Radio Monitoring On Lockdown First Report

Here is a few monitoring observations which  I like to share today.

Due to outbreak of Coronavirus epidemic world wide several broadcasting stations went off the air and some have drastically cut down their transmission hours plus broadcasting  previous programs  etc .But as per my lastest observations for several days gradually, a few radio stations now are back on air .I think radio listeners are keeping close watch on the broadcasting bands during this period lockdown around the round.

Station KNLS English via Madagascar World Voice(MWV) is regularly heard on 13760kHz during 0300-0356utc.

Following a DXer's tip on a  facebook group, on May 3rd (2020) morning, I also heard Philipinas Broadcasting Service(PBS) English Service 

on three frequencies from 0250utc onwards on 15640kHz,17820kHz & 12010kHz.The reception on 12010kHz was not very good with strong noise but on other two frequencies i.e.15640kHz & 17820kHz the overall reception was good with strong signal.

Bhutan Broadcasting Service(BBS) on 6035kHz is now often off the air.On some days I heard their local language program on the morning on air.Their English Program on the afternoon I heard only once during my several random air check.It was on April 24th(2020).I heard BBS English from 1115utc onwards perhaps beyond 1130utc.A DXER friend of mine also heard BBS English on another day later in the afternoon.

Here is a few of lastest radio logs on the broadcasting bands for today(May 6th).

RX:Grundig Yacht Boy 400

ANT:78 Feet Length  30 Feet Height Multi-Stranded .75 sq mm  Cu Wire coaxial lead in

Geographical Location of Reception Place(Abhayapuri):

Longitude:26º18´20´´North

Latitude:90º37´50´´East

Date:May 06,2020

(For All Cases)

1.BBC World Service English

1030 to 1036utc 11945kHz via Kranji,Singapore 250kW

Good Signal

Program Heard:Promo etc NewsHere is the link to the audio recorded around 1030utc

https://app.box.com/s/sc14xnghgooemdbkjt7qit10pinje2gm

2.All India Radio(AIR) Vividh Bharati 

1034utc 9380kHz 

Good Overall reception,audio was slightly rough

Program Heard:News In English read by a lady,then Vividh Bharati Program-interview with Puneet Issar

Here is the link to the audio recorded around 1035utc 

https://app.box.com/s/23a295l2d63jw72oqmj1b02n5pkcjw8m

3.AIR Gangtok 

1036utc 4835kHz Gangtok (10kW?)

Good Signal

Program Heard:Hindi film music,covid 19 related info in Hindi

Here is the link to the audio of AIR Gangtok around 1037utc:

https://app.box.com/s/jye3lw7nsa0fci03f7g7oo3d12wmmw25

4.Bangladesh Betar Home Service

1056utc 4750kHz

Good Signal

Bengali Song by a male singer heard

5.Radio Japan NHK World English

1100 to 1114utc 11695kHz via Kranji,Singapore 250kW

Good Signal,slight QRM as side band splatter from a broadcasting station on 11685kHz sometime

Program Heard:

News,then special program on Covid 19 from 1110utc

Here is the link to the audio recorded around 1101utc:

https://app.box.com/s/z5mlsgyfjtsrvyafjx97yzjc60rwrm6s

Another audio link recorded around 1111utc:

https://app.box.com/s/g6vta2oja4inrp4t0fphar0mw9o44erp

That's all for today ..more monitoring updates etc soon

Obey lockdown..Stay Safe

73

Gautam Kumar Sharma

Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)