Month: December 2024

Cyprus

mw

Regarding “BBC starts a new Arabic broadcast” (https://mediumwave.info/2024/12/13/cyprus-25/):

Most of it is English. Arabic has today (the first day of these extended MW transmissions?) been noted only between 1500 and 1530 UTC, so still appears to be on the schedule introduced in November 2023 on 639 kHz, 0500-0530 and 1500-1530.
https://bsky.app/profile/arniedxer.bsky.social/post/3ld6zdkfhfk2i

720 kHz was not in use since January 2023, so it’s no surprise that it was not properly set up today.

What would also need clarification is what became of the other transmissions on 639 kHz: Al Arabiya, which from July 2023 had booked the airtime between 1900 and 2100 UTC, and FMM’s Monte Carlo Doualiya which from December 2023 used 1600-1700 UTC. I have not seen any further reports about or mentions of either broadcast. Will try to check it out if no one else does…

Concerning the difference between 639 and 720 kHz:
https://bsky.app/profile/newsguy.bsky.social/post/3lcxbijxhds2r

Kai Ludwig (2024-12-13)

United States

mw

WZON 620 DX TEST
WZON in Bangor, ME has graciously agreed to perform a DX Test before they leave the air for good at the end of the year.  Test will be on Sunday Dec 22 at 1am EST (0600 UTC). Still waiting on final determination of the duration.  Please spread the word wherever you think it would be appropriate.  Hopefully a bunch of you will be able to log Maine!
From the mwdx Slack group. Arranged by David Pete, Old Town Maine.

Russ Edmunds to irca iog (2024-12-12)


Stephen and Tabitha King closing 3 radio stations. WZON [620 kHz],WZIT and WZLO will be shut down at the end of December…announced today, December 2, 2024. (Arthur Pozner to WOR iog (2024-12-02))

Ydun Ritz (2024-12-12)

Sweden

mw

On Christmas Eve morning, Tuesday December 24th 2024, SAQ Grimeton is scheduled* to be on the air, to send out the traditional Christmas message to the whole World, using the 200kW Alexanderson alternator from 1924, on 17.2 kHz CW. 
Visitors are very welcome to the transmitter hall at Grimeton radio station to experience the SAQ transmission. Free tickets here: 
https://grimeton.entryevent.se/ticketshop/events/julaftonsandning

Program and transmission schedule:
08:00 CET (07:00 UTC): The transmitter hall at World Heritage Grimeton is opened for visitors.

Transmission & YouTube Live stream:
08:25 CET (07:25 UTC): Live stream on YouTube begins.
08:30 CET (07:30 UTC): Startup and tuning of the Alexanderson Alternator SAQ.
09:00 CET (08:00 UTC): Transmission of a Christmas message from SAQ.
More about reception reports and QSL here:
https://alexander.n.se/en/saq-to-air-on-christmas-eve-morning-dec-24th-2024/

SAQ Grimeton Radio Station (2024-12-10)

Space Weather

mw

Sun unleashes surprise X-class solar flare triggering radio blackout over southern Africa.
The sun appears to have woken from its slumber with an impulsive X-class solar flare, the most powerful class of solar flare.
The dramatic eruption originated from sunspot region 3912, reaching its peak at 4:06 a.m. EST (0906 GMT) on Dec. 8, and was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME) — a large plume of magnetic field and plasma from the sun. When CMEs (also known as solar storms) hit Earth’s magnetosphere they can trigger active geomagnetic storm conditions resulting in impressive auroras. Earth may receive a glancing blow from the CME released yesterday (Dec. 8) but only mild impacts are predicted, according to Space Weather Physicist Tamitha Skov.
“The #solarstorm launched will graze Earth to the west. Sadly, the coming fast solar wind streams might deflect the structure even further to the west. Expect only mild impacts by midday December 11,” Space
Weather Physicist Tamitha Skov wrote in a post on X.
https://www.space.com/the-universe/sun/sun-unleashes-impulsive-x-class-solar-flare-triggering-radio-blackout-over-southern-africa-video

Mike Terry to WOR iog (2024-12-09)

Russia

mw

The St. Petersburg DX Club has recently published the 37th edition of its ‘Radio broadcasting in Russian’ handbook. This is the most comprehensive guide to Russian-language broadcasts on SW, MW and LW. The information is primarily valid until the end of March 2025, covering the B24 broadcasting season. The handbook is divided into four detailed sections: 

GENERAL INFORMATION.
This section includes:  
– List of abbreviations and special terms used in the publication. 
– List of media outlets classified as foreign agents. 
– Updates on Russian-language broadcasting changes since the last edition. 

SW/MW/LW BROADCASTING
This part lists 52 stations from 33 countries and territories across five continents: Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and Australia. The listings include:  
– Frequencies and program schedules.  
– Transmitter locations and power.  
– Target areas.  
– Contact details: postal addresses, phone/fax numbers, websites, social media (Facebook, VKontakte) and email addresses.  
– Stations’ QSL policies.

ONLINE BROADCASTING
Similar to the SW/MW/LW Broadcasting section, this part focuses on 23 Internet radio stations from 19 countries and territories, including:  
– State broadcasters.  
– Former AM broadcasters now operating exclusively online.  

HISTORY OF BROADCASTING
This section concludes the history of Trans World Radio and its significant contributions to global broadcasting.
Sample pages covering Vatican and partly the UK https://www.novosibdx.info/images/sprav37.pdf
Sample pages covering partly the US, Tajikistan and partly Taiwan
https://muromdx.ru/images/2024/radio-broadcasting-in-russian-b24-p36.webp
https://muromdx.ru/images/2024/radio-broadcasting-in-russian-b24-p37.webp

The handbook is available only in Russian, comprising 76 A5 pages.  
Price: USD 2 for a PDF copy via email.  
Payments: PayPal only.  
For inquiries and orders, contact St. Petersburg DX Club:  
Email: dxspb[at]nrec.spb.ru
Phone, WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber: +7(921)793-72-84 
Alexander Beryozkin
St. Petersburg DX Club.

Alexander Miatlikov to WOR iog (2024-12-08)

United Kingdom

mw

You can hear Radio Caroline North during the following dates on 1368 AM via Manx Radio, our own 648 AM transmitter, online using the ‘North’ pop-up player or the Radio Caroline app.

2024 December 14th/15th
2025 January 11th/12th
2025 February 8th/9th
2025 March 8th/9th
2025 April 18th/20th Easter
Only Jan – April confirmed so far
Dates subject to change

Kari Kallio to nordx iog (2024-12-08)

Bonaire

mw

A radio amateur, Paul Veldkamp Waalen, with the call sign PJ0SON, in Kralendijk, Bonaire Island, was heard testing on 1400 kHz on December 7th with a power of 50 Watts (via the KiwiSDR on Bonaire). He have had a license for 1400 kHz for some time – but has just begun testing now. Continuous music, and announcing this email: bocara1400@gmail.com.  

Stig Hartvig Nielsen (2024-12-08)

United Kingdom

mw

For some days I’ve been monitoring a station relaying Radio Seagull on 1206kHz.
Reception is possible 24/7 north of London probably in an area north of the M25 motorway.
I’m certain it is not any of the Irish stations on 1206kHz.
Can anyone else hear this?

73 Steve Whitt to mwcircle iog (2024-12-04)

Nothing here Steve  nor from last nights recording  either, just a faint trace no audio.

Peter Hawkes to mwcircle iog (2024-12-04)


Still seems to be operating 24/7. Probably on low power but audible in Kelvedon Hatch, Essex on this remote SDR during daylight hours
http://sdr.gb0snb.com:8073/?f=1206.00amz8

73 Steve Whitt to mwcircle iog (2024-12-07)