Month: February 2023

Space Weather

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GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: Photographers, warm up your cameras. A CME is heading for Earth, and it could spark an unusually good display of Northern Lights when it arrives on Feb. 17-18. NOAA forecasters say that moderate G2-class geomagnetic storms are possible. During such storms, auroras have been seen in the USA as far south as, e.g., New York and Idaho. Full story @ Spaceweather.com

Ydun Ritz (2023-02-17)

United States

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I heard that KDVN-720 will be going off the air March 1st. Also heard there will be a 10 minute DX test performed by the station. Does anyone know the date and time of this?
I have not logged Nevada, so this may well be the last opportunity I have for this elusive state.

Mark Bailey to irca iog (2023-02-16)

I have been in touch with their Chief Engineer, Tracy Teagarden, and can confirm the rumor of a 10-minute duration test at full power. We’ll be putting out a formal announcement later today. 

73, Les Rayburn, N1LF to irca iog (2023-02-16)


Thank you for the update, Les. Pretty telling when a 50,000 watt powerhouse like them ceases broadcasting. 

Mark Bailey to irca iog (2023-02-16)

Russia

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Kaliningrad.
IIRC both use a unidirectional antenna, but the antennas are different.
On 549, Slovenia disturbed in western Europe, so 1143 was better there.
On the Swedish and Finnish SDR, 549 was excellent and stronger than 1143.

It is the normal programming of Radio Rossi (but it seems they have some regional transmissions that differ).
Mostly it is talk and news, in the evening sometimes music.

Marco (2023-02-16)

Russia

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I listened from 18:00 GMT and could here bolshakovo 1143 khz under the 2 Spanish outlets eventually it dominated the channel and finally at 18:40 heard a positive ID. Signal varied from s1 to s8 with pre amp on.
No positive ID on 549khz due to jilFM  (Algeria 600 Kw) absolutely dominating the channel although I think I might of heard the russians in the background.

Kelly Marie Angel Johnson (2023-02-15)

United Kingdom

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BBC radio switching off Long Wave Shipping Forecast forces sailors to install new alert system.
The nautical world is being told to prepare for BBC plans to switch off medium and long wave transmissions.

Sailors could be left all at sea if they can’t pick up the Shipping Forecast when the BBC switches off long wave transmissions, maritime bodies have warned.

The BBC, the Met Office and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency are preparing to launch a public information campaign to alert mariners that they need to have receivers able to pick up weather warnings from alternative sources when long wave is switched off, i understands.

Many amateur sailors still rely on the Shipping Forecast, broadcast on long wave, which can be received far from the British mainland.

The shift to digital means the BBC will end AM radio transmissions – including long wave and medium wave – currently still accessed by an estimated 6.5 million listeners each week. The Government is keen to get it switched off.

BBC Radio 5 Live’s medium wave frequencies will fall silent by the end of 2027.

The BBC plans to stop scheduling separate content for Radio 4 long wave, meaning much-loved offerings such as Test Match Special and the Shipping Forecast, first transmitted via telegraph signal in 1861, will disappear from 198kHZ, ahead of the closure of the long wave platform itself.

Read the entire article from “i news” here
https://inews.co.uk/culture/radio/bbc-radio-switching-off-long-wave-shipping-forecast-install-new-alert-system-2151199

Ydun Ritz (2023-02-16)

Russia

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“And today, February 15, from 11.00 Moscow time (08.00 UTC) Kaliningrad Radio Center No. 5 goes on the air at two frequencies 549 kHz and 1143 kHz for daily test. The test will last exactly one day, until 11.00 Moscow time (08.00 UTC) February 16. Radio of Russia will sound on the air. Reports about the reception are welcome and will be transmitted to the transmitting center.
All details can be found in the section “Schedules of radio stations on Russian language” of the Novosibirsk DX Site. Direct link:
http://www.novosibdx.info/schedules.html
I remind you the address of the Novosibirsk DX Site: http://www.novosibdx.info“

И сегодня, 15 февраля, с 11.00 МСК (08.00 UTC) Калининградский Радиоцентр №5 выходит в эфир на двух частотах 549 кГц и 1143 кГц для проведения суточного теста. Тест продлится ровно одни сутки, до 11.00 МСК (08.00 UTC) 16 февраля. Звучать в эфире будет Радио России. Рапорты о приеме приветствуются и будут переданы на передающий центр.
Все подробности можно найти в разделе “Расписания радиостанций на русском языке” Новосибирского DX Сайта. Прямая ссылка: http://www.novosibdx.info/schedules.html
Напоминаю адрес Новосибирского DX Сайта: http://www.novosibdx.info“

Empty carrier 7:35 UTC on 1143, 549 off. http://87.251.229.127:8073/?f=1143.000amz7 but at 7:40 programming started on 1143.
549 am really strong carrier, no modulation (7:43)

Marco (2023-02-15)