Now Off The Air ? & Back On Air ?

 Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation(SLBC) External Service Hindi:
I did not receive here in my location at Abhayapuri (Assam-India)  signal of SLBC External Service Hindi transmission from 0030-0059utc on 11905kHz  for last several weeks.But today i.e. on January 25th, around 0033utc while checking 11905kHz I heard very weak signal of SLBC Hindi signal with Hindi devotional music was on air as far as I could copy.And after a few minutes  onwards the Bengali Lanuage Gospel Program Abahon Program was on air and I could copy its title music.I will again check for a few days from 0030 to 0059utc on 11905kHz.

Station KNLS Alaska English via Madagascar World Voice(MWV):
I have not heard KNLS English via MWV on 13760kHz during 0300-0358utc  for several days now.And a few days back ,my radio monitor friend Abhijit Mondal(VU2OWB) from Khaspur(Nadia),West Bengal also reported not receiving signal of the station there in his place.I guess the station is off the air on this frequency.

More such reports/observations etc soon.
73
Gautam Kumar Sharma(VU3WTI)
Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

Morning Monitoring Report On 40m Amateur Band

Date:January 25,2021

RX:Grundig Yacht Boy 400
ANT: 75-78 Feet Length  33-35ft Feet Height 
 Multstranded Cu .75sq mm Wire(Approx)
with coax lead in

Geographical Location of Reception Place(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India):
Longitude:26º18´20´´North
Latitude:90º37´50´´East

WX:Cloudy Moderate Fog & Mist,Very Cool

General Observation On 40mb(7000-7200kHz) On SSB Mode:
There has been no motor boat noise today as observed by me this morning on the above mentioned frequency range and also have not found any abnormal type of noise on the band as per my monitoring.But  this is the noisiest winter season so far in my nearly 15 years or so of the SSB band monitoring in my place.

7050kHz lsb The Hembel Belgaum Net:
VU2KOC made a QSO with 4S7AVR OM Noel Harold Lokuge  from Colombo,Sri Lanka just before the start of the net on 0700IST.I could not copy 4S7AVR here.Lots of checkings as usual on Belgaum Net today also.Some of them I could copy comfortably.VU2ACC,VU2RZA(around 0714 IST) from Chennai with strong signal as usual,VU2CCK(0716 IST),VU2VMJ(0718 IST),VU2RRX(0720 IST),VU2JGI from Gandhinagar with good signal as usual (0729 IST),VU2DH(?) from Podicherry(?) (0732 IST) and many more checking stations I could not note down some of the stations's callsign correctly.

7130kHz lsb Net(Rajkot Net ?):
From 0758 IST onwards,I could copy VU2DED OM Ajaya Gupta from New Delhi ,surprisingly strong signal along with VU2SMN OM Suhas Samant From Kolhapur weak.But like yesterday could not copy A41LD from Muscut,Oman.

7065kHz lsb Net:
From 0804 IST onwards, I heard on 7065kHz lsb strong signal of VU2OO OM Guptaji from Gune,9N1CA  OM Arun Singhji (Pokhra,Nepal), and also on the net VU3JAT (OM Rakesh Choudhury?),VU2ZKC  OM Kuldeep with weak signal and VU2DED with surprisingly weak signal. Later I also heard VU3YSU  with fair  signal.

7145kHz lsb:
From 0831 IST onwards I did monitor 7145kHz.I found VU2OWB OM Abijit Mondal from Khaspur,West Bengalwith reasonably strong signal,,VU3OKT  with good signal.Later both of them went on skip,could not copy each other.

There may slight error in mentioning the accurate time etc and mentioning callsigns etc here and there.I am sorry for that.

More such reports/observations etc soon.
73
Gautam Kumar Sharma(VU3WTI)
Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

Amateur Band 40mb Log A Few Entries

Date:January 24,2021

RX:Grundig Yacht Boy 400
ANT: 75-78 Feet Length  33-35ft Feet Height 
 Multstranded Cu .75sq mm Wire(Approx)
with coax lead in

Geographical Location of Reception Place(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India):

Longitude:26º18´20´´North

Latitude:90º37´50´´East

WX:Cloudy Dense Fog & Mist,Very Cool(During monitoring time 7:10am  upto 9:30am IST)

7050kHz lsb The Hambel Belgaum Net:

For several days now I'm getting improved signal on 7050kHz and I could copy atleast some stations.

Today morning first station I copied around 7:17am VU2TBM and then heard many stations checking in the Hambel Belgaum Net ,around 7:27am VU2JF,OM Rajubhai from Rajkot before I heard strong breaking signal of VU2ACC.Later I also heard VU2JGI  OM Jagdish Bhai from Gandhinagar with good signal.I forgot the names of other stations I heard checking in.VU2PNU and VU2KOC were as net controller.

7070kHz lsb:Native Frequency

On 7070kHz lsb,where amateur radio operators of Assam Amateur Radio Society (ARSA), joins for QSO today morning(8:47am onwards) I did not copy at all except weak copy of VU2DBM ,OM Debajit Sarma,Guwahati sometime.I did not copy at all of VU3XBP ,OM Bhagaban Barman & VU3YPB,OM Paresh Brahma.Another  ARSA ham,VU3OKB OB Pintu Sarkar was operating on 7145kHz lsb from Morigaon Town, but I could not copy him at all though others who joined the net on 7145kHz lsb I could copy them.

Earlier VU3XBP was also on 7065kHz lsb on the Delhi Net( as called informally,I think).Though I could copy VU2OO from Guna,9N1CA from Nepal & VU2DED from Delhi but could not copy then also VU3XBP.9N1CA's signal has been extremly strong here in my place for several days on 40mb.

So,its the case of Native in  Skip DX Not Hi.

7130kHz lsb:

Heard strong signal of VU3CTP,VU2JF and weak signal of VU2SMN from around 7:50am onwards.I could not copy A41LD on that frequency.

7145kHz lsb:Meeting Point Of East India Ham

From 8:26am onwards first   I could copy on that frequency extremely strong signal of VU2FRD,VU3BTP and slightly weaker but comfortably of VU3OKT & good signal of VU3YSU.Initially I could not copy my friend VU2OWB who was on battery power pumping less power with 25 to 15W perhaps, operating from Khaspur,West Bengal.Later I could copy him comfortably.The motor boat noise became weak and later not heard.Later I heard VU2BBE with good signal,also heard 9N1CA with several breaking calls and fair signal of VU2NIL from Kharagpur on 7145kHz.

An interesting thing disclosed by VU2OWB (Khaspur,Nadia,WB)that he last night made a QSO with VU2LMO(Khajra,North 24 Pargana,WB) on 80m on J3E mode.Details report is awaited.

More such reports/observations etc soon.

73

Gautam Kumar Sharma(VU3WTI)

Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

AT8BRS Special Callsign Station

Bengal Amateur Radio Society(BARS),Kolkata is going to operate a special callsign station AT8BRS from Shankarpur sea beach, Near Digha (Bay Of Bengal seashore) from January 29th to 31st(of 2021) as a part of their DX Expedition activity.I understand they are planning to organise technical interaction session cum workshop,fox hunting  contest etc side by side of the event.

They are planning to operate as AT8BRS on three frequencies from Shankarpur with J3E class of emission
21285kHz usb  (15mb)
14210kHz usb (20mb)
7140kHz lsb (40mb)

There may be slight change of frequencies as per prevailing propagation condition.

The above  information ,I heard as disclosed by amateur radio operator of BARS on morning 7145kHz net recently.

 More about Shankarpur sea beach you can get find by visiting the following link:
https://www.wbtourismgov.in/destination/attractions_activities/shankarpur

More about BARS:
https://www.bars.org.in/

More such reports/observations etc soon.
73
Gautam Kumar Sharma(VU3WTI)
Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

From Monitor's Diary Special Notes

An Observation ..QRN/QRM On 40mb

Date:January 22nd,2021
For several days now,motor boat or you can say it also as water pump type noise with sharp tone has been observed on 40mb on the frequency range 7050 to 7075kHz range.Sometimes there is slight shift in frequency range  i.e. you can find this noise from 7055 to 7065kHz like as observed today in the morning.As per informantion  disclosed by amateurs on air as heard by me  this noise is there in New Delhi & Guwahati etc also.Today I heard on air during the net on 7065kHz(lsb), VU2DED from New Delhi mentioned about this noise and he was finding it difficult to copy of some of the stations due to this noise.And my ham friend VU3OKB from Guwahati who keeps a close watch on 40mb band activities via his homebrewed DSB transreceiver also reported me about this noise as observed in Guwahati at his location.

Date:January 23,2021
This morning I had not found any motor boat type noise anywhere on 40mb here in my location.A  ham friend from Delhi also informed me that he could copy most of the stations on 7065kHz lsb and did not observe any motor boat type noise there also.

Date:January 24,2021
This morning the motor boat type noise was obserbed from 7130 to 7145kHz here.It was first observed by me as early as 6.18am onwards during my first check on 40mb.It was of  very intensity from 7130kHz and peaked at 7145kHz.But later in the morning its intensity  reduced considerably from 8:26am onwards and not heard after a while.

More such reports/observations etc soon.
73
Gautam Kumar Sharma(VU3WTI)
Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

Sun Late In The Afternoon

 

 

Radio Signal From Land Of Kiwis This Morning

 RX:Grundig Yacht Boy 400
ANT: 75-78 Feet Length  33-35ft Feet Height 
 Multstranded Cu .75sq mm Wire(Approx)
with coax lead in

Geographical Location of Reception Place(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India):

Longitude:26º18´20´´North

Latitude:90º37´50´´East

Date:January 13,2021

(For All Observations)

Radio Zealand English: 

0303-0310utc 15720kHz (Rangitaiki,100 or 500kW?)

Good Signalstrength initially,signal strength reduced to fair strength  later,fading & noise was there,slightly difficult to copy later

Broadcast Contents Heard(Briefly):

News, Weather update all presented by lady presenter,music-song aired,Program Highlights etc by male voice etc etc

Here is the audio file link recorded around 0305utc:

https://app.box.com/s/9qx443dxamptgvl1k9e2hhiryz417l0r

0400-0415utc 15720kHz 

Good Signal strength,slightly noisy as time progressed,slight fading(QSB)

Broadcast Contents Heard(Briefly):

News,(0408utc) Promo,Weather Update,Program Highlights,English Song,(0414utc)-BBCWorld Service Feature aired

Here is the link to the audio recorded around 0400utc:

https://app.box.com/s/ksj2ds19fn3iux76njnbxnwjml9i8u3y

DXER's Note:

Yes, Radio New Zealand English was heard here on 15720kHz from 0303utc from fair to good & sometimes weak here in my place this morning.Actually I was just checking with my Grundig Yacht Boy 400  on 19mb and I was surprised to receive the signal and after a few seconds into listening I had no doubt its Radio New Zealand giving news right from its transmitter site at Rangitaiki.Later on 0400utc I found much stronger signal of Radio New Zealand just like a local radio station.The weather was very cool ,cloudy and mild cool breeze blowing.Its great to receive the station's signal from the south western pacific.

And station's international service Radio New Zealand International (RNZI) is now no longer exists.And I understand its continuing relaying on shortwave its domestic service programs to pacific areas & neighbouring countries both on analog & DRM mode.

RNZI used to broadcast a weekly DX cum Listeners Mail Program called Mailbox.And I got a chance to receive a QSL Card from RNZI signed by its Frequency Manager ,Adrian Sailsbury wayback in 2005 .He used to respond to listeners receptions & other technical matters etc on the Mailbox Program.This is the only QSL Card in my collection from New Zealand.Its a prized collection.Its theme was Sports in New Zealand featuring..Rugby,Horse Racing... Boat Racing,..three most popular sports..but I wish it could include Cricket also...because is the land of Sir Richard Hadlee..Martin Crow ...& many others list is go on & on....as I can remember many players who plays cricket for New Zealand.. Glen Turner,Bruce Edgar,John Wright,John Reid,Geoff Howarth,Jeff Crow,Jeremy Cooney ,Even Chatfield,Warren Lee,Ian Smith,Martin Snedden,John Bracewell,Stuart Gillespie....etc etc etc...

Here is the front and back side of the QSL Card.

More such reports/observations etc soon.

73

Gautam Kumar Sharma(VU3WTI)

Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

My Radio Log Book A Few Latest Entries

 RX:Grundig Yacht Boy 400
ANT: 75-78 Feet Length  33-35ft Feet Height 
 Multstranded Cu .75sq mm Wire(Approx)
with coax lead in
Geographical Location of Reception Place(Abhayapuri):
Longitude:26º18´20´´North
Latitude:90º37´50´´East

Date:January 13,2021

Myanmar Radio English
0310-0330utc 9730kHz
Good Reception Overall,slight fading(QSB)
Broadcast Contents Heard(Briefly):
International News read by a lady,music-back to back English songs aired
0328utc  usual end of the transmission by lady presenter -Myanmarese Program to follow,music-traditional,announcement

Audio link recorded around 0329utc:
https://app.box.com/s/y2unfpsa40qxtsz8hichtu7ivi9wrqj4

Station KNLS Alaska English via Madagascar World Voice(MWV)
0330-0358utc 13760kHzGood Signal,excellent overall reception
Broadcast Contents Heard(Briefly):Music-song,First Person  presented by Paul Lad,music-English Song,Profile On Old Testaman Books,0346utc onwards Profile On Christan Music by Dyril Crow,0351utc onwards Creation Moments by Paul Taylor,Promo,using closing announcements with skds etc ,ennd of transmission with music-English song..
Audio link recorded around 0353utc :
https://app.box.com/s/3xwwyao0ieuwr5xt4wv7pobwn5600h72

More such reports/observations etc soon.

73

Gautam Kumar Sharma(VU3WTI)

Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

A Few Latest Entries In My Radio Log Book(?)

 RX:Grundig Yacht Boy 400
ANT: 75-78 Feet Length  33-35ft Feet Height 
 Multstranded Cu .75sq mm Wire(Approx)
with coax lead in
Geographical Location of Reception Place(Abhayapuri):
Longitude:26º18´20´´North
Latitude:90º37´50´´East
(For All Observations)

Date:January 9,2021

Britsh Broadcasting Corporation(BBC) World Service(WS)English 

0040-0059utc 5845kHz (Erevan-Armenia,300kW)

Good Signal

The link to the audio recorded around 0059utc:

https://app.box.com/s/tkwyvrv662bxc92zbtu49m89esseoh6g

Radio Japan NHKWorld Hindi

0100utc 6155kHz (Tashkent-Uzbekistan,100kW)

Good Signal very very weak side band splatter

Audio link:

https://app.box.com/s/74rn58uz451dm051yetbr4cpq695749v

Radio Romania International(RRI) English 

Directed To North America East Coast

0101-133utc utc 7325kHz (Galbeni-Romania,300kW)

Good signal,but became slightly noisy after 0109utc,also noted slight occasional fading(QSB)

Highlights(HLs) Of Program Heard:

News,Current affairs reports,music,focus on Romania feature,a feature on foreign students

at 0127utc  sports update, at 0130utc simply flok-flok music  aired

Audio link recorded around 0106utc:

https://app.box.com/s/0n89g9avoflg8n3sclwh3o7g4xzbrb96

BBCWS English 

0133-0141utc 5945kHz (Erevan-Armenia,300kW)

Good Signal,slight band intereference from a broadcasting station on 5935kHz

Highlights(HLs) Of Program Heard:

Latest updates on Covid 19 scene in London & UK,and around Europe,Updates on Iran,from Australia etc & other infos

Audio link recorded around 0136utc:

https://app.box.com/s/oxx58ju4jb0je52b501kxtxw4cfptwmm

Date:January 8,2021

RRI English 

0645utc 17780kHz  (Galbeni-Romania,300kW)

The transmission is facing severe co-channel interference,its difficult to copy the audio.

Audio link recorded around 0645utc:

https://app.box.com/s/gp8ak1ffl30tt8tmd8yay0t5jsekrmxx

and on parallel frequency...

00646 to 0657utc  15450kHz (Tiganesti-Romania,300kW)

Audio link recorded around 0654utc:

https://app.box.com/s/0qymb65m15cuiei601ptldahv0yb2xls

All India Radio(AIR) Nepali Service

0659utc  9950kHz  (Delhi ,100kW)

The link to the audio :

https://app.box.com/s/imgc0kl63fl48zedgs95ppqatu98rmte

and its parallel frequency

0701utc 11620kHz  Delhi  100kW

 heavy interference &  noise ,practically no readibilty

The link to the audio :

https://app.box.com/s/jasxuem7omk5qqadk5b7b70exx7wxnl9

Myanmar Radio English

0703-0730utc 9730kHz(Yangon,50kW?)

Good Signal

Highlights(HLs) Of Program Heard:

News,weather news,Covid 19 info,English song-duet,UNESCO Covid 19 social media related advisory promo aired,VOA Special English Program from 0713utc onwards Words & their Stories

0718utc:Station Idd announcement etc,music-back to back English songs aired

0729utc:usual end of the transmission announcements etc,program in local language followed

Here is the link to the audio recorded around 0707utc:

https://app.box.com/s/jasxuem7omk5qqadk5b7b70exx7wxnl9

and another audio file link  recorded around 0713utc:

https://app.box.com/s/93qaiaw1ywyv3hcjnamf3zokwro0qvvh

More monitoring reports/observations etc soon.

73

Gautam Kumar Sharma(VU3WTI)

Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

A Few Latest Observation On International Broadcasting Scene

 Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation(SLBC) External Service's Hindi Transmission is not being heard here for a few days here.I guess the transmission is off the air. The schedule is ad follows:
11905kHz during 0030-0100utc

Also Radio Romania International-English transmission during 0400-0456utc is also not here at my location on 11790kHz directed to India for a few days.

 I have not been able to listen to Adventist World Radio(AWR)-Assamese directed to North East India..(Assam) on 15550kHz (via Tashkent-100kW)) during 1330-1400utc on wednessday & sunday as per schedule.It may be due to poor propagation condition.

Radio Taiwan International English on 15320kHz during 0300-0400utc as usual this season too is facing strong side band splatter (as interference) from Radio Japan NHK World Japanese Service broadcasting on 15325kHz.

Bhutan Broadcasting Service(BBS) is still off the air on its shortwave frequency 6035kHz.But I can hear its transmission on FM on 96.0MHz as per the usual same shortwave schedule as observed.BBS is also audible on its other FM frequencies with variable reception.But they I think not follow the same schedule as on 96.0MHz.

More monitoring reports/observations etc soon.

73

Gautam Kumar Sharma(VU3WTI)

Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

VOA 2021 Calendar

Voice Of America (VOA) as usual has released its New Year Calendar for 2021.This year's theme is  "American Skylines".Due to covid 19 pandemic I am not sure I can receive a copy of it.Last year also I did not receive my copy.I think suspension of postal services for many months is the main reason.One can view it by visiting 
https://www.insidevoa.com/a/voa-2021-calendar/5585803.html
 or one download a PDF copy of it by visiting 
https://docs.voanews.eu/en-US-INSIDE/2020/09/16/c6482cc6-c7f2-4377-b263-218d6bba6aed.pdf

The email address of correspondence  with VOA for requesting a Calendar ,QSL Card or sending reception reports etc is
audiencemail@voanews.com

73
Gautam Kumar Sharma(VU3WTI)
Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

Welcome 2021

 Hello!!
Happy New Year to all!

This is my first monitoring report cum observations  that I did  in 2021 right from the first day of the new year i.e January Ist to  3rd.

RX:Grundig Yacht Boy 400
ANT: 75-78 Feet Length  33-35ft Feet Height 
Cu Multstranded 1 sq mm Wire(Approx)
with coax lead in

Geographical Location of Reception Place(Abhayapuri):
Longitude:26º18´20´´North
Latitude:90º37´50´´East
(For All Observations)

Date:January 1,2021

1)Radio Thailand World Service English 

0010 to 0029utc 13750kHz 

Excellent Reception

Audio link recorded at 0023utc:

https://app.box.com/s/0zafepbwvzfacnfcoorx5e1v0ejero4d

2)Radio Romania International(RRI) English 

Directed to North America East Coast

0100-0120utc 7325kHz

Good Reception Overall

Here is  the link to an audo file recorded around 0101utc:

https://app.box.com/s/9kexuistd0shrlse21iia08qgc2gs6n4

3)All India Radio Urdu Service

0833-0849utc 9950kHz

 fair overall reception,slightly noisy

News,Music program-back to back Hindi film music

Here is the audio link recorded around 0837utc:

https://app.box.com/s/rjnctjauh6eztjgsscwgc4peve0g4w6q

4)Radio Voice Of Mongolia English

0902 to 0905utc 12085kHz

Good Signal strength,Reception overall not satisfactory as usual, there is slight to moderate side band interference (splatter)from  a broadcasting station on 12080kHz ,today QRM is is not so strong, as  I could copy signal of Voice Of Mongolia to a great extent comparing to other days.But normally due to severe side band splatter nothing can be copied.

News by lady presenter about Covid 19 in Mongolia was on air etc

Link to the audio recorded around 0902utc:

https://app.box.com/s/b0ssrwgvi0r814vqkajzz5y2xbely0b3

5)All India Radio Urdu Service

0905-0923utc 9950kHz 

Fair to good overall receeption,sligh to occasional moderate fading

Program on a Urdu poet(shayer)-Gazals aired-works of the Urdu poet- dramatic presentation with narration by a male presenter & Gazals-sung by Jagjit Singh & Gulam Ali aired

The link to the audio recorded around 0921utc:

https://app.box.com/s/el6xm0kea25jvob1xrxr8t0dlwvgeu2n

Date:January 2,2021

Voice Of America English Directed to Africa 

1400-1410utc 15580kHz

Good Reception

News,Issues In The News-current affairs talk show

Link to the audio recorded around 1405utc:

https://app.box.com/s/k6bqw70y81mitslkyxpn0xb7a34hihfz

Date:January 3,2021

1)Radio New Zealand Pacific English

1200-1204utc 11725kHz

Good Reception Overall,weak morse code signal heard on the background for a few seconds around 1203utc

News,weather update,music 

Here is the link to the audio recorded around 1203utc:

https://app.box.com/s/wakky83d7qds8exmqdiysguo2fw13c56

2)BBC World Service English 

1205-1223utc  15310kHz 

Good reception overall,became slightly noisy later during 1223-1259utc,also signal strength weakened 

BBC World Service New Year Concert was the program on air

Here is the audio recorded around 1205utc:

https://app.box.com/s/fs9yccigix5bklmsyo3douexcystcuca

3)Radio Japan NHK World Bengali

1300-1332utc 11685kHz 

Good Signal strength,overall reception good

News In English in place of Bengali,then sunday Mailbag Program-Katha O Sur

Here is the audio link recorded around 1300utc:

https://app.box.com/s/vyck3ovp6cmnqzn19sxkj66gbbt3ys8t

and another audio link recorded around 1322utc:

https://app.box.com/s/w0rzp2jbjutilazhxg3l6bvrb4m5nn0i

A General Observation:

Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC)'s External Service's Hindi transmission is not heard here during its only transmission slot 0030-0100utc on 11905kHz for several days now including this new year as far my monitoring.

More monitoring reports/observations etc soon.

73

Gautam Kumar Sharma(VU3WTI)

Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)