THE HAMRADIO DOT COM

Last two weeks there has been a good or at least fair propagation almost every night. Unfortunately it has been almost every night to Venezuela and Colombia with few decent nights to Ecuador, Cuba and Puerto Rico. So far USA prop has provided mostly old familiar stations from the East Coast but I have now logged 3 new US stations for this season: 610 WIOD Miami FL, 1130 KTCN Minneapolis MN and 1540 WDCD Albany NY. In the 10th of September 1200 KFNW West Fargo ND was a real suprise with very good signal – same time propagation to East Coast was minimal.

The 11th and 12th nights should be quite ok too. My recordings for these nights are still at the listening station.

North America

1200 10.9. 0259- USA: KFNW West Fargo ND. Shocking big signal: “Faith 1200 KFNW AM West-Fargo, Fargo Moorhead”. TIK
1260 10.9. 0259- USA: WSUA Miami FL. English ID in the messy QRG: “WSUA HD …”. TIK

Central America

840 10.9. 0300- CUB: CMKC R Revolución, Palma Soriano. TIK
900 10.9. 0400- CUB: CMKP R Progreso, San Germán. Beating Mara Ritmo. TIK
930 10.9. 0328- CUB: CM.. R Reloj. For the first time here. “R R”. Same night Canadian noticed at 2155z. Reloj also eg. 950 and 960 kHz. TIK
1000 10.9. 0100- CUB: CMNM R Granma, Media Luna GR. TIK
1020 10.9. 0028- CUB: CMAP R Guamá, Bahía Honda PR. Probably already heard at 2300z. Later Reloj too. TIK Editoi
1260 10.9. 0258- PTR: WISO Ponce PR. WAPA-ids. TIK
1350 10.9. 0100- CUB: CMFL R Ciudad del Mar, Aguada de Pasajeros. Yidenys Roca González replied to my winter report. TIK

South America

600 10.9. 0356- CLM: HJHJ R Libertad, Barranquilla. TIK
680 10.9. 0331- VEN: YVQR R Continente, Cumana. “Transmite Radio Continente”. Earlier WAPA dominating, now Continente alone. Split [680.021]. Also hrd 9.9. 0400z. TIK
700 10.9. 0355- VEN: YVMH R Popular, Maracaibo. [700.007]. TIK
1010 10.9. 0128- CLM: HJJR Caracol, Neiva. Infernal splatters from 1008. TIK
1070 10.9. 0202- CLM: HJAH Emisora Atlantico, Barranquilla. “Emisora Atlantico”-jingle. Heard long with a good signal [1070.001]. TIK
1140 10.9. 0302- CLM: HJE67 Caracol Radio, Villavicencio. First time in Finland? TIK
1320 10.9. 0232- VEN: YVWP R Apolo, Turmero. TIK
1380 10.9. 0256- VEN: YVNG Ondas del Mar, Puerto Cabello. TIK
1470 10.9. 0331- B: ZYJ676 R Rondonia, Cacoal (RO). TIK

Other days:

650 8.9. 0302- CLM: HJKH RCN Antenna 2, SF de Bogota. Also 9.9.
700 9.9. 0330- EQA: HCRS2 R Sucre, Guayaquil.
940 8.9. 0331- CLM: HJTL RCN, Cucuta.
1100 9.9. 0400- CLM: HJCN R BBN, Bogotá. TIK
1350 9.9. 0255- CUB: CMLM R Libertad, Puerto Padre.

Since the last QSL-post few new ones have arrived.

563. Ceský rozhlas 2 954 kHz
This was reported as I found out that I don’t have CRo home service QSL. Nice QSL card was in the mail in one month. I think that Ceský rozhlas doesn’t have any local programmes on MW. With QSLs from Radio Dechovka and Country Radio currently no more stations to QSL from Czech.

564. TWR Parakou 1566 kHz
This one was the first QSL from Benin. Email confirmation from TWR.

565. WBCQ Monticello ME 9330 kHz
These guys don’t QSL via email. So I sent them SAE and IRC. QSL-card arrived via mail in one month. This station is audible probably every night.

566. CFRY Portage la Prairie MB 920 kHz
Heard during the great condx of January. Program director Ryan Simpson replied in 2 days. MJ heard this last night in Vaasa!

SDJ Stockholm Radio, Stavsnäs 1674 kHz
This utility station replied quickly even on Saturday. They also sent later a traditional QSL card via mail.

Propagation has been very good after the 2nd of September (which was the peak of condx I suppose). Some highlights found from the files:

North America

1140 7.9. 0200- USA: WQBA Miami FL.
1540 5.9. 0158- USA: KXEL Waterloo IA. Also ZNS and CHIN here.
1540 7.9. 0200- USA: WDCD Albany NY. “15-40 AM WDCD”. Reactivated. Other identified NAs: 1520 WWKB, 1510 WUFC, 1500 WFED, 1410 WPOP, 1360 WDRC, 1310 CIWW, 1190 WLIB, 1130 WBBR, 1050 WEPN, 1030 WBZ, 1010 WINS, 880 WCBS. 1310 WLOB, 1370 WDEA and 1390 WEGP were broadcasting WEEI Red Sox Radio Network. Of course also usual suspects from Eastern Canada were heard.

Central America

640 2.9. 0300- GDL: Guadeloupe 1ère, Point-à-Pitre. Also next night.
740 2.9. 0331- PTR: WIAC 740 La Original, San Juan PR. Also more common 580 WKAQ and 680 WAPA.

South America

590 2.9. 0300- CLM: HJCR W Radio, Medellín. Quite rare CLM. “Doble U Radio”.
610 2.9. 0230- CLM: HJKL La Carinosa, Bogotá.
700 2.9. 0300- EQA: HCRS2 R Sucre, Guayaquil. [699.993].
710 2.9. 0332- CLM: HJNX R Red, Medellin. Big split about [709.905], music px and ID: “Radio Red de RCN …”. Tnx to HK for solving this. I was hoping for more rare catch!
740 3.9. 0300- B: ZYH446 R Sociedade da Bahia, Salvador, BA. Suprsise during these condx (and antenna) [740.007].
770 2.9. 0131- VEN: YVKK R Nacional de Venezuela, Valencia. [770.004] With RCN.
920 6.9. 0202- PRG: ZP1 R Nacional del Paraguay, Asunción. New country for me! Audible quite long with talk programme.
1040 2.9. 0301- CLM: HJCJ/HJUB Colmundo R, Bogotá/Pasto. “Radio Colombia”.
1110 3.9. 0028- VEN: YVQT R Carupano, Carupano. New one for me, no reports on OLL during the last years. Used to be common.
1200 6.9. 2300- B: ZYH585 R Clube Fortaleza CE. [1200.010] Early, later WXKS and CFGO.
1390 3.9. 0229- VEN: YVZA R Fé y Alegría, Caracas. [1389.996] Half hour earlier another station on [1389.998]. Common stations at this night: 730 Melodia, 770 RCN, 930 Bogotá, 940 Maxima, 1070 Santa Fe, 1190 Cordillera, 1340 Amor Estereo.

Mon/Tue night had an amazing opening to west. At first I found some new catches from Columbia and Venezuela but later found out from the files that I also got a super opening to Ecuador and some parts of Caribbean Islands. Finally I had very good IDs from 560 kHz Voice of Guyana, which I have now heard 3 or 4 times. I assume that they have improved their transmitter or antenna. Another new countries were Antigua&Barbuda and Haiti. I am still listening to these files of the night so new stations will be logged. A brief sneak to 3rd of September files show that next night propagation was also very good, but now it seems that the 2nd of September opening was in Top3 in 2013.

I have bolded the most interesting stations.

Central America

800 2.9. 0228- BON: PJB TWR Bonaire. “Esta es Radio Transmundial”. TIK
840 2.9. -0236 HTI: 4VEH La voix évangélique d’Haïti, Cape Haitien. Station sign-of with the national anthem. TIK
1160 2.9. 0229- ATG: Caribbean R Lighthouse, St. John’s. In Online Log no loggings from South Finland. Used to be common station on 1165 kHz. [1159.994]. TIK
1300 2.9. 0300- SXM: PJD-2 The Voice of St.Maarten, Philipsburg. TIK
1480 2.9. 0328- PTR: WMDD Fajardo PR. Used to be one of the most common PTR stations, now quite rare. Thanks for Henrik/HK for solving this slogan: “Esto es: SUBIENDO A LAS ALTURAS por el 14.80”. Call letters WMDD are not used and the station calls itself as “El 14-80” like their website el1480am.com (not “La 14-80”). TIK
1540 2.9. 0200- BAH: ZNS1 R Bahamas, Nassau. I have now heard them three times in 2 weeks. TIK

South America

560 2.9. 0304- GUY: Voice of Guyana, Georgetown. I have heard same male announcer with night music three times but now finally got a very fine station announcement with AM and FM frequencies and the slogan: “VOG – The Caribbean Sound”. TIK
820 2.9. 0301- CLM: HJED Caracol, Cali. TIK
870 2.9. 0304- EQA: HCNY2 R Cristal, Guayaquil. [869.988] Probably rare Ecuador on 850 too. TIK
890 2.9. 0203- CLM: HJPM R Galeón, Santa Marta. This is now a part of CARACOL. TIK
920 2.9. 0302- EQA: HCAB1 R Democrácia, Quito. Thanks for approving this to HK, MTM and PW. TIK
930 2.9. 0100- CLM: HJCS La Voz de Bogotá, Bogotá. Now quite frequently heard. TIK
940 2.9. 0259- CLM: HJGB R Calima, Cali. Tnx PW for approving. ID: “Radio Calima 9-40” [940.012]. 30 seconds later on 940.000 “Maxima 9-40”. TIK
1000 2.9. 0100- CLM: HJAQ RCN, Cartagena. //980. 1320 also “RCN Radio” IDs later. TIK
1020 2.9. 0255- CLM: HJFQ RCN, Pereira. Very busy frequency, software shows 7 carriers. TIK
1030 2.9. 0302- CLM: HJER RCN Antena 2, Cali. This is a rare SA QRG. RCN was close to nominal frequency, below it was another SA. On 1060 was three different SAs on different splits. TIK
1140 2.9. 0201- CLM: HJCL R Panamericana, Girardot. [1139.994] With unidentified SA. TIK
1170 2.9. 0300- CLM: HJNW Caracol, Cartagena. “Caracol Radio”. TIK
1190 2.9. 0128- EQA: HCDE2 UCSG Radio, Guayaquil. Very strong, later Cordillera dominates. TIK
1200 2.9. 0201- CLM: HJNF R Red, Cali. Ex-Super. Also RCN-slogans. Usual suspects heard: 900 Mara Ritmo (super loud), 1070 Santa Fe, 1190 Cordillera, 1230 Calidad, 1370 Mundial, 1400 Mariana, 1520 Libertad. TIK
1300 2.9. 0330- VEN: YVKH R Recuerdos, Caracas. TIK
1360 2.9. 0201- CLM: HJTU R Oxigeno, Cartagena. [1359.951]. TIK
1400 2.9. 0302- CLM: HJLL RCN Antena 2, Santa Bárbara. With Emissora Mariana. TIK
1470 2.9. 0159- CLM: HJNT R Huellas, Cali. [1470.071]. TIK
1470 2.9. 0331- VEN: YVJW Union Radio Cultural, Valencia. [1470.036]. TIK

My Dxing QTH might be one of the most western in Finland among the active BC/DX-listeners. It certainly helps with the propagation to west. I am also south enough – less problems with auroral activity which sometimes kills radio propagation in the Northern part of Finland. Negative thing is that Asia is quite difficult from Pori.

556. Radio Merkurs 1485 kHz
Merkurs can be heard every night here in Finland with its strange music format. Just last week I heard them playing Finnish Schlager from 1980s! Raimonds Kreicbergs replied in 4 days to my email. Suprisingly I found out that this is actually my first Latvian station. I have Radio Riga confirmed, but it was USSR back then!

557. KBS World Radio, Gimje 9515 kHz
KBS replied via snail mail with QSL-card (pictured), programme schedule and an old-fashioned reception report form/aerogram.

558. WJCC Miami Springs FL 1700 kHz
GM Alex Saint Surin replied to my f/up report and told that they will mention my reception in their programme!

559. WDAY Fargo ND
QSL from North Dakota is always nice. Stephen Tschida, Production Manager replied and told that their power has been increased from 5 to 10 kW. In his long replay Stephen also writes: WDAY receives letters like yours several times a year, and since we celebrated our 91st anniversary last May, you can imagine how voluminous our file is where we archive those cards and letters. Granted, we have not been getting QSL cards for 90 years, but we do have some dating back to the 1970’s. Most have arrived from Finland, andn also from your neighbors around that part of the Arctic Circle. I have personally become quite familiar with your hobby, from the detailed descriptions of how your fellow DXer’s spend their vacation time for weeks on end, and the equipment that they use. It’s always a pleasure to hear from you folks.

560. WIPR San Juan PR “Maxima 940” 940 kHz
WIPR is quite common Puerto Rican station here. I got answer via Facebook, where Joel E. Rivera, Vicepresidente de Radio wrote a nice replay message to confirm my reception. The 6th QSLed PR this year.

561. VOAR Mount Pearl NL 1210 kHz
This is one of the most common Canadians here although frequency is very bad because of Absolute Radio on 1215. CE R. Brian Matthews replied to my f/up report.

562. KDKA Pittsburgh PA 1020 kHz
Classic station! CE Vic Pasquarelli replied in a week with short email.

555. HCDE2 UCSG Radio, Guayaquil 1190 kHz
Last November I noticed very good propagation to Ecuador and heard my first MW-Ecuador-stations UCSG Radio 1190 and Teleradio 1350. Now finally I got replay from UCSG via Facebook. If I understood correctly, they would like to talk with me via Skype. With my Spanish, it sounds mission impossible.

From Sunday to Wednesday I had my “unmanned station” on. The first identified station from the files was ZNS1 Radio Bahamas, Nassau on 1540 kHz! It was the first time I heard the Bahamas. Same night (19th) probably PJD2 was on 1300 kHz (a bit below) and UNID male in English on 560 kHz (Guyana? as it didn’t sound as WGAN). Next nights some usual suspects from CAN/USA: 590&620 VOCM, 640 CBN, 790 VOWR, 930 CJYQ (peaking S9+15dB on 21st), 1130 WBBR, 1140 CBI, 1190 WLIB (the biggest suprise) and 1400 CBG. Mostly propagation was to Colombia with lots of fading and weak signals. New one for me was HJED Caracol, Cali on 820 kHz. Others the worth of mentioning were 930 HJCS La Voz de Bogotá and 1400 HJKM Emisora Mariana, Bogotá.

A flow of QSL to my follow-up reports, mostly thanks for v/s information I got from Ykä, YK.

543. HJIP BBN, Envigado 1590 kHz
This religious Colombian is much less frequent here than Radio Maria 10 kcs below. They replied to my f/up with a short email.

544. HJAK La Voz de la Patria, Barranquilla 1310 kHz
This is easy to recognize as it is on split frequency 1309.7 kHz. Not very common anyway and 1310 has few other Colombians plus Venezuelan station too. They replied via Facebook.

545. YVMD Radio Venezuela “Mara Ritmo” 900 kHz
When condx are to Venezuela, this Mara Ritmo has been quite common on 900 kHz. Usually I hear them sending lottery numbers! They replied via Facebook.

546.-550. VOCM St. John’s NL 590 kHz, CKCM Grand Falls NL 620 kHz, CKGA Gander NL 650 kHz, CKVO Clarenville NL 710 kHz and CHCM Maryston NL 740 kHz
These are among the most common NA stations here in Finland. Last December I heard local ads from each of these, but failed to get any reply via email or Facebook. But now Programme Director Richard King confirmed my reception. He commented each clip I sent and wrote eg: 620 kHz mentioned Stroud’s Auto, which airs on that station. (It is actually my voice on that commercial) . Thanks Richard (and YK for v/s info)!

551. HIAJ Radio Amanecer, San Francisco de Macorís de Bogotá 1060 kHz
Amanecer used to be quite common on 1570 kHz but it is not heard there anymore. In the end of December 2012 I managed to hear them on 1060 kHz which more rare frequency. There was quite nice propagation peak that time – heard also etc. WJNO West Palm Beach FL same time. HIAJ replied to my f/up with a short email message. This is my first QSL from Dominican Republic!

552. CBNA St. Anthony NL 600 kHz
This is quite common station to hear but maybe not so common to hear with local ID. Terry Brett replied to f/up with PDF-QSL.

553. CJOB Winnipeg MB 680 kHz
This is easy catch in Lappland. Here in South it needs better than average condx as WRKO Boston MA and CFTR Toronto ON are in the frequency. V/s Scott Pettigrew made some kind of record: QSL in one minute!

554. WLOL Minneapolis MN 1330 kHz
WLOL broadcasts Relevant Radio -programme. I heard it only once last winter, WRCA is usually dominating. Rose M Schauer, Donor Listener Relations Manager replied quickly to my email. This is my 150th QSL from North America (Canada, USA).

542. Radio Sighet 1404 kHz
I heard Romanian regional radio Radio Sighet in the afternoon in last December. I didn’t get replay to my email but now to my f/up via Facebook was answered in 3 minutes! They wrote that I was listening to Ukrainian programme which is for Ukrainian speaking minority in Maramureș County. According to Wikipedia Maramureș has 31,234 Ukrainian inhabitans which is 6.77 % of all population. Hungarian minority is even a bit larger (7.53 %).

539. YVTW Radio Alegría, Chivacoa 1020 kHz
1020 is nowadays a bit rare SA channel, but I managed to hear Alegria last year in November. Juan Pablo Planas replied in 10 days.

540. Asian Sound Radio 963 kHz
The most common Asian UK station on 963 is Buzz Radio (ex-Buzz Asia), but sometimes Asian Sound Radio pops up. I got an answer on Facebook.

541. CJLV Laval QC 1570 kHz
CJLV replied to my f/up that clip is “inaudible”. I sent them another clip from January and “JPaul” wrote me quickly back: Oui c’est bien notre station que vous avez capté , C’est étonnant que les ondes traversent l’océan. merci de nous écouté.

Thursday and Friday nights had poor propagation on Mediumwaves. So far the most interesting station I found has been Egypt on 1476 kHz. Last night band opened to Venezuela and Colombia around 0200 UTC. Signals were quite weak and many stations were sending football. 1190 YVZD R Cultural del Táchira, San Cristóbal and 1380 YVNG Ondas del Mar, Puerto Cabello were identified.

Top news on FM is that MSO heard Big 92.7 FM from India in the 1st of August on 92.7 MHz! New all time FM country for Finland.

537. RNE1 Asturias, Oviedo 729 kHz
Iberia (Portugal & Spain) has been the most difficult DX continent to QSL for me. Last winter I sent maybe 25 reports (few emails bounced back) to Spain and got 2 QSLs after I got a good v/s-info from the DX friend. Now I have been fupping Spanish stations which I heard last December eve and even got one answer! Asturias replied in one day via email:
Efectivamente: se trata del primer boletín informativo de la mañana (07,25 hora local de España) Las locutoras son Luz de la Fuente y Cristina Fernández.
Gracias por haber contactado con nosotros.

538. Clyde2 1152 kHz
Last winter I noticed that I don’t have QSL from Clyde 2 (ex- Radio Clyde) which is very easy to hear winter time. Back then I didn’t get any replay. Today I first sent two emails which both bounced back. Then I decided to try Facebook. For my suprise Alan Edwards confirmed my report in 11 minutes! My 10th UK/IRL-QSL on mediumwaves in 2013.

Solar indexes are not very promising. Currently I have my “cold station” recording mediumwaves and I will check files on Sunday. Visual aurora borealis few hundred kilometres North last night doesn’t sound like the best possible situation …