Here are some late logs from my trip to Ocean City State Park, WA, "land of
horizontal rain". Deploying and taking down antennas at the WA coast in the
winter beats running from scorpions and snakes like the Aussies do on their
DXpeditions...but it still can border on miserable. Fortunately my DX van is
a comfortable retreat amidst the chaotic weather.

Mediumwave TP DX was very, very lackluster, but the tropicals had some fun
to them. On to the logs...

SHORTWAVE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUSTRALIA 2310, 1345-1356, VL8A Alice Springs Jan 8 Discussion between
announcer and an oncologist about various medical topics, including her work
with other medical professionals with the cast of 'The Lord of the Rings'
movie. Strong signal, parallel to VL8K Katherine. VL8T Tennant Creek on 2325
not heard. Same stations heard at 1016 on 1/9 with similar strengths.
(Atkins-WA)

BOTSWANA 4930, 1740-1743, VOA Jan 8 Male announcers in English with talk
that seemed to be about politics. African-sounding a capella vocals at 1742.
Low level, poor signal. Quite a bit stronger on 1/9, with mentions of
Africa, Washington, and United States by man. (Atkins-WA)

BRAZIL 4915, 2355-0004, R. Difusora Jan 9 Male and female announcers in
Portuguese, with mentions of Macapa and R. Difusora. Promos and ads over the
top of the hour. Fair to good, but co-channel QRM from Ghana until 2358.
(Atkins-WA)

CHINA 4905, 1728-1732, Xizang PBS Jan 8 Classical music with flute solo,
parallel to 4920 (beneath co-channel AIR Chennai). Good level. Also heard
1/9 at 1705 with a fair signal. (Atkins-WA)

GABON 4777, 0550-0705, R. Diff. TV Gabonaise Jan 7 First noted at threshold
level 0540, then slowly rising from the noise at 0540 with swift-talking
French announcer and highlife music. Into more modern afropops 0555.
Presumed ID and announcements by male and female announcers at 0600 with two
mentions of Libreville and Gabon. Weak signal at best. (Atkins-WA)

GHANA 4915, 2355-2358, GBC Jan 8 Tuned in just in time to catch deep-voiced
male announcer with ID 'This is the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation from
Accra.' This was followed by a few more announcements of upcoming programs,
and then off at 2358*. Strong co-channel QRM from R. Difusora, Macapa. Fair
signal. (Atkins-WA)

GUATEMALA 4780, 0102-0108, R. Cultural Coatan Jan 9 Male announcer in
Spanish with short music selections and IDs as 'R. Cultural Coatan,' and
other mentions of Coatan. Fair signal. (Atkins-WA)

INDIA 3315, 1710-1713, AIR Bhopal Jan 8 Nice sub-continental vocal and tabla
music, at fair level, one hour 20 minutes past local sunrise. (Atkins-WA)

INDIA 3323, 1620-1631, AIR Shimla Jan 9 Noted subcontinental music here,
with Hindi vocals by male, and flute and tabla accompaniment. Female
announcer at 1630 with possible ID, but signal too weak to be sure.
Tentative. (Atkins-WA)

INDIA 4760, 1618-1622, AIR Port Blair Jan 8 Tentative. Primative sounding
male vocals in unid. language, with tabla and sitar. Good signal. Also heard
with poor signal on 1/9 at 1715. (Atkins-WA)

INDIA 4860, 1721-1728, AIR Delhi, Kingsway Jan 8 Sub-continental vocals and
accompaniment at tune-in; female announcer in Hindi at 1725 with mentions of
Delhi. Back to vocals 1728. Fair to good signal, but only fair on 1/9 in
same timeframe. (Atkins-WA)

INDIA 4920, 1734-1738, AIR Chennai Jan 8 News or discussion about a border
dispute with unid. country, presented by a male announcer in English. ID as
'All India Radio' at 1735. Into Hindi at 1736. Good signal, but co-channel
QRM from Xizang PBS and nearly equal level. Much weaker signal 1/9 beneath
Xizang during the same timeframe. (Atkins-WA)

INDIA 4970, 0048-0057, AIR Shillong Jan 9 Presumed Shillong, with
sub-continental female vocals to fade-out at 0057. Wish I'd happened upon
this one earlier! Late afternoon Indians are not nearly as common as morning
reception in the Pacific NW. Fair-poor. (Atkins-WA)

INDIA 4970, 1603-1613, AIR Shilong Jan 8 ID in English by female announcer
at tune-in; male announcer with mention of 'North Eastern Service'. Into pop
versions of classical music tunes. Excellent signal. (Atkins-WA)

INDONESIA 2960, 1018-1022, RPDT2 Manggarai Jan 9 Very weak level of
Indonesian light chatter by male and female announcer. Indopops music 1020.
Tentative. (Atkins-WA)

INDONESIA 3231.8, 1634-, RRI Bukittinggi Jan 9 Primative-sounding woodwinds
and Arabic vocals, with two male announcers in Arabic. Frequent voice-over
comments by announcers, as music continued with wailing, chants, and exotic
flutes. Sudden change in music at 1658 with upbeat xylophone tune, then male
announcer in Indonesian with 'RRI Bukittinggi' and mentions of frequency.
Into Song of the Coconut Islands, and off at 1700*. Very good signal. I'm
pleased with this catch, as I've not heard Bukittinggi for a while.
(Atkins-WA)

INDONESIA 3345, 1406-1410, RRI Ternate Jan 8 Phone interview between male
announcer and female caller at tune-in; mentions of Ternate. Into mellow
Indopops music. Very good signal. (Atkins-WA)

INDONESIA 3976, 1416-1423, RRI Pontianak Jan 8 Usual excellent signal, with
with slick-sounding advertisements and promo with mentions of Pontianak.
'FM' and 'frequency' by male announcer at 1422, with further numerous
mentions of Pontianak. (Atkins-WA)

INDONESIA 4750, 1423-, RRI Makassar Jan 8 Strong but distorted, unlistenable
signal that could barely be identified as Indonesian language. Looks like
Makassar's having transmitter troubles again. Spectrum scope of the SDR-1000
showed a blurry mess of a signal. (Atkins-WA)

MAURITANIA 4845, 0045-0050, R. Mauritanie Jan 9 Traditional Arabic music,
then male announcer in Arabic. Into Koranic recitations 0050. Good signal,
but weakening past local sunset (0038). (Atkins-WA)

NORTH KOREA 3250, 1702-1708, PBS Jan 9 Usual strident talk in Korean, by two
announcers. Fair, and parallel to 3320 which was much stronger. (Atkins-WA)

PAPUA NEW GUINEA 3205, 0936-, R. Sandaun Jan 9 Good signal with reporter
discussing news items in Pidgin including bird flu in Asia, and developments
in Australian politics. Other PNGs noted we 3235 R. West New Britain (vy
gd); 3260 R. Madang (vy gd); 3291.1 R. Central (pres.; off-freq. w/rel. tk
in English; gd); 3305 R. Western (fair); 3315 R. Manus (gd); 3325 R. North
Solomons (tent.; co-ch w/Palangkaraya, poor); 3335 R. East Sepik (fair);
3375 R. Western Highlands (fair-noisy); 3385 R. East New Britain (strong but
low mod.); 3905 R. New Ireland (vy gd, w/ID at 1000); 4890 NBC (exc.); 4960
Catholic Radio Network (vy poor w/QRM); 7120 R. Wantok Light (Poor-tentative
beneath strong CNR in Korean). (Atkins-WA)

PAPUA NEW GUINEA 3235, 1356-1401, R. West New Britain Jan 8 Male announcer
in Pidgin with sign-off announcements including mentions of Kimbe and
shortwave and mediumwave frequencies, goodbyes, and 'God Bless im You'. Into
national anthem, and off at 1401*. Very good signal. (Atkins-WA)

RUSSIA 3955, 1409-1415, Voice of Russia Jan 8 Male and female announcers in
Korean language; sounded like newscast. Tentative; per sked in DSWCI DBS
2005. Good signal. (Atkins-WA)

SINGAPORE 3915, 1715-1722, BBC Kranji Jan 8 Two male sportscasters with
play-by-play of Manchester United soccer game. Excellent signal. (Atkins-WA)

SOLOMON ISLANDS 5019.9, 0926-0934, SIBC Honiara Jan 9 Devotion or Bible
message in Pidgin by enthusiastic preacher at 0926, followed by brief promo
for religious program. Ad for 'your number one dealer' (cars?), and cell
phone service ('You needim call? You makim call! Mobile phones for you..')
Into acoustic guitar and island vocals 0934. Very good signal. (Atkins-WA)

SOUTH AFRICA 3320, 0120-0125, R. Sonder Grense Jan 9 Two male announcers
with interview or roundtable discussion. Into pop music at 0125. Good level.
(Atkins-WA)

SWAZILAND 3200, 1704-1710, TWR Mpangela Ranch Jan 8 Sermon or devotion in
English; recognized speaker as Charles Saunders. Fair level on morning
longpath. (Atkins-WA)

VANUATU 3944.8, 0912-0925, R. Vanuatu Jan 9 Good but noisy signal, with
female announcer in Pidgin taking phone calls from listeners; evidently
talking about New Year's resolutions. Choral singing and ukelele music at
0919. More well-wishes and 'happy New Year to you all' at 0925. (Atkins-WA)

ZAMBIA 4910, 1720-1728, ZNBC Radio One Jan 9 Lively Afropops music, and male
announcer in unid. African language. Good signal initially at tune-in, but
very rapid fade just past Lusaka sunset. (Atkins-WA)

ZAMBIA 4965, 0005-0045, R. Christian Voice Jan 9 Male announcer in English
concluding some news items at 0005 tune-in. Short devotion on drawing near
to God, then into steel guitar and vocals version of 'Just As I Am' hymn.
This was followed by a piano instrumental piece, brief comments by
announcer, then a country western version of 'This Is My Story, This Is My
Song' and Wesley's 'And Can It Be'. ID by male at 0030. Poor-fair level
initially and slowly improving to good by 0035, then rapid fall-off as local
sunset passed the WA coast. An excellent example of sunset-at-the-receiver
enhancement. Also noted with weak signal on 1/9 at 1728 via morning
longpath. (Atkins-WA)


MEDIUMWAVE
-------------------------------------------------------------
738 TAHITI RFO Papeete, Jan 9 1032 - French talk by male announcer, and into
French lang. pop music at 1037. Poor to fair signal. (Atkins-WA)

738 UNIDENTIFIED , Jan 8 1623 - Low level Aussie-accent English with male
announcers. Signal back into the noise by 1625. 2NR Grafton?. (Atkins-WA)

738 UNIDENTIFIED , Jan 8 1250 - Scraps of weak Japanese talk heard here, and
only in for a minute or so before disappearing into the mud. Noted briefly
again with male Japanese announcer at 1311. Checked 1152 for possible JORR
Okinawa parallel, but heard nothing. This is the first time I've heard
Japanese language on 738 (definitely not Korean or Chinese). (Atkins-WA)

774 JAPAN JOUB Akita, Jan 9 1038 - Beautiful signal of romantic female
vocals in Japanese; male and female announcers in Japanese at 1041. Fading
severely by 1042, however. (Atkins-WA)

972 SOUTH KOREA KBS Liberty 1 - HLCA, Jan 8 1641 - Orchestral music and
female announcer in Japanese (listed as JJ in PAL 1600-1700). Poor signal;
presumed. (Atkins-WA)

1134 JAPAN JOQR Tokyo, Jan 9 1549 - Just about the only TP with audio this
morning. Japanese talk by male and female announcers, jingle, and briefly
into light jazz Japanese vocal number by female.before returning to
announcers. Poor to fair signal. (Atkins-WA)

1242 UNIDENTIFIED , Jan 9 1558 - Weak signal with scraps of what seemed to
be Japanese talk. JOLF Tokyo is the usual suspect on 1242. (Atkins-WA)

1566 SOUTH KOREA HLAZ Cheju, Jan 9 1050 - Strong signal of Christian vocals
'He Will Save You' at tune-in. Female and male announcers at 1053, and
'H-L-A-Z' ID by woman in Korean at 1054. Orchestral music and male soloist
at 1055. Suddenly off at 1055. (Atkins-WA)

1566 SOUTH KOREA HLAZ, Jan 8 1649 - Noted with light EZL music and Chinese
language announcers. Initially poor-fair, but complete fade by 1654.
Slightly above noise again by 1701. (Atkins-WA)

Guy Atkins
Puyallup, WA USA
DXing at Ocean City State Park, WA
Flex-Radio SDR-1000 & mod. ICOM R-75
750 ft. Beverage antenna at 280 degrees
Blog: www.sdr-1000.blogspot.com