Radio 3975 kHz 1455 UTC 21.1.2012

http://www.box.com/s/8bk0h20dsyktp26yek46

R Ethiopia 7200 kHz 1635 UTC 21.1.2012

http://www.box.com/s/ef2utcbrlcny2mg9s25o

RRI Palangkarayaon 3325 kHz 1507 UTC 20.01.2012

http://www.box.com/s/3itilydsogfi5jtoir05

RT Afghanistan 7200 kHz 22.1.2012 1555 UTC

http://www.box.com/s/ses5tfx1h8pqqh4ia6ok

RT Afghanistan 7200 kHz 1545 UTC 21.1.2012

http://www.box.com/s/og05vh0v3455og4cic8u

RTM Sarawak 11630 kHz 1641 UTC 22.1.2012

http://www.box.com/s/myca2khfe1o24j0ne7c0

Logging of RTM Sarawak & Radio Libya

2012-03-19T00:00:00.000+05:30

RTM Sarawak 11665 kHz 1810 UTC 17.03.2012

Radio Libya 11600 kHz 1638 UTC 18.03.2012

Radio Myanmar new office in Tatkone Township

2012-03-05T19:42:00.000+05:30

Here is the picture of Radio Myanmar new office in Tatkone Township in Naypyittaw region, Myanmar. Head quarter has now been shifted from Yangon.

Radio Myanmar does not have its own website. Bur daily programmes can be heard via http://www.mrtv3.net.mm/. Click on the radio icon in the left top corner.

Abdullah Al-Farooq retiring from the service of Deutsche Welle Bengali

2012-02-11T18:15:00.000+05:30

Well known radio personality Abdullah Al-Farooq from Deutsche Welle Bengali will retire from his service from 1st March 2012. This February is his last working month in Deutsche Welle Bengali service. A special edition of 'Inbox' with his interview will be broadcasted on 19th February 2012 via Deutsche Welle Bengali (www.dw.de). Please listen to it and in advance convey your wishes for Mr. Abdullah Al Farooq.

(Abdullah Al-Farooq with DW listeners in Max Mueller Bhavan, Kolkata, India)

Verification letter from Lao National Radio

2012-02-07T20:10:00.002+05:30

Received long awaited verification letter from Lao National Radio (LNR) on 6th February 2012. Logged this station in 2009 annual Dxpedition organised by Indian Dx Club International (www.idxci.in). Station's foreign language Director, Mr. Inpanh Satchaphansy, at last agreed to issue the letter after 3 years continuous follow ups. They do not have budget to issue QSL cards.

Envelope

Verification letter

New year 2012 card outside

New year 2012 card inside

Swopan Chakroborty

Voice of Indonesia external service is off the air

2012-01-09T00:32:00.000+05:30

Voice of Indonesia (VOI) external service is off the air last few days. This is because of technical fault in the transmitter. VOI is in search of correct spares from the original equipment manufacturer. But it is not so easy for such old transmitter and expensive too. We hope VOI will be back on the air very shortly.

(VOI transmitter which is presently down: photo by the author)

Update 12.1.2012 - VOI is still off the air. Facing difficulty getting the spares. Talks are on for re-transmission of VOI programme using Babcock systems.

Update 24.1.2012 - VOI is back today with regular programme.

BBC Bengali 70 years special magazine

2012-01-05T14:17:00.001+05:30

Download soft copy BBC Bengali service 70 years special magazine.

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/bengali/day_to_day/8695_111229/bbcbangla_mag_web.pdf

2012-01-03T19:18:00.000+05:30

WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 2012.

2011-12-15T19:57:00.002+05:30

Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) QSL card.
This long awaited SLBC QSL card complete Dx journey to South Asia.
Special thanks to Mr. G. Victor Goonetilleke for organizing the QSL from SLBC