MVBR + HLR Transmissions on this weekend

This Saturday the 31st of August is Hamburger Lokalradio as normal.
06.00 to 08.00 UTC on 7265 KHz
08.00 to 11.00 UTC on 6190 KHz
11.00 to 15.00 UTC on 7265 KHz
All reports to: redaktion@hamburger-lokalradio.de  Thank you!

MV Baltic Radio celebrates its 9th Anniversary
This Sunday MV Baltic Radio celebrates its 9th Anniversary with music from
the golden age of rock music.
MV Baltic Radio also recalls an interview with the great German event
manager Fritz Rau.

Am Sonntag feiert MV Baltic Radio seinen 9. Jahrestag mit Musik aus der
großen Zeit der Rockmusik.
MV Baltic Radio erinnert auch mit einem Interview an den großen
deutschen Veranstaltungsmanager Fritz Rau.

Sunday, 1st of September
08.00 to 09.00 UTC on 7265 KHz
09.00 to 10.00 UTC on 9480 KHz
All reports to: MVBR:  info@mvbalticradio.de  Thank you!

European Music Radio will return in October!

Good Listening!
73s
Tom

Worldwide All-Ireland Finals coverage on RTÉ Radio

RTÉ RADIO ASKS THOSE AT HOME TO HELP IN BRINGING THE GAA ALL IRELAND FINALS TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY WORLWIDE
RTÉ Radio will broadcast the GAA All Ireland Hurling Final on Sunday 8 September and the All Ireland Football Final on Sunday 22 September on all wavelengths and via the internet to Irish people and communities around the world.
RTÉ is asking on those with relatives or friends abroad to let them know that this coverage is available and to invite them to the biggest party in Ireland’s sporting calendar.

Ireland: At home, audiences can listen as usual to the GAA finals on RTÉ Radio 1 FM, DAB, RTÉ.ie and on Longwave 252.
Britain: Across most of Britain, listeners can receive our coverage on Long Wave 252. In addition RTÉ Radio 1 is available on the UK free to air satellite platform Freesat on channel 750.

Worldwide: Across the world, the match commentaries will be available online at www.rte.ie/radio1 and www.rte.ie/sport
Shortwave to Africa: In Africa, where many Irish people live and work, often in relative isolation with poor communications, RTÉ is providing special transmissions on shortwave radio. See details below.

SHORTWAVE FREQUENCIES FOR AFRICA
Both Finals throw in at 3.30pm Irish Time

Southern Africa - 7405 kHz (2pm to 6pm)
East Africa - 17725 kHz (2pm to 5pm)
East Africa -11620 kHz (5pm to 6pm)
West Africa - 7505 kHz (2pm to 6pm)
These services are part of RTÉ’s continued commitment to Irish people overseas and, over the years, has proven especially popular with those in geographically or technically isolated areas.
In addition to RTÉ Radio broadcasts, RTÉ will also broadcast the All Ireland Finals on RTÉ Two Television. Don’t forget also the extensive and dynamic online offering from www.rte.ie/sport.
For further details of RTÉ coverage abroad please see
http://www.rte.ie/radio/worldwide.html

STANAG 4285 - the motorboat signal all over the shortwave bands

Many shortwave listeners wonder what is this strange "motorboat like" signal, that is heard with strong signal all over the shortwave bands. Is it a jammer of some kind? Or it's a local interference? No, this is the so-called STANAG 4285. If you wonder what is STANAG, please check the Wikipedia article on it. STANAG-4285 is a standard for the characteristics of 1200/2400/3600 bit/s single tone MODEMs that are used for HF radio links between the NATO military bases. These military bases do transmit on virtually all shortwave bands - from 2 to 26 MHz. Here is a list of frequencies, compiled by Mr.Eddy Waters from Australia:

4041.5 4055.2 4112.6 4152.0 4169.0 4225.5 4228.0 4236.2 4237.2 4244.6 4253.2 4255.0 4263.2 4278.2 4280.6 4299.2 4305.2 4306.0 4307.2 4310.2 4317.2 4345.0 4346.0 4347.5 4372.0 4376.2 4401.8 4509.7 4532.7 4572.5 4576.2 4588.6 4590.0 4603.2 4643.0 4680.1 4686.0 4687.2 4781.7 4808.2 4810.2 4901.0 5048.0 5085.2 5101.0 5102.2 5148.2 5235.7 5246.2 5266.6 5278.0 5278.2 5278.6 5279.7 5282.0 5309.7 5332.0 5336.5 5348.2 5361.7 5362.2 5379.0 5427.7 5700.0 5732.7 5784.7 5786.5 5789.7 5848.2 6227.6 6249.2 6251.0 6253.2 6258.2 6259.2 6286.7 6335.2 6343.2 6360.6 6382.2 6388.7 6393.2 6398.7 6403.2 6405.2 6408.5 6408.7 6419.2 6423.2 6424.0 6428.2 6429.2 6442.2 6443.2 6465.0 6472.2 6490.5 6492.7 6493.2 6500.7 6711.2 6765.0 6780.7 6781.2 6787.7 6793.2 6794.5 6805.2 6842.6 6843.2 6881.0 6889.6 6892.0 6893.2 6903.2 6903.2 6968.0 7405.2 7406.2 7420.7 7467.2 7467.7 7601.2 7723.0 7776.7 7800.0 7843.2 7853.2 7982.0 8005.0 8008.2 8022.2 8027.2 8049.7 8073.7 8082.0 8098.2 8106.7 8108.5 8109.7 8138.0 8138.2 8156.2 8170.2 8170.5 8172.0 8178.2 8248.0 8271.2 8300.2 8340.0 8355.0 8456.2 8463.2 8468.2 8470.0 8474.2 8488.2 8508.0 8511.0 8524.2 8540.2 8541.0 8542.0 8552.6 8573.6 8612.2 8612.2 8618.2 8632.6 8661.0 8672.2 8695.2 8697.4 8698.2 8708.2 8793.6 9005.0 9028.6 9052.7 9095.0 9098.6 9100.5 9132.0 9270.0 9910.7 9956.2 10012.0 10111.5 10170.2 10186.1 10233.2 10264.2 10274.2 10352.2 10352.2 10353.2 10371.2 10408.2 10439.6 10449.7 10478.0 10499.7 10522.0 10555.5 10559.2 10561.0 10568.2 10568.7 10568.7 10569.2 10599.0 10658.2 10669.2 10740.0 10741.7 10742.0 10751.6 10758.2 10778.2 10807.2 10807.7 10836.7 10948.2 10948.7 10967.2 11000.0 11006.2 11015.0 11016.7 11021.2 11042.7 11072.7 11105.2 11200.0 11228.0 11405.5 11414.0 11455.2 11457.0 11538.2 11540.0 12144.6 12154.2 12193.0 12203.2 12221.0 12275.0 12305.7 12368.2 12386.0 12396.0 12406.0 12416.2 12568.0 12570.0 12661.2 12685.2 12691.2 12692.0 12704.5 12715.2 12724.0 12749.2 12771.0 12784.2 12804.2 12829.2 12847.2 12860.5 12873.6 12883.6 12883.7 12913.0 12915.0 12930.7 12932.2 12958.0 12958.2 12982.0 13057.6 13072.2 13091.5 13410.0 13410.7 13411.6 13413.7 13415.5 13445.0 13495.0 13588.2 13917.2 13919.0 14320.0 14371.5 14376.2 14385.2 14388.2 14442.2 14616.0 14638.2 14723.7 14749.2 14870.0 14901.0 15000.0 15851.0 16000.0 16028.2 16030.0 16158.2 16205.0 16225.0 16250.0 16270.2 16333.2 16356.7 16456.5 16574.2 16589.2 16611.6 16656.0 16748.2 16790.0 16905.0 16916.2 16921.8 16924.2 16925.0 16931.0 17060.6 17082.2 17097.6 17106.6 17125.7 17130.0 17135.6 17179.6 17192.6 17197.5 17200.2 17202.2 17218.7 17219.0 17237.7 17378.2 17799.2 17930.2 18045.0 18259.2 18366.0 18367.5 18375.2 18493.5 18507.2 18532.7 18538.0 18555.0 18598.4 18853.2 18855.0 19714.2 19729.2 19730.2 19737.7 19800.0 19830.2 19898.2 20000.0 20010.2 20151.0 20160.2 20192.0 20290.0 20975.2 22178.5 22188.2 22413.0 22544.6 26130.2

Some of these are very strong and you may hear them round the clock, but, of course, it depends on your location. At my QTH in Central Bulgaria, I am able to hear STANAG-4285 signals from Italy, Germany and other European countries with relatively good signal on 5 and 6 MHz round the clock, even in the summer. I have no idea of the transmitters, but wouldn't be surprised if they use output power of up to several kilowatts.
The signal itself consists of several sub modes (75-2400 bps) and two different interleaving options (short and long). The waveform consists of a 1800 Hz carrier with PSK modulation.
Most of the traffic is encrypted, but there are some stations that are not. The Sigmira software does an admirable job decoding STANAG-4285 traffic. Here are some examples:


I hope you're now familiar with what is called STANAG-4285, the motorboat signal that appears all over the HF bands. If you're interested in receiving utility stations and decoding digital links, do not hesitate to join the UDXF mailing list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/udxf/ 73!

Radio Inyabutatu now on shortwave

Starting August 31, 2013, a new radio station will start broadcasting on shortwave. It concerns Radio Inyabutatu. Radio Inyabutatu will broadcast on Saturdays from 1700-1800 UTC on 17870 kHz in the 16 meter band.

For more information, visit www.radioinyabutatu.com

(via DXLD/Alokesh Gupta)

The power of the beverage antenna

Here is a 49 meters band scan between 1430 and 1530 UTC (which is 1700 local time here in Bulgaria and almost 4 hours before local sunset) that I made a few days ago. It shows the power of the beverage antenna when receiving on the lower bands.

5905kHz - China Radio International - Russian - 2
5915kHz - China Radio International - Mongolian - 2
5925kHz - China National Radio 1 - Chinese - 1
5940kHz - Radio Australia - English - 2
5943kHz - RTTY utility station - 3
5950kHz - Voice of Tigray Revollution - unscheduled transmission - 2
5985kHz - Shiokaze See Breeze - 2, with sub-audible heterodyne from Myanmar Radio on 5986 kHz.
5990kHz - China National Radio in Tibetan - 2, in co-channel with PBS Quinghai.
6000kHz - China National Radio 1 - Chinese - 2
6003kHz - Korean jamming against Echo of Hope - 2.
6010kHz - China National Radio 11 - Tibetan - 2
6015kHz - PBS Xinjiang + KBS/North Korean Jamming - 2
6030kHz - China National Radio 1 - Chinese - 2
6035kHz - Bhutan BS (presumed), barely audible carrier here, not sure of what is it
6040kHz - China Radio International - Chinese - 2, co-channel with PBS Nei Menggu in Mongolian
6045kHz - All India Radio - Urdu - 4
6050kHz - RTM Asyik FM/Radio Tujuh - Malaysian - 2
6065kHz - China National Radio 2 - Chinese - 2
6070kHz - Radio Northsea International - English - 2
6075kHz - Firedrake Jamming against Radio Taiwan International in Chinese - 3
6080kHz - China National Radio 1 - Chinese 3, co-ch with the strong signal of Radio Stalica, relayed by the Radio Belarus transmitters after 1500UTC.
6085kHz - Radio Rossii - Russian - 2
6090kHz - China National Radio 2 - Chinese - 2
6095kHz - China Radio International - English - 5
6105kHz - Radio Liberty - Belarussian - 4
6120kHz - PBS Xinjiang - Uyghur - 3
6125kHz - China National Radio 1 - Chinese - 2
6130kHz - Russian utility communications in AM - 3, Tibet is absent.
6140kHz - VOA Simple English - 4
6145kHz - Firedrake Jamming against Radio Taiwan International in Chinese - 4
6155kHz - China National Radio 2 - Chinese - 3
6165kHz - China National Radio 6 - Chinese - 2
6185kHz - Voice of Russia World Service - English - 2
6190kHz - PBS Xinjiang - Mongolian - 4
6195kHz - BBC - Farsi - 5
6200kHz - Tibet is probably absent on this frequency too.

Antennas used:

• 250m beverage to Central Asia
• 250m beverage to South Asia, Indian Ocean and Australia
• 100m beverage, bi-directional to Africa and Central Europe

DX RE MIX NEWS # 796

AZERBAIJAN   An unidentified station probably in Azeri with awful audio and
modulation (not Voice of Talyshistan), was observed again on Wed, August 21
1100-1300 on 9677.6 SPK 010 kW / non-dir to CeAs, QRM ROU German 1200-1256.

BOSNIA/SERBIA    International Radio Serbia in appeared on shortwave again
1730-1800 on  6100 BIJ 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu Italian on August 22

EGYPT   Radio Cairo on off-frequency, instead of 9965 was noted on Aug.20:
2300-0030 on 9963.5 ABS 200 kW / 325 deg to NEAm English
0030-0430 on 9963.5 ABS 200 kW / 325 deg to NEAm Arabic

EGYPT   Radio Cairo is spreading spurious signals in the 31 mb +/- 45v kHz:
0045-0200 on  9720 ABZ 250 kW / 330 deg to NoAm Spanish on August 23
0200-0330 on  9720 ABZ 250 kW / 330 deg to NoAm English on August 23

ETHIOPIA    Radio Ethiopia is drifting off-frequency on August 21
1600-1800 on  7236.2 GEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH English/French
1600-1800 on  9564.5 GEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH English/French

GREECE   No shortwave broadcasts from ERT at 0500 UTC on August 20
0400-0807 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek or till 1200
0400-0807 on 11645 AVL 100 kW / 182 deg to NoAf Greek or till 1157
0400-0807 on 15630 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek or till 1200
Also no signal on other frequencies of ERT 7450, 7475, 9935, 15650

GREECE   ERT is still off the air. No signal in the afternoon on August 20:
from 1200 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek
1200-1657 on  9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek
1200-1357 on 15630 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek
1400-1857 on 15650 AVL 100 kW / 105 deg to SoAs Greek
from 1700 on  7450 AVL 100 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek

GREECE   ERT accidentally went on air at 2200 on August 20:
from 2200 on  7450 AVL 100 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek
from 2200 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek
from 2200 on 15630 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek
from 2310 on  7475 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to NoAm Greek
from 2300 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to NoAm Greek
from 2300 on 15650 AVL 100 kW / 226 deg to CeAm Greek
In parallel with ERT mediumwave frequencies: 729, 1260

GREECE   More and more unscheduled wrong frequencies of ERT on August 22:
from 0400 on  7475 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to NoAm Greek, instead of 11645 to Af
from 0400 on 15650 AVL 100 kW / 226 deg to CeAm Greek, instead of 15630 to Eu
from 0400 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek

GREECE   No shortwave broadcasts of ERT (or new EDT) on August 25:
0400-0807 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek
0400-0807 on 11645 AVL 100 kW / 182 deg to NoAf Greek
0400-0807 on 15630 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek
Also no signal on other frequencies of ERT 7450, 7475, 9935, 15650
Unmodulated carriers 0745-0815 on 9420, 11635, 15630 and then started ERT:
0815-1200 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek
0815-1200 on 11645 AVL 100 kW / 182 deg to NoAf Greek, ex till 1157
0815-1200 on 15630 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek
from 1200 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek
1200-1245 on 11645 AVL 100 kW / 182 deg to NoAf Greek , not 9935
from 1247 on  9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek until 1657
from 1200 on 15630 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek until 1357

GREECE    Only single frequency of ERT is on the air on August 26/27:
1200-2300 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek
2300-0400 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to NoAm Greek
0400-0800 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek

INDONESIA    Summer A-13 schedule of Voice of Indonesia:
1000-1100 on  9526vJAK 250 kW / 135 deg to AUS  English
1100-1200 on  9526vJAK 250 kW / 010 deg to EaAs Chinese
1200-1300 on  9526vJAK 250 kW / 010 deg to EaAs Japanese
1300-1400 on  9526vJAK 250 kW / 010 deg to EaAs English
1400-1500 on  9526vJAK 250 kW / 010 deg to EaAs Indonesian
1500-1600 on  9526vJAK 250 kW / 010 deg to EaAs Chinese
1600-1700 on  9526vJAK 250 kW / 290 deg to N/ME Arabic
1700-1800 on  9526vJAK 250 kW / 290 deg to WeEu Spanish
1800-1900 on  9526vJAK 250 kW / 290 deg to WeEu German
1900-2000 on  9526vJAK 250 kW / 290 deg to WeEu English
2000-2100 on  9526vJAK 250 kW / 290 deg to WeEu French

MOLDOVA   No broadcasts of Radio PMR Pridnestrovye on August 20
2300-2400 on  9665 KCH 300 kW / 309 deg to WeEu English Sun-Thu
2315-2330 on  9665 KCH 300 kW / 309 deg to WeEu German  Sun-Thu
2330-2345 on  9665 KCH 300 kW / 309 deg to WeEu French  Sun-Thu
2345-2400 on  9665 KCH 300 kW / 309 deg to WeEu English Sun-Thu
The regular broadcasts of Voice of Russia World Service started
on the same frequency at 0000UTC on August 21.

MONGOLIA    Summer A-13 for Voice of Mongolia:
0900-0930 on 12085 U-B 250 kW / 178 deg to SoAs English
0930-1000 on 12085 U-B 250 kW / 178 deg to SoAs Mongolian
1000-1030 on 12085 U-B 250 kW / 116 deg to EaAs Chinese
1030-1100 on 12085 U-B 250 kW / 116 deg to EaAs Japanese
1400-1430 on 12015 U-B 250 kW / 178 deg to SoAs Mongolian
1430-1500 on 12015 U-B 250 kW / 178 deg to SoAs Chinese
1500-1530 on 12015 U-B 250 kW / 116 deg to EaAs Japanese
1530-1600 on 12015 U-B 250 kW / 116 deg to EaAs English

MYANMAR    Summer A-13 SW schedule from Myanmar:
0000-0030 on  5915 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0000-0030 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0000-0030 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0000-0030 on  6030 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Thazin Radio General Sce
0000-0030 on  6165 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Chin Thazin Radio Regional Sce
0000-0030 on  7200 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio

0030-0130 on  5915 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0000-0130 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0000-0130 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0000-0130 on  6030 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Thazin Radio General Sce
0030-0130 on  6165 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Karen Thazin Radio Regional Sce
0030-0130 on  7200 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio

0130-0200 on  5915 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0130-0200 on  6030 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs English Thazin Radio General Sce
0130-0200 on  7200 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0130-0200 on  9590 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Wa Thazin Radio Regional Sce
0130-0200 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0130-0200 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio

0200-0230 on  5915 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0200-0230 on  7200 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0200-0230 on  9590 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Wa Thazin Radio Regional Sce
0200-0230 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0200-0230 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio

0230-0300 on  5915 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0230-0300 on  7200 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0230-0300 on  9460 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Thazin Radio
0230-0300 on  9590 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Pa-O Thazin Radio Regional Sce
0230-0300 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0230-0300 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio

0300-0330 on  5915 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0300-0330 on  9460 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Thazin Radio
0300-0330 on  9590 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Pa-O Thazin Radio Regional Sce
0300-0330 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0300-0330 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio

0330-0430 on  5915 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0330-0430 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0330-0430 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio

0430-0530 on  5915 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0430-0530 on  9460 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Thazin Radio General Sce
0430-0530 on  9590 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Lhao Vo Thazin Radio Regional Sce
0430-0530 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0430-0530 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio

0530-0630 on  9460 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Thazin Radio General Sce
0530-0630 on  9590 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Po Thazin Radio Regional Sce
0530-0630 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0530-0630 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio

0630-0700 on  9460 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs English Thazin Radio General Sce
0630-0700 on  9590 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Kayah Thazin Radio Regional Sce
0630-0700 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0630-0700 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio

0700-0730 on  9460 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Thazin Radio
0700-0730 on  9590 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Kayah Thazin Radio Regional Sce
0700-0730 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs English Myanmar Radio
0700-0730 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs English Myanmar Radio

0730-0830 on  5915 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0730-0830 on  9460 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Thazin Radio
0730-0830 on  9590 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Shan Thazin Radio Regional Sce
0730-0830 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0730-0830 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio

0830-0930 on  5915 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0830-0930 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0830-0930 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio

0930-1000 on  5915 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radioo
0930-1000 on  6165 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Thazin Radio General Sce
0930-1000 on  7345 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Kachin Thazin Radio Regional Sce
0930-1000 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
0930-1000 on  9731 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio

1000-1030 on  5915 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1000-1030 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1000-1030 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1000-1030 on  6165 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Thazin Radio General Sce
1000-1030 on  7345 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Kachin Thazin Radio Regional Sce

1030-1130 on  5915 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1030-1130 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1030-1130 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1030-1130 on  6165 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Thazin Radio General Sce
1030-1130 on  7200 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1030-1130 on  7345 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Pwo Kayin Thazin Radio Regional Sce

1130-1230 on  5915 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1130-1230 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1130-1230 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1130-1230 on  6165 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Thazin Radio General Sce
1130-1230 on  7200 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1130-1230 on  7345 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Sgaw Thazin Radio Regional Sce

1230-1330 on  5915 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1230-1330 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1230-1330 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1230-1330 on  6165 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Thazin Radio General Sce
1230-1330 on  7200 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1230-1330 on  7345 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Mon Thazin Radio Regional Sce

1330-1430 on  5915 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1330-1430 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1330-1430 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1330-1430 on  6165 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Thazin Radio General Sce

1430-1500 on  5915 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1430-1500 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1430-1500 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1430-1500 on  6165 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs English Thazin Radio General Sce

1500-1530 on  5915 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1500-1530 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
1500-1530 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio

1530-1630 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs English Myanmar Radio
1530-1630 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs English Myanmar Radio

2300-2330 on  5915 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
2300-2330 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
2300-2330 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio

2330-2400 on  5915 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
2330-2400 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 176 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
2330-2400 on  5986 YAN 025 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio
2330-2400 on  6030 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Thazin Radio General Sce
2330-2400 on  6165 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Chin Thazin Radio Regional Sce
2330-2400 on  7200 NAY 050 kW / 356 deg to SEAs Burmese Myanmar Radio

SRI LANKA    Monitored schedule of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation/SLBC/
The station is on the air in different days on different weeks of the month
1630-1830 on 11750 TRM 125 kW / 345 deg to SoAs Sinhala Mon/Tue/Fri/Sat 1st
1630-1830 on 11750 TRM 125 kW / 345 deg to SoAs Sinhala Mon/Tue/Thu/Sat 2nd
1630-1830 on 11750 TRM 125 kW / 345 deg to SoAs Sinhala Mon/Tue/Wed/Sat 3rd
1630-1830 on 11750 TRM 125 kW / 345 deg to SoAs Sinhala Tue/Wed/Thu/Sat 4th
1630-1830 on 11750 TRM 125 kW / 345 deg to SoAs Sinhala Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat 5th

THAILAND    Summer A-13 schedule of Radio Thailand (HSK9):
0000-0030 on 15275 UDO 250 kW / 006 deg to NEAm English
0030-0100 on 15275 UDO 250 kW / 038 deg to NWAm English

0100-0200 on 15275 UDO 250 kW / 038 deg to NWAm Thai
0200-0230 on 15275 UDO 250 kW / 006 deg to NEAm English
0230-0330 on 15275 UDO 250 kW / 006 deg to NEAm Thai

0530-0600 on 17770 UDO 250 kW / 308 deg to WeEu English

1000-1100 on 17770 UDO 250 kW / 305 deg to N&ME Thai

1100-1115 on  5875 UDO 250 kW / 144 deg to Vietnamese
1115-1130 on  5875 UDO 250 kW / 144 deg to SEAs Khmer
1130-1145 on  5875 UDO 250 kW / 030 deg to SEAs Lao
1145-1200 on  5875 UDO 250 kW / 284 deg to SEAs Burmese

1200-1215 on  9390 UDO 250 kW / 154 deg to SEAs Bahasa Malay

1230-1300 on  9390 UDO 250 kW / 132 deg to SEAs English

1300-1315 on  9795 UDO 250 kW / 054 deg to EaAs Japanese
1315-1330 on  9795 UDO 250 kW / 030 deg to EaAs Mandarin
1330-1400 on  9795 UDO 250 kW / 054 deg to EaAs Thai

1400-1430 on  9950 UDO 250 kW / 132 deg to SEAs English

1800-1900 on  9390 UDO 250 kW / 313 deg to WeEu Thai

1900-2000 on  9390 UDO 250 kW / 329 deg to WeEu English

2000-2015 on  9390 UDO 250 kW / 321 deg to WeEu German
2030-2045 on  9390 UDO 250 kW / 321 deg to WeEu English
2045-2115 on  9390 UDO 250 kW / 313 deg to WeEu Thai

TIBET(non)    Frequency changes of Voice of Tibet from August 21:
1230-1245 NF 15553 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 15557
1245-1300 NF 15558 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 15563
1315-1345 NF 15563 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 15568
1345-1400 NF 15568 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 15562
1400-1430 NF 15562 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 15568

VIETNAM(non)    Summer A-13 SW schedule for Voice of Vietnam:
0000-0058 on  7285 MET 050 kW / 216 deg to SEAs Vietnamese

0100-0128 on 12005 WOF 250 kW / 282 deg to NoAm English

0130-0228 on 12005 WOF 250 kW / 282 deg to NoAm Vietnamese

0230-0258 on 12005 WOF 250 kW / 282 deg to NoAm English

0300-0328 on  6175 HRI 250 kW / 173 deg to CeAm Spanish

0330-0358 on  6175 HRI 250 kW / 173 deg to CeAm English

0400-0428 on  6175 HRI 250 kW / 173 deg to CeAm Spanish

0430-0528 on  6175 HRI 100 kW / 315 deg to NWAm Vietnamese

1000-1028 on  9840 SON 100 kW / 177 deg to SEAs English
1000-1028 on 12020 SON 100 kW / 177 deg to SEAs English

1030-1058 on  7285 MET 050 kW / 216 deg to SEAs Khmer
1030-1058 on  9840 SON 100 kW / 177 deg to SEAs Indonesian
1030-1058 on 12020 SON 100 kW / 177 deg to SEAs Indonesian

1100-1128 on  7220 SON 100 kW / 027 deg to FERu Chinese
1100-1128 on  7285 MET 050 kW / 216 deg to SEAs English
1100-1128 on  9840 SON 100 kW / 057 deg to EaAs Japanese
1100-1128 on 12000 SON 100 kW / 027 deg to FERu Chinese
1100-1128 on 12020 SON 100 kW / 057 deg to EaAs Japanese

1130-1158 on  7220 SON 100 kW / 027 deg to FERu Russian
1130-1158 on  7285 MET 050 kW / 216 deg to SEAs Thai
1130-1158 on  9840 SON 100 kW / 057 deg to EaAs English
1130-1158 on 12000 SON 100 kW / 027 deg to FERu Russian
1130-1158 on 12020 SON 100 kW / 057 deg to EaAs English

1200-1228 on  7220 SON 100 kW / 027 deg to FERu Chinese
1200-1228 on  7285 MET 050 kW / 216 deg to SEAs French
1200-1228 on  9840 SON 100 kW / 057 deg to EaAs Japanese
1200-1228 on 12000 SON 100 kW / 027 deg to FERu Chinese
1200-1228 on 12020 SON 100 kW / 057 deg to EaAs Japanese

1230-1258 on  7220 SON 100 kW / 027 deg to FERu Russian
1230-1258 on  7285 MET 050 kW / 216 deg to SEAs Khmer
1230-1258 on  9840 SON 100 kW / 177 deg to SEAs English
1230-1258 on 12000 SON 100 kW / 027 deg to FERu Russian
1230-1258 on 12020 SON 100 kW / 177 deg to SEAs English

1300-1328 on  7220 SON 100 kW / 027 deg to FERu Chinese
1300-1328 on  7285 MET 050 kW / 216 deg to SEAs French
1300-1328 on  9840 SON 100 kW / 177 deg to SEAs Indonesian
1300-1328 on 12000 SON 100 kW / 027 deg to FERu Chinese
1300-1328 on 12020 SON 100 kW / 177 deg to SEAs Indonesian

1330-1428 on  7285 MET 050 kW / 216 deg to SEAs Lao

1330-1358 on  9840 SON 100 kW / 057 deg to EaAs English
1330-1358 on 12020 SON 100 kW / 057 deg to EaAs English

1400-1428 on  9840 SON 100 kW / 057 deg to EaAs Japanese
1400-1428 on 12020 SON 100 kW / 057 deg to EaAs Japanese

1430-1458 on  7285 MET 050 kW / 216 deg to SEAs Thai
1430-1458 on  9840 SON 100 kW / 177 deg to SEAs Indonesian
1430-1458 on 12020 SON 100 kW / 177 deg to SEAs Indonesian

1500-1528 on  7285 MET 050 kW / 216 deg to SEAs English
1500-1528 on  9840 SON 100 kW / 177 deg to SEAs English
1500-1528 on 12020 SON 100 kW / 177 deg to SEAs English

1500-1558 on  7220 SON 100 kW / 290 deg to N/ME Vietnamese
1500-1558 on  9550 SON 100 kW / 290 deg to NoAf Vietnamese

1530-1558 on  7285 MET 050 kW / 216 deg to SEAs Thai

1600-1628 on  7220 SON 100 kW / 290 deg to N/ME English
1600-1628 on  7280 SON 100 kW / 320 deg to EaEu English
1600-1628 on  9550 SON 100 kW / 290 deg to NoAf English
1600-1628 on  9730 SON 100 kW / 320 deg to WeEu English

1630-1658 on  7220 SON 100 kW / 290 deg to N/ME French
1630-1658 on  7280 SON 100 kW / 320 deg to EaEu Russian
1630-1658 on  9550 SON 100 kW / 290 deg to NoAf French
1630-1658 on  9730 SON 100 kW / 320 deg to WeEu Russian

1700-1728 on  9625 MOS 100 kW / 300 deg to WeEu English

1700-1758 on  7280 SON 100 kW / 320 deg to EaEu Vietnamese
1700-1758 on  9730 SON 100 kW / 320 deg to WeEu Vietnamese

1730-1828 on  9625 MOS 100 kW / 300 deg to WeEu Vietnamese

1800-1828 on  7280 SON 100 kW / 320 deg to EaEu German
1800-1828 on  9730 SON 100 kW / 320 deg to WeEu German

1830-1858 on  7280 SON 100 kW / 320 deg to EaEu French
1830-1858 on  9625 MOS 100 kW / 300 deg to WeEu French
1830-1858 on  9730 SON 100 kW / 320 deg to WeEu French

1900-1928 on  9890 WOF 250 kW / 075 deg to EaEu Russian

1900-1928 on  7280 SON 100 kW / 320 deg to EaEu English
1900-1928 on  9730 SON 100 kW / 320 deg to WeEu English

1930-1958 on  7280 SON 100 kW / 320 deg to EaEu French
1930-1958 on  9430 WOF 250 kW / 182 deg to WeEu German
1930-1958 on  9730 SON 100 kW / 320 deg to WeEu French

2000-2028 on  7280 SON 100 kW / 320 deg to EaEu Russian
2000-2028 on  9430 WOF 250 kW / 182 deg to WeEu German
2000-2028 on  9730 SON 100 kW / 320 deg to WeEu Russian

2030-2058 on  7220 SON 100 kW / 290 deg to N/ME English
2030-2058 on  7280 SON 100 kW / 320 deg to WeEu English
2030-2058 on  9550 SON 100 kW / 290 deg to NoAf English
2030-2058 on  9730 SON 100 kW / 320 deg to WeEu English

2100-2128 on  7220 SON 100 kW / 290 deg to N/ME French
2100-2128 on  7280 SON 100 kW / 320 deg to WeEu French
2100-2128 on  9550 SON 100 kW / 290 deg to NoAf French
2100-2128 on  9730 SON 100 kW / 320 deg to WeEu French
2030-2128 on 11840 WOF 250 kW / 114 deg to SEEu Vietnamese

2200-2228 on  7220 SON 100 kW / 027 deg to FERu Chinese
2200-2228 on  7285 MET 050 kW / 216 deg to SEAs Thai
2200-2228 on 12000 SON 100 kW / 027 deg to FERu Chinese

2200-2228 on  9840 SON 100 kW / 057 deg to EaAs Japanese
2200-2228 on 12020 SON 100 kW / 057 deg to EaAs Japanese

2230-2258 on  7285 MET 050 kW / 216 deg to SEAs Khmer
2230-2258 on  9840 SON 100 kW / 057 deg to EaAs Chinese
2230-2258 on 12020 SON 100 kW / 057 deg to EaAs Chinese

2300-2328 on  9840 SON 100 kW / 177 deg to SEAs Indonesian
2300-2328 on 12020 SON 100 kW / 177 deg to SEAs Indonesian

2300-2358 on  7285 MET 050 kW / 216 deg to SEAs Lao

2330-2358 on  9840 SON 100 kW / 177 deg to SEAs English
2330-2358 on 12020 SON 100 kW / 177 deg to SEAs English

USA    WWCR-1 in Russian and Arabic heard with very good signal in Bulgaria
1100-1130 on 15825 WCR 100 kW / 046 deg to WeEu on Thursday, August 22

USA    New 24 hours schedule of Brother Stair in English via WTWW-2*:
1300-2400 on  9930 TWW 100 kW / 180 deg to SoAm, ex 1150/1153-2400
0000-1300 on  5085 TWW 100 kW / 180 deg to SoAm, new broadcasting time
from 0716 NF  9930 TWW 100 kW / 180 deg to SoAm, ex 5085 on Tue, August 27!
*including irregular airings of World of Radio Sat/Sun 2330 and/or Sun 0000

Radio propagation beacons

In this article, I'll introduce to you the radio propagation beacons. Have you ever wondered why one day you have listened to a distant station from several thousand miles with good signal and the other day there has been almost no sign of it. In almost all cases, this depends on the HF propagation conditions. And the best way to check the propagation is the world wide beacon system. It is a system of amateur operated beacons that do transmit in CW (telegraphy). Each beacon transmits its callsign every three minutes, no matter if it's day or night. It is sent at 22 words per minute and is followed by four one second dashes. The callsign and the first dash are sent at 100 watts, followed by 3 dashes: 1 at 10 watts, 1 at 1 watt and 1 at 100 milliwats. If you are able to hear all the dashes then the band is really open and the conditions are excellent (and your antenna is working well too).

Call		Location	14.100	18.110	21.150	24.930	28.200	Operator	Status
4U1UN		United Nations	00:00	00:10	00:20	00:30	00:40	UNRC	OFF3
VE8AT		Canada	00:10	00:20	00:30	00:40	00:50	RAC/NARC	OK1
W6WX		United States	00:20	00:30	00:40	00:50	01:00	NCDXF	OK
KH6WO		Hawaii	00:30	00:40	00:50	01:00	01:10	KH6BYU	OK
ZL6B		New Zealand	00:40	00:50	01:00	01:10	01:20	NZART	OK
VK6RBP		Australia	00:50	01:00	01:10	01:20	01:30	WIA	OK
JA2IGY		Japan	01:00	01:10	01:20	01:30	01:40	JARL	OK
RR9O		Russia	01:10	01:20	01:30	01:40	01:50	SRR	OK
VR2B		Hong Kong	01:20	01:30	01:40	01:50	02:00	HARTS	OK
4S7B		Sri Lanka	01:30	01:40	01:50	02:00	02:10	RSSL	OK
ZS6DN		South Africa	01:40	01:50	02:00	02:10	02:20	ZS6DN	OK
5Z4B		Kenya	01:50	02:00	02:10	02:20	02:30	ARSK	OK
4X6TU		Israel	02:00	02:10	02:20	02:30	02:40	IARC	ON8
OH2B		Finland	02:10	02:20	02:30	02:40	02:50	SRAL	OK
CS3B		Madeira	02:20	02:30	02:40	02:50	00:00	ARRM	OK
LU4AA		Argentina	02:30	02:40	02:50	00:00	00:10	RCA	OFF?6
OA4B		Peru	02:40	02:50	00:00	00:10	00:20	RCP	OK
YV5B		Venezuela	02:50	00:00	00:10	00:20	00:30	RCV	OFF4

Thanks to NCDXF/IARU for the transmission schedule.

Observations on the US religious broadcasters

0900: 5830kHz - WTWW - 55544 - ""Scriptures for America" program, instead of the listed in the website "Radio Ranch Message" which ended at 0858. Utility station a few kHz up, but not causing interference.
0904: 5890kHz - WWCR - 45544 - "Brother Stair" saying the word and trying to sing from time to time. Gospel music. Giving postal address at 0908.
0918: 6195kHz - WHRI Angel 2 - 45444 - relaying NHK World Radio Japan in Portuguese.
0921: 5935kHz - WWCR-2 - 55555 - relaying Pastor Melissa Scott's University Network.
0927: 4840kHz - WWCR-4 - 45444 -  "The Power Hour". Joyce Riley talking about the control of Internet communications like email. Program promos and commercials at 0930.
0931: 11520kHz - WEWN EWTN - English to South East Asia - 25542. Catholic programming.
0936: 3185kHz - WWRB - English - 35444 - relaying Brother Stair.
0938: 6090kHz - Caribbean Beacon - English - 54554 - Relaying Pastor Melissa Scott. Utility station on 6091.5kHz causing interference. Best in ECSS LSB.

Using a remote receiver in California.

Latest HAM QSLs

I received two nice QSL cards on Friday - from LY9A from Lithuania and DF1IAQ from Germany. Thank you guys! Wish you all the best and 73!

Unidentified Russian station on 4807 LSB

The station was recorded on 22 August at 1810 UTC. At 00:45 at the recording, I switch to 4807 LSB where there's a morse code station. Than I come back to 4806 LSB to listen to more traffic from the Russian station. Does anyone have an idea what's the purpose of the station? Very few utility stations use LSB.

Mysterious beacons inside the LW and MW AM broadcast bands

I regularly receive mysterious NDB beacons inside the AM broadcast bands. Here are some recordings made with Sony ICF-2001D receiver. Note that on some of them there's strong interference appearing from local broadcast stations because the receiver does not have narrow CW filters. I made the listening in either USB or LSB mode.

22.08.2013 LL beacon 0735 on 659 USB


22.08.2013 D beacon 0556 on 610 USB


22.08.2013 BSE beacon 0718 on 256 LSB (moderate adjacent QRM from BNR1-Horizont on 261 kHz AM


22.08.2013 OPW beacon 0725 on 267.5 USB (strong adjacent QRM from BNR1-Horizont on 261 kHz AM

Radio Japan to Central Africa

Radio Japan broadcasting in Japanese to Central Africa as received in Troyan on 22 August on 15130 kHz AM with Sony ICF-2001D and 150 metres beverage antenna, directed to Western Europe.

Bangkok Meteo on 6676 kHz

Bangkok Meteo as received in Troyan on 22 August on 6676 kHz USB with Sony ICF-2001D and 250 metres beverage antenna, directed to South Asia.

China Radio International in Russian

China Radio International, broadcasting in Russian with 500kW out of Urumqi-Hutubi on 13580 kHz, as received in Troyan on 22th August.

Italian coastal stations on 2MHZ

Here are some recordings of Italian coastal stations, logged by me on 22th August on 2 MHz:

2663kHz - Crotone Radio in USB at 2140
2628kHz - Augusta Radio at 2137 with adjacent STANAG 4285 QRM
2789kHz - Messina Radio at 2154

All receptions were made in USB mode. Antenna used was 150 meters long beverage, directed to Western and South Europe.

RADIO GLORIA INTERNATIONAL this weekend

25th August - RGI-schedule SW
07 - 09 UTC (9-11)   on 7265 KHz
09 - 11 UTC (11-13) on 9480 KHz
09 - 10 UTC (11-12) on 6005 KHz and „shortwaveservice.com “/6005 Internet
15 - 17 UTC (17-19) on ColoRadio.org and laut.fm/kompakt
Repeated:
3-5 pm UTC (17-18) 1. Sept. „laut.fm/kompakt “

All reports please to:    radiogloria@aol.com

VOA Radiogram this weekend

We will transmit another sample of VOA Chinese text on this weekend’s VOA Radiogram. If blocks appear rather than Chinese characters, try copying and pasting those blocks to a word processor to see if the characters appear.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, 23-24 August 2013:

• 2:20  MFSK16: Program preview
• 1:46  MFSK32: Chinese text sample*
• 6:33  MFSK32: VOA News re robot, with image
• 6:39  MFSK32: VOA News re Kepler Telescope, with image
• 4:32  MFSK64/Flmsg: RFE/RL News re left-handers in former USSR**
• 1:18  MFSK32: Image accompanying left-hander story
• 1:11  MFSK16: Closing announcements
• 1:24  MFSK16: VOA Radiogram logo (500x44)

 *Use the UTF-8 character set. In Fldigi: Configure > Colors & Fonts > Select Char Set. Close and restart Fldigi between VOA Radiogram broadcasts.

 **To make Flmsg work with Fldigi, in Fldigi: Configure > Misc > NBEMS > Under reception of flmsg files, check both boxes, and under that indicate where your Flmsg.exe file is located.

The schedule

• Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHz
• Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
• Sun 1300-1330 6095 kHz
• Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com !

Chinese Spy Radio?

Thank You for Listening' Says Mysterious Numbers Station
By WENDELL MINNICK

TAIPEI — Debate over the origin of a shortwave radio broadcast in Chinese reciting numbers remains unresolved as Taiwan military and intelligence officials deny responsibility, while others suggest China is behind a "numbers station." Described as one-way voice links, "numbers stations" have been used since World War I to send encrypted messages to spies.



On Feb. 1 at 11.430 MHz, a broad­cast of a female voice recited 20 sets of four numbers in Chinese: "Now we're ready to broadcast the first 55­word telegram of February. Unit 2236 please write down and receive. 2744, 3449, 1269, 2291, 1773, 7330, 9816, 8023, 1872, 7381, 9726, 5171, 2227, 5393, 6736, 3842, 7994, 7732, 3102, 4911. This is the 20th set telegram that was just broadcast."

During a broadcast April 20 at 10.520 MHz, with what some called a Taiwanese accent, a female voice signed off in Chinese with: "Thank you for listening. Wishing you good health and a happy goodbye."
The broadcasts do not use any standard broadcasting protocol, such as identifying the station or origin.


A Taiwan government communications official said the broadcasts are a "topic not open to discussion or inquiry."

Officially, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND), upon listening to the messages, said, "no comment." However, an MND official said the broadcasts were coming out of China, not Taiwan, and the military was aware of them.



Though the method appears antiquated, there is a beauty to using the system.


"There's no link to the recipient. With e-mail and other methods, there's always the chance of identifying the recipient. Also, all that is required is a common portable shortwave radio," said Chris Smolinski, who moderates the Spooks Digest Listserv via the Black Cat Systems Web site. Spooks Digest routinely identifies numbers stations around the world.



Numbers stations reached their peak during the Cold War, only to decline significantly after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, though China, Cuba, Israel and North Korea have been accused of continuing to use the method.



Some sources have suggested the broadcasts are a "false flag" operation to confuse the enemy.

"Some percentage of the transmissions from such stations are very likely to be dummy traffic to make it harder for counterespionage outfits to draw conclusions about the number of spies working against them and their level of activity," said a U.S. defense analyst, adding that such agencies would quickly figure it out if it were all dummy traffic.


"It only makes sense to operate such a station if you are communicating with real spies." However, not everyone agrees the broadcasts are intelligence-related.


"It is easy to be conspiratorial about numbers stations, and there is no doubt that they have been, and still are, used in intelligence and military operations," said Gary Rawnsley, professor of Asian international communications at the University of Leeds.

"However, they are also used for technical reasons to check the clarity of signals, etc., on specified frequencies. Sounds boring, but there we go."

Other sources said the broadcasts could be connected to the Chinese Telegraph Code (CTC) to communicate with fishing vessels, said Scott Henderson, author of the book "The Dark Visitor: Inside the World of the Chinese Hacker."
"The CTC runs from 0000-9999 with the character for each block identified by an individual number," he said. "If the operator passes the string 1034, 6878, 9801 ... etc, just write out the characters and see if they form a sentence. If they don't, it's coded."

However, the numbers do not match the CTC.


"I can guarantee this is not for fishing boats or any other commercial radio communication," said a Taiwan defense analyst.



Erik Baark, author of "Lightening Wires," a history book on the CTC, said the broadcasts sound like someone using the CTC, but "to my knowledge, one would not use this method in communication with commercial fishing. … Either one would use Morse code, easier to distinguish on shortwave, or one could simply read the text."

Smolinski said the signal strengths of the Chinese broadcasts "are a bit too high for it to be someone using a ham transmitter," or amateur radio. There are also too many transmissions.



"The hoaxes in the past have generally been one-time affairs, and obvious pranks, done for entertainment, with no attempt to pass them off as `real' numbers transmissions," he said.



Members of the local Chinese Taipei Amateur Radio League dismissed suggestions the broadcasts are fake. "We don't know who is broadcasting the numbers," said one member. "It could be China or Taiwan."
Those who doubt countries continue to use the method need only look at Cuba. In 1998, the U.S. government arrested a group of Cuban intelligence agents, known as the Wasp Network, receiving instructions from a Cuban numbers station being operated as Atención.

In 2001, a U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency analyst, Ana Belen Montes, was arrested for spying for Cuba. Investigators discovered she also received instructions from Atencion.


However, some sources are still debating why China or Taiwan would continue using a system that seems antiquated in comparison to the Internet and cell phones.



"It seems like an arcane practice, but espionage tradecraft also loves the tried and true," said Richard Bitzinger, a former U.S. intelligence analyst. "Agents still use dead drops, microdots, etc. Shortwave radios are easy to come by and operate, and when all the really sophisticated means of communication fail, this is probably a good fallback."

Radio Cairo is spreading spurious signals in the 31 mb

EGYPT    Radio Cairo is spreading spurious signals in the 31 mb +/- 45v kHz:
0045-0330 on  9720 ABZ 250 kW / 330 deg to NoAm Spanish/English on August 23

Brother Stair TOM via WTWW-2 on August 22 and 23

USA    Brother Stair TOM via WTWW-2 on August 22 and 23
1150-2400 on  9930 TWW 100 kW / 180 deg to SoAm English
0000-0200 on  5085 TWW 100 kW / 180 deg to SoAm English

International Radio Serbia in Italian appeared on shortwave again

BOSNIA/SERBIA    International Radio Serbia in Italian appeared on shortwave again
1730-1800 on  6100 BIJ 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu, SINPO 54454 on August 22

WWCR observations

USA   WWCR-1 in Russian and Arabic heard with very good signal in Bulgaria
1100-1130 on 15825 WCR 100 kW / 046 deg to WeEu, back to English at 1130

Unscheduled wrong frequencies of ERT (or new broadcaster EDT) on Aug.22

GREECE   More and more unscheduled wrong frequencies of ERT on August 22:
from 0400 on  7475 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to NoAm Greek, instead of 11645 to Af
from 0400 on 15650 AVL 100 kW / 226 deg to CeAm Greek, instead of 15630 to Eu
from 0400 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek

Voice of Russia Radio Stops Shortwave Service

MOSCOW, August 21 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian government’s international radio broadcasting service Golos Rossii (Voice of Russia) will stop its shortwave broadcasts from January 1 next year, the Digit.ru online journal reported Wednesday.

The shortwave service is closing “due to funding cuts,” Voice of Russia deputy director Natalya Zhmai said in a letter dated August 15 to Andrei Romanchenko, head of the Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network (RTRBN), the journal said.

Voice of Russia, established in 1929, currently uses RTRBN transmitters to broadcast to foreign countries using short and medium waves. After the shortwave service goes off the air, only three low-power medium wave transmitters will be used to broadcast to other countries, an industry source told Digit.ru.

The radio will mostly use FM band transmitters based abroad, the source said.

At the beginning of the year, Voice of Russia cut the total volume of shortwave broadcasts to 26 hours a day from more than 50 hours in 2012.

(via Alan Roe, Teddington, UK)

Radio Ethiopia is drifting off-frequency today

ETHIOPIA    Radio Ethiopia is drifting off-frequency today
1600-1800 on  7236.2 GEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  English/French
1600-1800 on  9564.5 GEJ 100 kW / non-dir to ETH  English/French