This morning (February 1,2022) while continuing my early morning scanning of medium wave band (going on for several weeks now),I heard AIR Kokrajhar on 1512kHz (20kW?) with good signal from 0106utc onwards.This is the first time in the morning I heard AIR Kokrajhar after nearly a decade back of listening and monitoring it in late afternoon perhaps from 1030utc on same 1512kHz.
AIR Kokrajhar ,which is located at Kokrajhar town ( I am not sure whether studio location and transmitter location is at same place) and the aerial distance from my place is just 42km aways approximately.I have a dream plan to visit AIR Kokrajhar facilities but I am yet to fulfill my dream.
For all monitoring observations
RX:Grundig Yacht Boy 400
ANT: 75 Feet Length 33 ft Feet Height
Multistranded Cu .75sq mm Wire(Approx)
with coax lead in
Location of Reception Place(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India):NL56hi(Grid Location)
Today , the signal while on recorded programs on air was good but while studio announcements were made by a lady in Bodo, the modulation was very low (audio intensity), and the signal level also dropped down to very very weak.
Here is the brief summary of programs heard.
0106utc onwards back to back Bodo folk music, then announcement in Bodo by a lady..as mentioned very very low modulation..weak signal difficult to copy,then Goalparia folk songs sung by a lady back to back
Here are the audio files link recorded around....
0117utc
0131utc
0134utc announcement by a lady in Bodo very very weak difficult to copy I heard the station Idd..as.." All India Radio Kokrajhar..", music Bodo songs aired
The audio file link recorded around 0134utc:
0156utc onwards Assamese Program on air ..interview with Anganwadi workers in Assamese by a male voice in Assamese
The audio file link recorded around 0157utc
As per information I found on the press reports on the net ,AIR Kokrajhar was officially on air from August 15th of 1999.The medium wave transmitter power is as per info posted in the press is 20kW.A few years back, several reports appeared in the press about poor & irregular transmission quality of AIR Kokrajhar .The transmitter was only functioning with a few kWs of power much below the maximum 20kW and it could cover only a few kms of area.And also reports circulated about poor condition of the rooms,equipments etc in the station.
Here is a few links I found on the internet...
https://www.sentinelassam.com/news/all-india-radio-kokrajhar-station-in-dire-straits/
https://nenow.in/north-east-news/assam-demand-revival-kokrajhar-air-radio-station.html
and another link.
https://assamtimes.org/node/20005
I think now the problem might have been solved to some extent.That is why I could listen to AIR Kokrajhar on 1512kHz on the medium wave.But still not all problem solved regarding station's signal quality on air live announcements is very weak(low audio intensity) though recorded programs music, talks coming with good strength.
Hoping for the better if not the best...
And finishing this write up rather type up Hi Hi, I like to share my very first recording of AIR Kokrajhar wayback from October 11th of 2010 at 1032utc at the same frequency of 1512kHz..
Here is the link to the audio file.
And special thanks to my radio friend Alokesh Gupta(VU3BSE),New Delhi and it is for him I listened to AIR Kokrajhar first time in 2010..it is a different story will share sometime and another special thanks to VU2JOS OM Jose Jacob from Hyderabad for reviving my interest in medium wave which leads to this listening of AIR Kokrajhar again after just after a decade!!!
And my another special mention goes to my another special DX friend Mr.Swopan Chakrovorty(VU3RVY) from Kolkata with whom I have a long time plan to visit AIR Kokrajhar Station as he visit from time to time this area for his company works.Hope in future dream will become reality...
VIVE LA AIR Kokrajhar on 1512kHz A3E!!!
More monitoring observations etc soon.
73
Gautam Kumar Sharma(VU3WTI)
Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)
2 comments:
It is very sad that quality of RF signal even at a distance of 42 km was not up to the mark. It is my observation that RF power and modulation at nearly all AIR stations are kept at low level for reasons best known to them.
An interesting read indeed! Such transmission flaws can be grossly attributed to AIR radio stations technical personnel who often lack knowledge inspite of having the best hardware equipments. Further, the gradual shutting down of MW and SW stations is a matter of concern for DXers/SWLs. There is no doubt tuning a weak station which is trying to break the atmospheric static and other QRMs, particularly in MW or SW bands is a definitely a joy to be heard in our radio sets from hundreds of miles away
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