The 60mb has become somewhat sparse of activity in our sunrise period, as observed here in Melbourne.
This is what the band looked like between 1800 and 1900 on Jan 18, 2009:
4765 TAJISTAN Tajik Radio, domestic network
4770 NIGERIA R. Nigeria, Kaduna
4780 DJIBOUTI R. Djibouti
4845 MAURITANIA R. Mauritania
4860 INDIA to 1930*
4880 S. AFRICA SW Radio Africa, Meyerton to 1900*
4905 TCHAD RD Tchadienne
4925 INDONESIA RRI-Jambi, on extended schedule with Puppet Shadow Plays
4930 BOTSWANA VOA
4965 ZAMBIA The Voice, Lusaka
4976 UGANDA R. Uganda
5010 MADAGASCAR RTV Malagasy
Rotating Headlines from this Journal!
Showing posts with label radio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label radio. Show all posts
Monday, January 19, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
7 MHz Propagation Research
There continues to be strong propagation on 7 MHz in our post-sunrise period.
Congestion and multiple-occupancies on many frequencies is commonplace, with little effective coordination evident.
Note that ALL broadcasting services will be required to vacate the 7100-7200 spectrum by March 29, as that band area will be exlusively allocated to the amateur service worldwide from that date.
This is a sample of spectrum occupancy, showing the dominant transmissions, in the 7100-7200 range as observed here in Melbourne on Jan 9, 2009, between 1900 and 2000:
7100 N. KOREA R. Pyongyang, operating illegally s its lower sideband falls within the existing ARO exclusive allocation.
7105 ENGLAND BBC Rampisham
7110 CHINA CRI
7115 RUSSIA VOA-Moscow
7120 MADAGASCAR RN-Talata
7125 ROMANIA RRI
7130 CHINA CRI
7135 THAILAND IBB-Udorn
7140 ROMANIA RRI
7145 ENGLAND DW-Wofferton
7150 CHINA CRI
7155 RUSSIA VOR-Samara
7160 ----
7165 IRAN VOIRI
7170 CHINA CRI
7175 ----
7180 ALBANIA CRI-Cerrick
7185 ----
7190 TURKEY VOT
7195 RUSSIA VOA-Moscow
7200 RUSSIA CRI-Moscow
That's a lot of broadcasting services which will have to be cleared out of 7100-7200 by March 29!
The next meeting of the HF Coordination Conference (HFCC) will be in Tunisia, Feb 2-6 2009, at which time the master schedule for the A09 season will be developed. This will be a joint meeting with the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) and the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU-HFC).
The HFCC is a body endorsed by the ITU.
No doubt, that meeting is aware of the need NOT to allocate ANY broadcasting operations in the 7100-7200 spectrum beginning March 2009 A09, and it will be interesting to see how this meeting of over 150 people will respond to these new ITU regulations!
Good listening!
Congestion and multiple-occupancies on many frequencies is commonplace, with little effective coordination evident.
Note that ALL broadcasting services will be required to vacate the 7100-7200 spectrum by March 29, as that band area will be exlusively allocated to the amateur service worldwide from that date.
This is a sample of spectrum occupancy, showing the dominant transmissions, in the 7100-7200 range as observed here in Melbourne on Jan 9, 2009, between 1900 and 2000:
7100 N. KOREA R. Pyongyang, operating illegally s its lower sideband falls within the existing ARO exclusive allocation.
7105 ENGLAND BBC Rampisham
7110 CHINA CRI
7115 RUSSIA VOA-Moscow
7120 MADAGASCAR RN-Talata
7125 ROMANIA RRI
7130 CHINA CRI
7135 THAILAND IBB-Udorn
7140 ROMANIA RRI
7145 ENGLAND DW-Wofferton
7150 CHINA CRI
7155 RUSSIA VOR-Samara
7160 ----
7165 IRAN VOIRI
7170 CHINA CRI
7175 ----
7180 ALBANIA CRI-Cerrick
7185 ----
7190 TURKEY VOT
7195 RUSSIA VOA-Moscow
7200 RUSSIA CRI-Moscow
That's a lot of broadcasting services which will have to be cleared out of 7100-7200 by March 29!
The next meeting of the HF Coordination Conference (HFCC) will be in Tunisia, Feb 2-6 2009, at which time the master schedule for the A09 season will be developed. This will be a joint meeting with the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) and the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU-HFC).
The HFCC is a body endorsed by the ITU.
No doubt, that meeting is aware of the need NOT to allocate ANY broadcasting operations in the 7100-7200 spectrum beginning March 2009 A09, and it will be interesting to see how this meeting of over 150 people will respond to these new ITU regulations!
Good listening!
AUSTRALIAN DX REPORT audio shortwave news magazine no. 133
The latest episode, no. 133, of the professionally compiled weekly AUSTRALIAN DX REPORT audio shortwave news magazine contains detailed professional monitoring research from Melbourne, schedule changes, and news about international broadcasters.
It's 16 mins 40 secs, and may be downloaded from
The site allows you to listen to the ADXR and other audio features directly (streaming audio) via your MP3 player, or via the site's embedded mini-player. Podcasts, iTunes capability, full RSS/XML/Atom feeds, and free subscriptions are supported - full details are at the site.
Good listening to the Australian DX Report Episode No. 133!
Your comments and feedback are particularly important!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Propagation, Monitoring and Information
This is an edited extract from the latest ARRL Propagation Bulletin, January 8, 2009:
2008 was a year of very low solar activity. More than 40 percent of this year's ARRL propagation bulletins reported zero sunspots for their respective weeks. The average daily sunspot number for the year was 4.7; in 2007, it was 12.8. The yearly averages of daily sunspot numbers for 1999-2008 were 136.3, 173, 170.3, 176.6, 109.2, 68.6, 48.9, 26.1, 12.8 and 4.7.
Sunspot numbers for December 25-31 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with a mean of 0. The 10.7 cm flux was 69.3, 69.2, 9.4, 69.8, 69.8, 68.5 and 69.3 with a mean of 69.3. The estimated planetary A indices were 3, 1, 1, 2, 0, 1and 10 with a mean of 2.6. The estimated mid-latitude A indices were 2, 2,1, 1, 1, 1 and 8 with a mean of 2.3.
Two years ago we wrote, "This is the first bulletin of 2007, the year we'll likely see the end of sunspot Cycle 23, the beginning of Cycle 24, and the minima between cycles." One year ago in the first bulletin of 2008 we noted the same quote from the previous year, and wrote, "Now a year later we might say the same about 2008." This is probably still true for past year, because since early 2008, we saw Solar Cycle 24 spots, and what looks like a slow increase in activity toward the end of the year, although a week of sunspots at the end of December would have helped to sustain the upturn. (end)
There have been no sunspots visible since December 13, 2008.
This has resulted in continuing depression of Maximum Usable Frequencies and Optimum Working Frequencies for long-distance transmission over darkness or semi-darkness paths.
Despite the zero sunspot count, the ionosphere continues to supportl ong-distance propagation over darkness or semi-darkness paths on frequencies below about 12 MHz.
Here in Melbourne, there is excellent reliable shortpath (darkness zone) propagation on 6, 7, 9, and 11 MHz from Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asiain the period 1600 to past 2200.
Occupancy in the 7 MHz band is very high in this period. Very few channels are vacant in the 1800-2000 period - these are 7185, and a cluster in the extended-band spectrum including 7370 7405 7430 7440 7460 7470 7485 75007505 7515 7535 7545 7550 7555 7560 7575 7585 and 7600.
Now, some information...!
ENGLAND
2008 was a year of very low solar activity. More than 40 percent of this year's ARRL propagation bulletins reported zero sunspots for their respective weeks. The average daily sunspot number for the year was 4.7; in 2007, it was 12.8. The yearly averages of daily sunspot numbers for 1999-2008 were 136.3, 173, 170.3, 176.6, 109.2, 68.6, 48.9, 26.1, 12.8 and 4.7.
Sunspot numbers for December 25-31 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with a mean of 0. The 10.7 cm flux was 69.3, 69.2, 9.4, 69.8, 69.8, 68.5 and 69.3 with a mean of 69.3. The estimated planetary A indices were 3, 1, 1, 2, 0, 1and 10 with a mean of 2.6. The estimated mid-latitude A indices were 2, 2,1, 1, 1, 1 and 8 with a mean of 2.3.
Two years ago we wrote, "This is the first bulletin of 2007, the year we'll likely see the end of sunspot Cycle 23, the beginning of Cycle 24, and the minima between cycles." One year ago in the first bulletin of 2008 we noted the same quote from the previous year, and wrote, "Now a year later we might say the same about 2008." This is probably still true for past year, because since early 2008, we saw Solar Cycle 24 spots, and what looks like a slow increase in activity toward the end of the year, although a week of sunspots at the end of December would have helped to sustain the upturn. (end)
There have been no sunspots visible since December 13, 2008.
This has resulted in continuing depression of Maximum Usable Frequencies and Optimum Working Frequencies for long-distance transmission over darkness or semi-darkness paths.
Despite the zero sunspot count, the ionosphere continues to supportl ong-distance propagation over darkness or semi-darkness paths on frequencies below about 12 MHz.
Here in Melbourne, there is excellent reliable shortpath (darkness zone) propagation on 6, 7, 9, and 11 MHz from Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asiain the period 1600 to past 2200.
Occupancy in the 7 MHz band is very high in this period. Very few channels are vacant in the 1800-2000 period - these are 7185, and a cluster in the extended-band spectrum including 7370 7405 7430 7440 7460 7470 7485 75007505 7515 7535 7545 7550 7555 7560 7575 7585 and 7600.
Now, some information...!
ENGLAND
On 49 metres, a new extended band usage for the BBC is 5790, from Rampisham, carrying Russian 1700-2100, and audible here with super strength signals since early January.
CROATIA
The Voice of Croatia is now using 15360 from Kranji (Singapore) for its services to Australia/NZ, 0600-1000, from Jan 1. This is in parallel with Wertachtal on 11690 and 9470. Here in Melbourne, excellent propagation on 15360 for the full timespan, but not so reliable on 11690 and satisfactory on 9470.
GERMANY
CROATIA
The Voice of Croatia is now using 15360 from Kranji (Singapore) for its services to Australia/NZ, 0600-1000, from Jan 1. This is in parallel with Wertachtal on 11690 and 9470. Here in Melbourne, excellent propagation on 15360 for the full timespan, but not so reliable on 11690 and satisfactory on 9470.
GERMANY
DW new frequencies since Jan 1:
6040 Sines 0400-0430 Arabic
7145 Wooferton 1600-1700 Russian
7145 Dhabaya 2000-2100 Russian
9475 Dhabaya 1300-1600 German
9690 WOF 2000-2100 English
9775 Ascension 0000-0200 German
15275 Sines 1900-2100 various incl English
VATICAN
Vatican Radio introduced/deleted these frequencies on Jan 1:
6140 Chita 1315-1400 to ITU 49 (new)
12070 Novisibirsk 0200-0330 to ITU 41 (new)
13785 CANCELLED Khabarovsk 2355-0045 to ITU 43/44
VOICE OF MESOPOTAMIA (via Simferopol, Ukraine) Kurdish, new schedule from Jan 1:
VOICE OF MESOPOTAMIA (via Simferopol, Ukraine) Kurdish, new schedule from Jan 1:
5890 1900-2100
7540 1500-2100
11530 0500-1515
For the latest monitoring notes from Melbourne, listen to the weekly Australian DX Report audio shortwave news magazines, either on-line http://airm.edxp.org or on-air (WWCR Nashville Sundays 0300-0315 on 5070 and Mondays 1245-1300 on 15825) The WWCR release is also simulcast live as streaming audio from http://www.wwcr.com
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
World Radio TV Handbook 2009
I received my dealer copy of World Radio TV Handbook WRTH09 yesterday, and with 680 pages, it maintains the finetradition of comprehensiveness and coverage established over many years.
Major editorial themes from guest authors discuss and analyse the continuing decline in HF broadcasting, and the standstill for commercial development of DRM-HF.
One contributor says "... we will be very surprised if any flavour of DRMever becomes the mass-market digital mode..."
WRTH professional writers also suggest that HF radio, in any of its forms,may become a lost cause, due to the emergence of Internet, satellite, broadband, and mobile telephone for delivery of content, news, information and entertainment.
They also assert that local digital radio broadcasting has become a hotchpotch of various delivery platforms, standards, and technologies, with some countries now having abandoned this technology altogether.
Equipment reviews are confined mainly to some high-cost software-defined radios, the Racal RA1778 general coverage receiver, a small section ona ntennas, and stories about Internet computer "radios". The writers explain that Internet "radio" is of course not "radio" at all, but the technology is considered to be an emerging field as a subset of "global broadcasting".
A non-technical article on FM DXing is included, from a European perspective.
George Jacobs continues his long association with WRTH through his excellent professionally orientated summary of HF conditions expected during 2009, and suggests that HF broadcasting may not be the "dinasaur" as some people may think, even though the medium is competing with other technologies.
The number of organizations in the listing of "DX Clubs" is reducing steadily year by year. Those located in Asia include many "Listener Clubs", which traditionalists may feel are not "DX Clubs" at all, but groups of people interested in meeting to discuss particular international broadcasters.
The scaled-down page on "Selected Internet Resources" contains details about various on-line services, many managed by private individuals as Email lists ,message boards, or websites, proclaiming to be about some form of "radio" or"broadcasting".
The difficulty in publishing such links in an annual hard-copy reference is that these services frequently tend to disappear when their proponents lose interest.
Comparisons are always made between WRTH and other commercially-produced annual references, which I regard to be misleading. The editorial objectives and coverage of these references differ, and such comparisons are meaningless.
WRTH publishes free updates and new HF schedules on its Website throughout the year, and these support the hard-copy product.
WRTH09 is becoming available through local booksellers, or from the WRTH itself in the UK. Amazon Books is also offering the title, with an estimated release date of Fehruary 3, 2009.
Here in Australia, no shop-front bookseller stocks the product due to negligible demand. I offer the title to Australian readers from my on-line bookshop "Padula Books", for A$45, which includes postage and packing. To order, visit http://edxp.org
Further details and on-line ordering are available from the WRTH Website, http://www.wrth.com
Regards from Melbourne!
Major editorial themes from guest authors discuss and analyse the continuing decline in HF broadcasting, and the standstill for commercial development of DRM-HF.
One contributor says "... we will be very surprised if any flavour of DRMever becomes the mass-market digital mode..."
WRTH professional writers also suggest that HF radio, in any of its forms,may become a lost cause, due to the emergence of Internet, satellite, broadband, and mobile telephone for delivery of content, news, information and entertainment.
They also assert that local digital radio broadcasting has become a hotchpotch of various delivery platforms, standards, and technologies, with some countries now having abandoned this technology altogether.
Equipment reviews are confined mainly to some high-cost software-defined radios, the Racal RA1778 general coverage receiver, a small section ona ntennas, and stories about Internet computer "radios". The writers explain that Internet "radio" is of course not "radio" at all, but the technology is considered to be an emerging field as a subset of "global broadcasting".
A non-technical article on FM DXing is included, from a European perspective.
George Jacobs continues his long association with WRTH through his excellent professionally orientated summary of HF conditions expected during 2009, and suggests that HF broadcasting may not be the "dinasaur" as some people may think, even though the medium is competing with other technologies.
The number of organizations in the listing of "DX Clubs" is reducing steadily year by year. Those located in Asia include many "Listener Clubs", which traditionalists may feel are not "DX Clubs" at all, but groups of people interested in meeting to discuss particular international broadcasters.
The scaled-down page on "Selected Internet Resources" contains details about various on-line services, many managed by private individuals as Email lists ,message boards, or websites, proclaiming to be about some form of "radio" or"broadcasting".
The difficulty in publishing such links in an annual hard-copy reference is that these services frequently tend to disappear when their proponents lose interest.
Comparisons are always made between WRTH and other commercially-produced annual references, which I regard to be misleading. The editorial objectives and coverage of these references differ, and such comparisons are meaningless.
WRTH publishes free updates and new HF schedules on its Website throughout the year, and these support the hard-copy product.
WRTH09 is becoming available through local booksellers, or from the WRTH itself in the UK. Amazon Books is also offering the title, with an estimated release date of Fehruary 3, 2009.
Here in Australia, no shop-front bookseller stocks the product due to negligible demand. I offer the title to Australian readers from my on-line bookshop "Padula Books", for A$45, which includes postage and packing. To order, visit http://edxp.org
Further details and on-line ordering are available from the WRTH Website, http://www.wrth.com
Regards from Melbourne!
Excellent solstice propagation, 11 and 13 MHz, sunrise period
Notwithstanding zero sunspot activity, propagation into Melbourne on 11 and 13 MHz continues to be very good in the post-sunrise period from 1900 to 2000.
This is represented by strong shortpath signals from Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, and longpath from the Americas.
This is a sumamry of selected observations made on December 22, 2008, during our summer solstice!
11760 GERMANY AWR-Wertachtal African langs
11940 SPAIN REE Spanish
12045 GERMANY RN-Wertachtal English
13605 INDIA Arabic
13620 INDIA English
13650 CANADA RCI-Sackville French
13685 MALI CRI-Bamako Arabic to 1930 sign-off
13710 SAO TOME VOA English
13720 PORTUGAL RDP Portuguese
13780 SRI LANKA DW-Trincomalee Arabic
13820 GERMANY DW-Wertachtal Arabic
13845 USA WWCR English
Regards from Melbourne!
This is represented by strong shortpath signals from Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, and longpath from the Americas.
This is a sumamry of selected observations made on December 22, 2008, during our summer solstice!
11760 GERMANY AWR-Wertachtal African langs
11940 SPAIN REE Spanish
12045 GERMANY RN-Wertachtal English
13605 INDIA Arabic
13620 INDIA English
13650 CANADA RCI-Sackville French
13685 MALI CRI-Bamako Arabic to 1930 sign-off
13710 SAO TOME VOA English
13720 PORTUGAL RDP Portuguese
13780 SRI LANKA DW-Trincomalee Arabic
13820 GERMANY DW-Wertachtal Arabic
13845 USA WWCR English
Regards from Melbourne!
Friday, December 19, 2008
AUSTRALIAN DX REPORT audio shortwave news magazine, episode 130
The latest episode, no. 130, of the professionally compiled weekly AUSTRALIAN DX REPORT audio shortwave news magazine contains detailed monitoring research from Melbourne, schedule changes, and news about international broadcasters.
This is the SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EPISODE - it's 14 mins 18 secs, and may be downloaded from
http://airm.edxp.org
The site allows you to listen to the ADXR and other audio features directly (streaming audio) via your MP3 player, or via the site's embedded mini-player. Podcasts, iTunes capability, full RSS/XML/Atom feeds, and free subscriptions are supported - full details are at the site.
Good listening to the Australian DX Report Episode No. 130!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Good propagation on 9MHz around sunrise
Sunspot activity remains very low – from Nov 18 to Dec 9 it was zero. From Dec 10 to 12 it ranged from 12 to 14 spots, but dropped back to zero from Dec 14 to 16.
However, good propagation here in Melbourne continues in our morning period, in the pre and post sunrise window, with the highlight being the strong shortpath signals from Europe, Africa, Middle East and Africa noted on 31 metres, between 1900 and 2100.
We are now passing through the December solstice period – earliest sunrise in Melbourne was at 1851 on December 2 through December 14. Due to the Earth’s axis being tilted, our latest sunset doesn’t occur until 0945 on January 31.
This means that we have maximum sunlight hours during most of January, resulting in many opportunities for researching the enigmatic and mysterious daytime propagation Modes from Asia and Africa, which are very unpredictable, and influenced by solar activity!
This is a summary of selected spectrum occupancies observed in the 9MHz band in the window from 1900 to 2000 on December 17, with several newly introduced frequencies noted.
9250 EGYPT R. Cairo Arabic
9310 EGYPT R. Cairo English
9335 SRI LANKA R. Farda Iranawela Farsi
9365 FRANCE RTI Issoudin French
9390 FRANCE R. Algeria Issoudin Arabic
9470 INDIA AIR National network
9480 GERMANY WYFR Nauen English
9490 GERMANY VOA Biblis *1930-2000* Turkish
9500 GERMANY WYFR Wertachtal Arabic
9525 ROMANIA RRI German
9535 CHINA CREI Beijing Portuguese
9550 RWANDA FEBA Kigali Arabic
9610 CANADA RCI Sackville French
9620 AUSTRIA AWR Moosbrunn *1900-1930* French
9695 GERMANY DW Wertachtal French
9735 RWANDA DW Kigali Portuguese
9830 JORDAN Amman Arabic
9885 UAE WYFR Dhabbaya English
9970 BELGIUM BRT Wavre French
9980 USA WWCR English
9990 EGYPT R. Cairo Hausa
Regards from Melbourne!
However, good propagation here in Melbourne continues in our morning period, in the pre and post sunrise window, with the highlight being the strong shortpath signals from Europe, Africa, Middle East and Africa noted on 31 metres, between 1900 and 2100.
We are now passing through the December solstice period – earliest sunrise in Melbourne was at 1851 on December 2 through December 14. Due to the Earth’s axis being tilted, our latest sunset doesn’t occur until 0945 on January 31.
This means that we have maximum sunlight hours during most of January, resulting in many opportunities for researching the enigmatic and mysterious daytime propagation Modes from Asia and Africa, which are very unpredictable, and influenced by solar activity!
This is a summary of selected spectrum occupancies observed in the 9MHz band in the window from 1900 to 2000 on December 17, with several newly introduced frequencies noted.
9250 EGYPT R. Cairo Arabic
9310 EGYPT R. Cairo English
9335 SRI LANKA R. Farda Iranawela Farsi
9365 FRANCE RTI Issoudin French
9390 FRANCE R. Algeria Issoudin Arabic
9470 INDIA AIR National network
9480 GERMANY WYFR Nauen English
9490 GERMANY VOA Biblis *1930-2000* Turkish
9500 GERMANY WYFR Wertachtal Arabic
9525 ROMANIA RRI German
9535 CHINA CREI Beijing Portuguese
9550 RWANDA FEBA Kigali Arabic
9610 CANADA RCI Sackville French
9620 AUSTRIA AWR Moosbrunn *1900-1930* French
9695 GERMANY DW Wertachtal French
9735 RWANDA DW Kigali Portuguese
9830 JORDAN Amman Arabic
9885 UAE WYFR Dhabbaya English
9970 BELGIUM BRT Wavre French
9980 USA WWCR English
9990 EGYPT R. Cairo Hausa
Regards from Melbourne!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Early Summer Propagation Notes and Monitoring
As we move into summer, propagation here in Melboourne continues to be very good during our various "transmission windows".
Here are some entries from my professional log of December 7, which represent a cross section of current propagation, mainly in the period 1700 to 2200. Several recently introduced frequencies are included.
5960 ROMANIA RRI *2000 Ukrainian
6155 ALBANIA R. Tirana *2000 Italian
7220 MARIANA ISLANDS. RL-Tinian, *0900 Russian. Interesting use of this band for reaching into Siberia during early evening
7285 VATICAN RN via Santa Maria di Galeria, *2000 Arabic
9565 ROMANIA RRI *2000 Romanian
11610 SLOVAK REP R. Slovakia Intern *2100 Spanish
11630 KUWAIT R. Kuwait 1730-1745* HOly Koran service Arabic
11645 ALBANIA R. Tirana *1945-2000* English
11725 RWANDA DW Kigali *1800-2000* German, co-channel RNZI after 1900
11745 ENGLAND SWR Africa *1700 English
11775 GERMANY CBC Julich *1800 English
11795 COSTA RICA REE 1900 Spanish, LP
11805 S. AFRICA RN Meyerton, *1900 English
11845 CANADA RCI Sackville *2100 French LP
11860 SEYCHELLES BBC 1700-1800* Swahili/English
11865 S. AFRICA BBC Meyerton *1800-1830* French
11955 GERMANY AWR-Nauen *1900-1930* Arabic
11960 PORTUGAL RDP *2000 Portugueae non-daily service
11965 LIBYA Libyan Radio 1930-2000* Arabic
12035 GERMANY SW Radio Africa, Wertachtal, *1800 English
12040 PORTUGAL RDP *1900 Portugese non-daily
If the correct Transmission Window is chosen, there will be good rewards of many signals for propagation study and research.
Regards from Melbourne!
Bob Padula
Here are some entries from my professional log of December 7, which represent a cross section of current propagation, mainly in the period 1700 to 2200. Several recently introduced frequencies are included.
5960 ROMANIA RRI *2000 Ukrainian
6155 ALBANIA R. Tirana *2000 Italian
7220 MARIANA ISLANDS. RL-Tinian, *0900 Russian. Interesting use of this band for reaching into Siberia during early evening
7285 VATICAN RN via Santa Maria di Galeria, *2000 Arabic
9565 ROMANIA RRI *2000 Romanian
11610 SLOVAK REP R. Slovakia Intern *2100 Spanish
11630 KUWAIT R. Kuwait 1730-1745* HOly Koran service Arabic
11645 ALBANIA R. Tirana *1945-2000* English
11725 RWANDA DW Kigali *1800-2000* German, co-channel RNZI after 1900
11745 ENGLAND SWR Africa *1700 English
11775 GERMANY CBC Julich *1800 English
11795 COSTA RICA REE 1900 Spanish, LP
11805 S. AFRICA RN Meyerton, *1900 English
11845 CANADA RCI Sackville *2100 French LP
11860 SEYCHELLES BBC 1700-1800* Swahili/English
11865 S. AFRICA BBC Meyerton *1800-1830* French
11955 GERMANY AWR-Nauen *1900-1930* Arabic
11960 PORTUGAL RDP *2000 Portugueae non-daily service
11965 LIBYA Libyan Radio 1930-2000* Arabic
12035 GERMANY SW Radio Africa, Wertachtal, *1800 English
12040 PORTUGAL RDP *1900 Portugese non-daily
If the correct Transmission Window is chosen, there will be good rewards of many signals for propagation study and research.
Regards from Melbourne!
Bob Padula
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Good daytime propagation from Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East
Sunspot activity remains at ZER0, with no spots observed since November 18!
But we all know that sunspots represent only one factor influencing radio propagation - there are many others caused by combinations of geophysical/solar activity! We do know that, don't we? !!
Sunspot Cycle 23 has decayed, and it appears that the new Cycle, no. 24, is approaching. Watch out for it!
In North America, there have been interesting reports of daytime trans-Atlantic propagation from the East Coast in the 30 metre amateur band, associated with quiet geomagnetic conditions.
Here in Melbourne, good propagation right around the clock is currentlyobserved, and I have been impressed at the daytime signals from Africa and Asia, which have become audible in the period 0200-0500 on 6, 7, and 9 MHz.
I expect these Daytime Modes to intensify as our summer progresses.
A new outlet for the TAJIK RADIO, at Dushanbe, has been audible since the B08 season started. This is 4765, with good night-time propagation into Melbourne in the period 1700 to sign-off at 2000.
Another new channel is from CHRISTIAN VISION, 7160, Zambia, noted from sign-on at 0300.
Here's a summary of DAYTIME MODES from Africa/Middle East/Asia, as noted on December 6 from my favourite field monitoring site in the Olinda Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park, about 40 mins drive from here. Asterisks refer to sign-on or sign-off times. LP = longpath.
AFRICA, ASIA, MIDDLE EAST, and SOUTH ATLANTIC
6005 ASCENSION BBC *0300 huge signal! English
6080 SAO TOME VOA *0300 EnglishBut we all know that sunspots represent only one factor influencing radio propagation - there are many others caused by combinations of geophysical/solar activity! We do know that, don't we? !!
Sunspot Cycle 23 has decayed, and it appears that the new Cycle, no. 24, is approaching. Watch out for it!
In North America, there have been interesting reports of daytime trans-Atlantic propagation from the East Coast in the 30 metre amateur band, associated with quiet geomagnetic conditions.
Here in Melbourne, good propagation right around the clock is currentlyobserved, and I have been impressed at the daytime signals from Africa and Asia, which have become audible in the period 0200-0500 on 6, 7, and 9 MHz.
I expect these Daytime Modes to intensify as our summer progresses.
A new outlet for the TAJIK RADIO, at Dushanbe, has been audible since the B08 season started. This is 4765, with good night-time propagation into Melbourne in the period 1700 to sign-off at 2000.
Another new channel is from CHRISTIAN VISION, 7160, Zambia, noted from sign-on at 0300.
Here's a summary of DAYTIME MODES from Africa/Middle East/Asia, as noted on December 6 from my favourite field monitoring site in the Olinda Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park, about 40 mins drive from here. Asterisks refer to sign-on or sign-off times. LP = longpath.
AFRICA, ASIA, MIDDLE EAST, and SOUTH ATLANTIC
6005 ASCENSION BBC *0300 huge signal! English
7160 ZAMBIA CVC Lusaka *0400 English
7215 S. AFRICA TWR Meyerton, *0330-0345* African langs
7205 ASCENSION BBC *0400
7230 S.AFRICA Channel Africa Meyerton *0400 English
7255 ASCENSION BBC *0300
7390 S. AFRICA Channel Afria Meyerton *0300 English
9425 INDIA AIR 0500-0530* domestic
9595 JAPAN R. Nikkei Tokyo 0350 Japanese
9650 S. AFRICA BBC Meyerton *0400 English
9745 S. AFRICA Channel Africa Meyerton, super signal 0400 French
9755 RWANDA DW Kigali *0430 Arabic
9760 JAPAN R. Nikkei Tokyo 0350 Japanese
9820 RWANDA DW Kigali 0400 Arabic
9835 INDIA AIR 0330 Dari to 0345*
9850 VIETNAM VOV Hanoi *0400 domestic
9865 IRAN VOIRI 0410 Azeri
9870 INDIA AIR to 0435* domestic
9875 VIETNAM VOV Hanoi *0400 domestic
OTHERS
6120 GERMANY RL Wertachtal 0405 Belarussian LP
6190 CANADA CRI Sackville *0400 English
7350 VATICAN V. of Russia 0410 English big signal LP
7375 GERMANY Croatian Radio Wertachtal 0345 English LP
7440 UKRAINE R. Uk International 0400 English LP
9635 ROMANIA RRI 0335 Spanish LP
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Regards from Melbourne!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Propagation and Monitoring Report
Sunspot activity continues to remain at zero, with no spots observed from November 18 to 29!
This is causing havoc with HF communications on frequencies above about 12 MHz, attempting to maintain communcations on long-distance paths following darkness or semi-darkness regions.
Here in Melbourne, the 9 MHz spectrum is very active in the period 1900-2100, with many short-path signals from Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe, following the darkness zones.
Here is a sample of observed occupancy in the 9 MHz extended-band spectrum, 9335-9500, as noted on November 30, 2008:
9250 EGYPT R. Cairo 1900-2130 Arabic
9310 EGYPT R. Cairo 1900-2030 English
9325 N. KOREA VOK 1930-2000 German
9335 SRI LANKA R. Farda Iranawila 1900-2000 Farsi
9355 MARIANAS RFA Saipan 1900-2000 Mandarin
9390 FRANCE R. Algeria via Issoudin 1900-2000 Arabic
9410 CHINA CNR5 1900-2100 Mandarin
9410 SEYCHELLES BBC 1930-2000
9420 GREECE VOG 1930-2000 Greek
9425 INDIA AIR National Channel 1900-2000
9445 INDIA AIR 1930-2000 English
9430 CZECH REP R. Prague 1930-2000 Spanish/French
9455 MARIANAS RFA Saipan 1900-2000 Mandarin
9455 PORTUGAL RDP 1900-2000 Portuguese sports
9470 GERMANY BVB Wertachtal 1930-2000 English
9480 GERMANY WYFR Wertachtal 1900-1930 English
9500 GERMANY WYFR Wertachtal 1900-2000 Arabic
9500 AUSTRALIA RA Shepparton 1900-2000 English
Monitoring Report - 6200-6300 extended band spectrum
This is a spectrum study of the extended-band range of the 6 MHz band, from 6205-6300, observed on December 1 2008 between 1900 and 2000.
That time period is about one hour after local sunrise, with good shortpath signals from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
This frequency range is shared with the maritime service worldwide, on a non-interference basis.
6205 IRAN VOIRI 1930-2000 Italian
6235 RUSSIA VOR Armivir 1900-1930* Russian
6245 RUSSIA VOA Moscow 1900-2000 English
6255 EGYPT R. Cairo 1900-2000 German
6260 UZBEKISTAN CVC Tashkent 1900-2000 Hindi
6290 EGYPT R. Cairo 1900-1930 Arabic
6300 ALGERIA R. Nac. de la Rasd, 1900-2000 Arabic
That time period is about one hour after local sunrise, with good shortpath signals from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
This frequency range is shared with the maritime service worldwide, on a non-interference basis.
6205 IRAN VOIRI 1930-2000 Italian
6235 RUSSIA VOR Armivir 1900-1930* Russian
6245 RUSSIA VOA Moscow 1900-2000 English
6255 EGYPT R. Cairo 1900-2000 German
6260 UZBEKISTAN CVC Tashkent 1900-2000 Hindi
6290 EGYPT R. Cairo 1900-1930 Arabic
6300 ALGERIA R. Nac. de la Rasd, 1900-2000 Arabic
Friday, November 28, 2008
Propagation and Monitoring Report
No sunspots have been observed in the period November 18 to 26.
According to the ARRL, we had our last glimpse of sunspot group 1008 as it was about to slip over our sun's western horizon on November 18. No sunspots have emerged since then, but it seems a reasonable assumption that we will see more cycle 24 spots, but we do not know when. There is a prediction from USAF/NOAA that shows solar flux rising to 70 on December 8-9, and perhaps this is just tracking a possible reappearance of the region that birthed sunspot group 1007, which we saw in the sun's southern hemisphere from October 30 through November 6.
Propagation into Melbourne continues to be very good during our mid afternoon period, 0300-0500, with many shortpath signals from the Middle East, Europe, and Africa on 19 metres, and long path from the same regions on 49, 41, 31, 22 and 25 metres.
Here is a summary of spectrum occupancies, with comments, as observed on November 27.
Summary 1 – 0400-0600
9650 BBC, Meyerton, 0435 English
12060 Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran, 0440 Turkish
15160 Radio Romania International, opening at 0500 with the daytime service to China, in Mandarin. Poor frequency coordination, due to Radio Australia, Shepparton, also using this channel for the same target area
13720 Sudan Radio Service, Dhabbaya, 0500-0530* Arabic
13800 Radio Dabanga, Madagascar, 0505 Arabic
15185 All India Radio, 0510-0530* Hindi
15205 DW, Dhabbaya, 0510 Russian
15285 BSKSA, Riyadh, 0515 Swahili
15335 R. Free Afghanistan, Kuwait, 0515 Farsi
15415 CNR, Minorities Network, 0520 Kazakh
15600 DW, Dhabbaya, 0500-0530 English
15610 CVC, Tashkent, 0515 English
15690 R. Farda, Iranawela, 0500 Farsi
21540 RFA, Tinian, 0445 Mandarin
Summary 2 – 1900-2200
6010 R. Tirana, *1900 Serbo-Croatian
7225 NHK, Issoudin, *2200 Japanese
11790 RFA, Saipan, 1945 Mandarin
11955 AWR, Nauen, 1940 Arabic
According to the ARRL, we had our last glimpse of sunspot group 1008 as it was about to slip over our sun's western horizon on November 18. No sunspots have emerged since then, but it seems a reasonable assumption that we will see more cycle 24 spots, but we do not know when. There is a prediction from USAF/NOAA that shows solar flux rising to 70 on December 8-9, and perhaps this is just tracking a possible reappearance of the region that birthed sunspot group 1007, which we saw in the sun's southern hemisphere from October 30 through November 6.
Propagation into Melbourne continues to be very good during our mid afternoon period, 0300-0500, with many shortpath signals from the Middle East, Europe, and Africa on 19 metres, and long path from the same regions on 49, 41, 31, 22 and 25 metres.
Here is a summary of spectrum occupancies, with comments, as observed on November 27.
Summary 1 – 0400-0600
9650 BBC, Meyerton, 0435 English
12060 Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran, 0440 Turkish
15160 Radio Romania International, opening at 0500 with the daytime service to China, in Mandarin. Poor frequency coordination, due to Radio Australia, Shepparton, also using this channel for the same target area
13720 Sudan Radio Service, Dhabbaya, 0500-0530* Arabic
13800 Radio Dabanga, Madagascar, 0505 Arabic
15185 All India Radio, 0510-0530* Hindi
15205 DW, Dhabbaya, 0510 Russian
15285 BSKSA, Riyadh, 0515 Swahili
15335 R. Free Afghanistan, Kuwait, 0515 Farsi
15415 CNR, Minorities Network, 0520 Kazakh
15600 DW, Dhabbaya, 0500-0530 English
15610 CVC, Tashkent, 0515 English
15690 R. Farda, Iranawela, 0500 Farsi
21540 RFA, Tinian, 0445 Mandarin
Summary 2 – 1900-2200
6010 R. Tirana, *1900 Serbo-Croatian
7225 NHK, Issoudin, *2200 Japanese
11790 RFA, Saipan, 1945 Mandarin
11955 AWR, Nauen, 1940 Arabic
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