Saturday, March 29, 2025

My 7s Logs In The Morning From Abhayapuri

I reactived my amateur radio monitoring on HF bands from September 2024 onwards after a gap for a few months with a long wire end feed with my RIG Yaesu FT 891 and later after a few weeks installed the dual bander inverted V 40/20mb centre feed at the same feedline(coaxial cable RG58) and I noted down a few details of the monitoring sessions in the morning as usual on 7050kHz ,7145kHz,& 7070kHz all in lower side band(lsb) viz.my morning Three 7s... and in addition now another frequency i.e.7090kHz lsb, in addition to add to my Three 7s to make it Four 7s, have to monitor.As for severak weeks now on 7090kHz lsb has been active a few hams from North East primarily a few from Guwahati & one from Shillong in the morning time to time joins for contact(QSO).
I have not heard for a long time QSOs of hams of Assam prinarily members of Amateur Radio Socitey Of Assam(ARSA) on 7070kHz lsb.But once there was regular activities i.e.QSOs on this frequency.And hams of other areas of the North East,West Bengal,Bihar and from other overseas countries viz Bangladesh & Nepal also joins there on 7070kHz lsb for QSO.

Here are the photographs of my rough reception compilations.I have laid all my loose sheets rough written logs cum reports on the table of this blog! HI HI!



  From Monitor's Desk 

And brief summary of my listening period September,2024  till today..on my 7s in the early morning..
VU3BTP OM Harsha from Bokaro Steel City  has become VU2TIW and great signal(excellent modulation) of him 59 always on my Yaseu FT 891 either on On inverted V dipole or end fed long wire viz loud and clear.

Special Mentioned Amateur Radio Station Of The Period Monitored
VU3NYV From The Scotland Of The East..:
On November 5th perhaps perhaps from 0630ist onwards on 7050kHz lsb, I heard strong breaking Signal of a station with callsign VU3NYV several times.But none in the warm up session of The Belgaum Net on 7050kHz lsb  might have not copied his signal as there were no response.I checked the callsign on the internet and found he is Mr. Hajong from NEHU campus,Shillong(Meghalaya)..And later I alerted a few hams about the new amateur station i.e. VU3NYV I heard  from Shillong.Later, I heard him joining 7145kHz lsb & 7070kHz lsb.His signal strength has been S7 to S9 in general with slight QSB.He is using sBIXT with horizontal dipole homebrewed antenna(with 25W maximum on 40mb).I also heard him on 7090kHz lsb with the same reception quality 59 maximum.He also sometimes operates from Nalbari District of Assam and  Ialso  heard him  from there too with 57-55 here atleast twice.That time he used sBITX and the antenna a  homeberwed EFHW antenna.I understand he is a keen homebrewer..He is also active on 20mb and 15mb.And has already made several contacts with amateurs around the world.
You can check his page on QRZ.COM.More about VU3NYV will be posted later.
Monitor's Choice Station From My Home State Assam:
Next, I like to mention one of the active amateur station from Guwahati,VU3HZW.He is very active on 20mb & 15mb.On 40mb too I also heard his loud clear signal here several times.On 20mb, I also heard his signal loud and clear during the winter.He is using uBITX mutiband transreciver with linear amplifier and uses generally mutliband inverted dipole.He is making contacts around the world with both QRP and QRO.He has already contacted more than  47 countries and numerous contacts within India.
.You can find more on VU3HZW on QRZ.Com.
He is also maintaining a website on amateur radio..
Please visit
www.itshamradio.com


As I have already posted my special observation on 20mb during this winter, I just share a link to the report for reference:
https://gkcalling.blogspot.com/2025/02/from-monitors-desk-special-monitoring.html

Latest Reception Log..
 RIG: Yaesu FT891 Antenna:Inverted V dipole Place Of Reception:Abhayapuri,NL56hi
Date:29/03/2025
WX:Cloudy
7050kHz lsb 0608ist onwards
Noise Level S3-S4..later from around 0625ist onwards Noise Level reduced to S3-S2
0608-0625ist
VU2RZA(Chennai) 55-57,VU2YK(NCR) Not Copied,VU2MSB not copied,9N1CA(Near Kathmandu) 55,VU2JF(Rajkot) 55-56
0625-0645ist approx..
Heard a few weaker stations in signal strength difficult to copy, heard VU2PNU(Belgaum) perhaps only in partsVU2RZA 56-57,VU3JEB(?) not copied also not copied-VU3TBU,VU3IZH,VU3DXL etc etc
also heard again VU2JF plus breaking calls of VU2TKC(Kolkata) & his over 55,VU2RTF(Coimbature) weak but copied some parts
 Later in the morning on 7145kHz lsb before on 0800ist..
Noise Level S1, I heard VU3LGT(Asansol,WB) 9N1CA, VU2TKC & also VU2UWO,OM RAMBABU operating from within 3-4km of  IIT Campus ,Kharagpur(WB).
Later VU3LGT and 9N1CA  shifted to 7150kHz lsb & continued their for sometime.
VU3LGT was loud and clear on both frequencies.But found 9N1CA weaker than on 7145kHz.
VU2UWO Reactivated This Winter:
OM VU2UWO,popularly known as Rambabu(Ram Narayan Basu-full name) was not heard on several years but I have been listening him on 7145kHz lsb during this winter several times testing his transmission.He is using all homebrewing equipments and the  RIG is GCM 2K.I think it was developed by SK VU3GCM of Kolkata long back.

He is the weakest station this morning on 7145kHz lsb but I have copied him perfectly.
An Evening With 14200kHz usb...On March 28th..
Last evening after a long break I monitored 20mb &  on 14200kHz usb from from 1810ist approx. for sometime.. Heard a few amateur stations with good strong signal..I could recall..following stations..
VU2RZA 57 to 59..VU3DOD 43 ? VU3WJR 56, VU2TIW 59, VU2KFR 55 QSB......
later heard also VU3JUS 55 (from Ernakulum?) in QSO with VU2RZA 59 .....

More reports/observations plus more amateur radio related news etc soon.
73 For the time being..
DE VU3WTI (Gautam Kumar Sharma)(GK) 
Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

Medium Wave At Morning Hours At Abhayapuri

I am sorry this winter season, I could not monitor the medium wave broadcasting bands as such.But I time to time monitor it in the morning hours 0000-0330utc.
And of some of the radio stations which usually I have well heard here both domestic & our neighbouring countries and beyond...during March 2025 with audio files links plus brief notes where possible.
RIG used  :Yaesu FT 891 on battery ,inverted V dipole  40/20MB dual bander as antenna
Place Of Monitoring:Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

On March 23rd..
Radio Nepal Pokhara & Kathmandu

Radio Nepal Pokhara 684kHz:
Radio Nepal Pokhara was not heard by me for several months perhaps due to poor reception etc or might be I did not check the frequency at all.But March 23rd, I heard fair to good signal of Radio Nepal Pokhara on 684kHz  after a long break.Please check the audio file recorded around 0023utc by clicking the link..
Radio Kathmandu 792kHz 
Later I shifted to 792kHz i.e.Radio Nepal Kathmandu around 0024utc.And it was great to hear loud & clear signal of Radio Nepal Kathmandu.Let listen to the audio recorded..
Radio Nepal Kathmandu 792kHz 0024utc

The same program was aired from both Kathmandu & Pokhara.It was news and current affairs report related.Actually, I guess Radio Nepal airs programs from Kathmandu and others medium wave stations (Pokhara etc)of Radio Nepal relays.There may be some other programs by their regional stations at their respective studio.I am not sure.I have not heard other Radio Nepal medium wave stations for a long time like Surkhet on 576kHz,Dhankuta on 648kHz,Dipayal on 810kHz & Bardibas on 1143kHz.
Let me monitor from time to time and will post any fresh loggings.

Akashvani At Abhayapuri
Akashvani Lucknow on 747kHz 0024utc approx onwards Signing On,Vandemataram, opening announcements in Hindi etc
Let listen to the audio via this following link..0025utc 
Akashvani Kokrajhar  1512kHz  0039utc 
English News from Delhi,station Idd announcement etc in Bodo around 0040utc
Reception not good,noisy
The audio link recorded:
Please note Akashvani Kokrajhar is the nearest medium wave station(20kW) from my place Abhayapuri within 50km aerial distance.

On March 21st
Akashvani  Dirbrugarh 0027utc on 567kHz
Folk Devotional  Song in Assamese-Tokari Geet,annoucments etc by a lady voice in Assamese-station Idd mentioned & also mentioned news from Delhi at 6AM,Hindi News aired from Delhi with usual opening tune,All announcement by made by ladies
Slightly noisy,good signal
Here is the audio link recorded around 0029utc:
Myanmar Radio  729kHz 0024utc In Place Of Akashvani Guwahati Mahabahu
In place of Akashvani Guwahati Mahabahu on 729kHz, I heard as sometimes happened, it was Myanmar Radio on 729kHz.Let listen to the audio clip recorded around 0026utc
For a long time Akashvani Guwahati Mahabahu remains off the air in the morning from time to time and backs on suddenly late in the morning.Myanmar Radio (In Burmese)sometimes audible on 729kHz when Guwahati  was off the air in the early morning hours but Myanmar Radio disappeared ( I mean its signal HI HI) abruptly after sometime.In the evening its the Myanmar Radio which is audible often and giving severe interference to Akashvani Guwahati on 729kHz. I will monitor from time to time to give you updates on 729kHz. 

On March 24th:
0034utc  927kHz Akashvani Vishakhapattanam 
Good Signal,slight noise
announcement of previous music feature,station Idd & news in English from Delhi, news was read by a lady
The recorded audio file link:
0039utc 1008kHz  Akashvani Kolkata Sanchayita
Good signal strength,slight noise,
News From Delhi in English,Station Idd announcement & program highlights etc by Male Announcer in Bengali
The audio recorded ..the link
Bangladesh Betar On Medium Wave:General Observation
The following two regional  stations of Bangladesh Betar  in Dhaka on 693kHz and Rajshahi on 846kHz are well heard here.In the early morning hours Bangladesh Khulna on 558KHz is well heard.But as time progresses the reception becomes noisy and signal becomes weak.I guess majority of the programs of  Bangladesh regional stations nowadays has been relayed from Dhaka.But like before,I heard in recent times locally produced programs also via Rajshahi & Khulna.Bangladesh Betar Dhaka on 819kHz is also audible here sometimes with good reception.


More observations/radio news/monitoring reports etc from time to time.
73
Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)
(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

A25 Preview & A few Schedule Information

As A25 season i.e. Summer season March 30th-October 25th of 2025) of international broadcasting is fast approaching, here is a brief preview of A25 season plus schedule information for the season as received from various sources plus websites of Radio Stations's websites.
A25 Preview Plus Schedule Information:
Off Course, the biggest news, there wil be no Voice Of America(VOA),Radio Free Asia(RFA),Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL),Radio Farda ,Radio Mashaal etc transmission on radio in A25 season as per the move of US Admistration to dismantle the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and as a result all its transmitter sites(shortwave & medium wave ) locating in USA & around the world has been ordered to close down.As a result of this Radio Thailand World Service & Radio Philipinias World Wide is also going off the air.As Radio Thailand  & Radio Philinias World Wide used  USAG's transmitter sites in Thailand and Philipines.And a few radio stations's coverage in A25 will be effected by the closer of USAGM transmitter sites like Vatican Radio.
USAGM also used leased transmitters located in different locations around the world like Dushanbe(Tajkistan),Paochung(Taiwan) etc etc and there may be less transmissions from these transmitter site.Let see how other broadcasting stations uses this vacant frequencies slots plus frequencies.

 WRMI's Wavescan,The Global DX Program on shortwave to Asia via Reach Beyond Australia in A25:
As mentioned earlier in the blog, one good news for A25 season for radio hobbyists/radio enthusiasts/dxers is now  purely Radio Miami International(WRMI) production Wavescan, the weekly  Global DX Program, will be aired via Reach Beyond Australia's Ku site on shortwave.
Here is the schedule for your reminder.
Effeive March 30,2025 onwards ..
WAVESCAN,THE GLOBAL DX PROGRAM 
produced At WRMI
1400 -1430 utc on 11870 kHz (Sunday)
and to Japan 
2230-2300utc  on 17650 (Monday)
Via Kununurra,Australia (100kW)

KBS World Radio English To India in A25:
As per information posted on KBS World Radio's website on March 17th, from March 30th ( the beginning of A25 season at 0100utc i.e.1000 Korean Standard Time),its English transmission for India will be on 9785kHz during 1400-1600utc in place of 9630kHz.

Adventist World Radio(AWR) Assamese in A25
Effective March 30th to October 25th 0f 2025
On Sunday & Wednessday
1330-1400utc on 15550kHz (100kW) via KSDA,Agat,Guam
Via AWR Frequency Management Office , Alsbach, Germany 
At present, AWR is the only international radio station which broadcasts in Assamese Language.It broadcasts Gospel.

Radio Romania International(RRI) English Only On DRM To India
And like previous season,this coming summer schedule too as per the schedule posted on March 24th on their website, there is only DRM mood transmission to India effective March 30th to October 25th of 2025.
0300-0400utc on 15330kHz(DRM)
0530-0600utc on 21550kHz(DRM)
I do not know how many listeners have been listening to their DRM transmission in India in comparison to their earlier analog shortwave transmission.I am one of  the listeners of their analog shortwave transmission for a long time.

Radio Japan NHK World in A25 to South Asia
As per schedule posted on the website of Radio Japan...
effective March 30th...
Bengali 
1500-1530utc 11655kHz 
Hindi 
1530-1550utc 11655kHz
Urdu
1600-1620utc 9440kHz
1700-1720utc 1251kHz* 
*All transmissions barring this on 1251kHz( Via Tajikistan)  is from Yamata,Japan(350kW)
Radio Japan Bengali transmission is also audible on Bangladesh on FM in various cities there.

That's all for the time being..
Thanks to OM Alokesh Gupta,VU3BSE based in Faridabad and also to VU2JOS,OM Jose Jacob,Hyderbad for their  regular updates/inputs etc on A25 skds. 

More observations/radio news/monitoring reports etc from time to time.
73
Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)
(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)

With VOA,RFA etc Gone Off The Air Radio Thailand & Radio Pilipinas Worldwide

As we now all  know that the US Government under President Donald Trump has issued an executive order(March 14,2025) to close down U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) as per  cost cutting measure .This USAGM is the organisation who looks after  Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), ,Radio Free Asia (RFA) ,Radio Marti, Radio Farda ,Radio Mashaal etc and also perhaps manages many of the transmitter sites located in USA and other parts of the world.And the order has effectively ended their operations.The name of transmitter sites owned by  are as follows:
Udon Thani & Ayutthaya (Thailand), Tinang(Philipines),Moepeng Hill(Botswana),Bilbis & Lampertheim(Germany),Greenville(USA) & Umm al-Rimam( Kuwait),Maria di Galeria (Vatican).Besides these transmitter sites, they also used other organisations's transmitter sites located in different parts of the world.
Here is a few links which can be useful for readers who are more interested to know about the issue:
https://www.federalregister.gov/presidential-documents/executive-orders/donald-trump/2025
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/15/us/politics/trump-order-voice-of-america.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvge4l109r3o
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-is-voice-of-america-and-why-trump-is-dismantling-the-broadcaster
https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/news-makers/rather-brash-jeff-white-on-the-usagm-shutdowns

 And radio monitors world wide including our OM Jose Jacob(VU2JOS)based in Hyderabad observed several developments on the frquencies and going off the air etc etc  of all radio transmissions of the mentioned radio stations on shortwave and medium wave.On March 17th, at night acting on his tip,I checked VOA Burmese on 1575kHz (via Thailand), but no Burmese language transmisstion around 1724utc and instead a Chinese language Station was there.He also during that time not heard scheduled VOA  transmission on 972kHz(viaTajkistan).Here in my place, I heard Akashvani Cuttack on 972kHz loud and clear.

And initally it has not come to my mind that Radio Thailand Wold Service(via Udon Thani)   & Radio Pilipinas Worldwide(via Tinang)also uses USAGM sites mentioned..And when I observed Radio Thailand & Radio Philipinas Worldwide both were not heard and many reports came...Then I have realised with VOA,RFA etc also gone Radio Thailand and Radio Philipinas Worldwide perhaps for good on analog shortwave broadcasting. Voice Of America ended their shortwave and medium transmissions in English,Bengali,Hindi & Urdu many years back and also VOA English to Africa broadcasts including Border Crossings is not audible here for several seasons.That's why my interest  on VOA is not much on monitoring. Bu this development in USAGM,  I have lost two of my often heard stations for several years now ..Radio Thailand and Radio Philipinas Worldwide.


And my thanks goes to OM VU2JOS, Jose Jacob,Hyderabad for his regular updates  plus posting of VOA Sites list .One can check the list by visiting
https://qsl.net/vu2jos/VOA_Sites.pdf

In an another post coming up soon, I will share information about QSL Cards received by me from a few of the stations discussed.
 But for the time being I am posting scanned version of  Voice Of America (VOA) QSL card depicting VOA transmitter site depicting Antennas in 2011 ....





More observations/radio news/monitoring reports etc from time to time.
73
Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)
(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Will You Walk Into My Parlour???

 


Remembering the poem which I read during my school days in Rangjuli(Rangjuli Higher Secondary School) in early 1980s about the spider inviting the fly to its spidernet...and the interesting conversations and a moral lesson to learn from the poem.I could not remember who wrote it.But from the internet, I came to know that it was written by Mary Howitt(1799-1888).
Here is a link..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spider_and_the_Fly_(poem)
A few lines from the poem towards the end..
"To idle, silly, flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed:
Unto an evil counsellor, close heart, and ear, and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly."

With Good Luck!!!
Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)
(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)


After A Long Break ...A Black Cat In Our Campus A Regular Visitor

 


Blackcat Blackcat
Our 
Friendly neighborhood blackcat....A rare friendly Blackcat..
I LIKE IT!!!!

With Best Wishes
Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)
(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)


Akashvani Kokrajhar is back on 102.00MHz

It was mentioned in my earlier in the blog that  Akashvani Kokrajhar on 102.00MHz was not audible at Abhayapuri for several days.I guessed it was due to some technical problems with the transmitter.A senior BCDXER/ radio enthusiast/a specialist on Indian radio Broadcasting & Akashvani / also a amateur radio operator based in  Southern Indian City  contacted Akashvani ,Kokrajhar and it was informed by the station, there was problems in the antenna and works going on to sort out the problem.
Back On Air on 102.00MHz:
And on March 3rd, I heard Akashvani Kokrajhar on 102.00MHz back on air but with much weaker signal strength  from 0331-0347utc (my monitoring period).It was not the usual  loud and clear audio  almost like a local town FM station, I  was used to hear from January 3rd evening (its inaugural day).Let listen to the audio clip recorded around 0344utc on March 3rd of  Akashvani Kokrajhar on 102.00MHz .
Please click the audio link below:
The signal strength is going down considerably here.Perhaps less power has been used.
Please compare with earlier reception audios  recorded of Akashvani Kokrajhar ..
on January 20th...0329utc ....
February 16th....0344utc...
And as per my latest check on Akashvani Kokrajhar on 102.00MHz  here in location, the reception is going down day by day viz. weak signal strength ,difficult copy.

In Brief:Monitor's Summary
The new  FM transmitter with 10kW power and coverage area of 70km radius of Akashvani Kokrajhar had started functioning from January 3rd of 2025.It was received well here at Abhayapuri ( aerial distance of 50-55km approx. aerial distance or less)loud & clear right from the evening of January 3rd.But from perhaps 3rd week of February, the station  was not heard here.Heard via a source  there were some technical problems in antenna system. I am getting  the station  on air from the morning of March 3rd again but very poor signal strength as mentioned above.

At present, I can only hope it will be heard here soon with loud and clear as before.
Better Late Then Never!!!

More observations/radio news/monitoring reports etc from time to time.
73
Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)
(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)

BCDX Informations Plus DX Memories etc From Japan,Australia & Guam

 From  Radio Japan NHK World Radio  English Service
QSL Cards For Reception Reports Only Upto 20th instant:
A DXER friend of mind last month sent an interesting information regarding Radio Japan's termination of QSL Cards(verification cards).Later visiting the website of Radio Japan NHK World, I could find the information posted myself.Radio Japan has decided to stop issuing verification cards(QSL Cards) for correct reception reports of  their broadcasts by listeners.And they will issue QSL Cards for reception reports of the broadcasts  upto of March 20th (of 2025)only.
However, listeners can send feedbacks and requests on their program contents of English Service via Contact Us link on their website.
No information about the provisions of e-QSL Cards(verification cards) there mentioned.
Radio Japan English Service used to be a good verifier of reception reports.I received many printed QsL Cards of Radio Japan English inially without detail & later with detail QSL Cards by regular post from all the way from Tokyo.Here are the scanned versions..first front side & then back side..
Frontside

Depicting "Colourful kites are part of New Year scene"
Without Details...Backside
Frontside 
Depicting "Cherry Blossoms and Hirisaki castle in Aomori"
With Details..
Backside..

Radio Japan's Hindi Service is used to issue QSL Cards too for correct reception reports.I have received over the years several QSL Cards with Hindi print but with out any detail informations printed...
Here is the one ....scanned version..
Front side
Depicting "Colours Of Spring"..from Shizouka Prefecture

Backside..


Wavescan May Be From WRMI Production Team On Shortwave To Asia from A25 Season 
Via Reach Beyond Australia  To Asia
Another BCDX expert  passed the info to me a few weeks back, that  Wavescan ,the weekly Global DX Program produced now-a-days from Radio Maimi International( WRMI) is likely to be  on air to Asia from the beginning of A25 spring-summer international broadcasting season effective March 30th to October 25th of 2025 via Reach Beyond Australia 
And as per the A25 schedule of Reach Beyond Australia ...
1400 -1430 utc on 11870 kHz (Sunday)
and to Japan 
2230-2300utc  on 17650 (monday)
I will have to wait and check on air the schedule specially the 2230utc onwards slot whether it is on sunday as per UTC time or on monday.
It was mentioned earlier that Adventist World Radio(AWR) had stopped using leased transmitter sites  and only goes on air via its Agat,Guam transmitter sites at the start of B24 winter season on shortwave and it also dropped the  weekly Global DX Program, Wavescan produced at WRMI studio( on sundays) from its program.There is  no English Program from AWR too.The program goes on air via WRMI only perhaps on shortwave and may a few other stations relays it.And from time to time, by checking WRMI schedule, I have listened  their live streaming audio via WRMI website(www.wrmi.net).
And another link to listen to the Wavecan program online(podcast) at your convenient time ..

It has  mentioned in the Wavescan program that WRMI is trying to air this Wavescan program via other radio stations/leased transmitter sites who broadcasts to Asia.And I am waiting for this Wavescan broadcast via  Reach Beyond Australia site in Kununurra(100kW-Australia) on sundays from March 30th.
And nowadays, AWR is only transmitting on shortwave via its own transmitter site located at Agat,Guam.I used to receive lots of QSL Cards plus program schedules etc from Guam during my initial active phase of my DXING hobby.They were used to be a good verifier of reception reports from listeners.
Here is the scanned version of my probably first QSL Card from AWR ..program Wavescan the Global DX Program then produced in England by AWR English Staff..presented by David Borasoain as far as I could recall..
Frontside..

Depicting "Sunrise at Bear Rock Agfayan Bay, Inarajan, Guam"
Backside..


More observations/radio news/monitoring reports etc from time to time.
73
Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)
(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)

Akashvani From Abhayapuri!!!

This is a report compiled a few days back and I could not post it at the earliest because I was busy on some other works.
..........................................................
Here is a few infos about  Akashvani regional stations (I usuaally monitor)on FM and medium wave which is being heard here in my place,Abhayapuri.
For Medium Wave ,I am using my Yaesu FT 891 with dipole inverted V and for FM I am using Grundig YB 400  receiver along with telescopic antenna fully extended.

Akashvani Kokrajhar Update on 1512kHz/102.00MHz:
In the morning hours, Akashvani Kokrajhar is audible here with not so satisfactory reception overall on 1512kHz(20kW) medium wave.And my random monitoring period often been 0230-0330utc(8:00-9:00AM Local Time).The reception has been noisy and sometimes the audio is difficult to copy despite using a commercial grade RIG Yaesu FT 891.(dual bander 40/20MB Inverted V Dipole centre feed antenna etc).
But while monitoring 1512kHz in the morning past several days, I could listen to Akashvani Kokrajhar on 1512kHz with usual noisy reception.The signal strength not very good.Let's listen to the audio recorded on March 1st....
around 0308utc with Bodo Modern Songs on air by a lady singer..
around 0344utc assamese regional news relayed from Guwahati,Station Idd etc announcement of Akashvani Kokrajhar & Hindi film music programs on air..

Akashvani Kokrajhar off The Air On 102.00MHz:
But for several days now( perhaps greater than a week),I am unable to listen Akashvani Kokrajhar on their FM frequency 102.00MHz (10kW) here in place,Abhayapuri. This recently installed FM transmitter (10kW)  of  Akashvani Kokrajhar began its on air operation on January 3rd of this year. And it has  a coverage area  of 70km radius.It was well received here (loud and clear) in my place,Abhayapuri with just my Grundig YB 400 receiver with just the telescopic antenna fully extended.Abhayapuri is perhaps within 50-55km aerial distance or even less from Kokrajhar.I wonder what may be the reason of its silence on 102.00MHz.May be some technical problems be the reason behind it.

Akashvani Goalpara on 102.6MHz (1kW):
Akashvani Goalpara is audible here loud and clear on 102.6MHz as before.Goalpara is 20-22km approx. aerially from Abhayapuri, my home town on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra.

Akashvani on Medium Wave During Morning Hours:
Akashvani Shillong on 864kHz is always loud and almost clear almost slight noise sometimes observed here in my place during morning hours.
Akashvani Guwahati Mahabahu on 729kHz is sometimes found to be off the air and Myanmar Radio in local language can be heard sometimes in its place.And it comes back loud and clear after sometime.The power cut plus other technical problems may be the cause of their temporary off the air.Akashvani Guwahati Prajyotishpur is also audible on 1035kHz with good but slightly noiser signal.This unit does not go off air like Mahabahu.Usually the signal strength(QSA) of .Akashvani Guwahati Prajyotishpur is more weaker than Mahabahu (S7 maximum usually as per my RIG Yaesu FT 891 S-meter scale).
This winter I am sorry to say I have not done much medium wave monitoring as such during morning and evening-night hours.Still, I could hear Akashvani Dibrugarh on 567kHz, Akashvani (AV) Kolkata Geetangjali on 657kHz, AV Imphal on 882kHz,AV Siliguri on 711kHz, AV Patna on 621kHz, AV Itanagar on 675kHz etc etc loud and clear.
The recording link to Akashvani Shillong on 864kHz around 0304utc on March 1st..

A few overseas stations on medium wave...
Bangladesh Betar(BB) from Dhaka on 693kHz and from Rajshahi on 846kHz is audible loud and clear in the morning hours here.Besides Radio Nepal Kathmandu 0n 792kHz is well heard here in the early morning hours.
Here is the links to the recordings of Bangladesh Betar(BB) medium wave..
0302utc...on March Ist....Rajshahi on 864kHz
0305utc on Match Ist...Dhaka on 693kHz
Besides the mentioned radio stations, many medium wave stations heard here during the entire day & night ,I will try to give more informations on receptions etc in coming days.

More observations/radio news/monitoring reports etc from time to time.
73
Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)
(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)

Sunday, February 23, 2025

FROM TRT WORLD TO VOT AGAIN

 From January 1,2025,Voice of Turkiye( as per recent change) programs format has been changed and renamed as TRT World and specially in English, it has been observed that they are taking program feeds from their television programs TRT-the parent organisation. And it appears to me Radio Japan NHK World  English program now-a-days uses program feeds from their English Programs of NHK TV viz.News current affair reports & may be other feature programs. Anyway, several reports are posted in DX Press about status of English radio broadcast from Turkyie(earlier Turkey).
I also heard meanwhile on January 5th, Voice Of Turkiye or TRT World or in Urdu ..Sadaye Turkiye  Urdu transmission on 15390kHz from 1300utc. But I did not find any special changes of their program contents.

Here is the link to audio recorded around 1300utc..
I could not monitor the English Programs as such during the month of  January.But on February 9th, I could monitor  TRT World English from 1732-1804utc on 9660kHz during their 1730-1830utc English transmission to South Asia.
Yes, it was clear from the audio that program feed had taken from the TRT TV transmissions.
And news with  current affiar reports were on air.
RIG used:Yaesu FT 891 Antenna:40/20mb dual bander  Inverted V 
Here is a few recordings ...
First at 1753utc...
 then around 1802utc..

But on February 19th ,I got a message from a well known veteran  BCDXER from Hyderabad that Voice of Turkyie English had been noted again as before not with TRT TV Program feed.And acting on his tip ,I did monitor the station on February 21st..
Here is a brief summary...for February 21st
RIG used:Yaesu FT 891 Antenna:40/20mb dual bander  Inverted V 
1727-1747utc on 9660kHz signal report S9 20dB maximum with slight QSB 
Programs Summary Heard:Station  Music & Idd Annoucement..Voice Of Turkyie..etc by male voice repeated,time signal around 1730utc,opening annoucements frequencies etc ,news by male voice-sports news at the end,music-station Idd annoucement etc,Music-Turkish Music-sentimental song ,then feature program-Travelogue presented by male voice
Here is the recordings...First..
1729utc ...
1706utc..

Voice Of Turkey as it was used to be called before was a good verifier of listeners reception reports and I used to send reception reports and got many QSL Cards by post along with stickers etc.
Here is the one...both front side and back side..


More observations/radio news/monitoring reports etc from time to time.
73
Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)
(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)

Akashvani FM Special Monitoring Observation

Akashvani Kokrajhar on 102.00MHz has not been audible here at Abhayapuri for four days )inclusive today).I have just checked around 1100utc(1630 hr IST i.e.4.30PM).I am regularly listening to 0330-0345utc morning Assamese Regional News Bulletin via Akashvani Kokrajhar (relay from Akashvani Guwahati).But last four days I have not heard anything and it may be off the air for technical reasons.My location may be aerially 50-50km or less away from Kokrajhar.As posted earlier in my blog,I have been receiving loud and clear signal of Akashvani Kokrajhar on 102.00MHz (10kW).Meanwhile Akashvani Kokrajhar on 1512kHz(20kW) on medium wave is now not audible at all here during my several monitoring sessions this winter season.
Meanwhile, Akashvani Goalpara has been received with good and loud signal here on 102.6MHz..And it is mostly relaying Akashvani Guwahati Mahabahu Programs( 729kHz/101.6MHz). I came to know about a program segement on weekly basis produced from Akashvani Goalpara but not sure on which time slot it goes on air.

More observations/radio news/monitoring reports etc from time to time.
73
Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)
(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

GK Clicks

 This Morning  At Our Front Garden...First Blossom...



With Best Wishes..
Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)
(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)


First Call Of Cuckoo & The Advent Of Spring At Abhayapuri

On February 12th, in the morning around 0857ist(0327utc) I heard the first call of Cuckoo in a short spell (with rather weak sound) from the woods of ours adjacent to our residence perhaps from a jackfoot tree.And as per association with amateur radio hobby, I would give my first signal report of the Cuckoo call as 53 as per RST scale.( 5 for perfect copy of the signal & 3 for weak signal strength).HI HI!!!
As the call of the cuckoo signifies the advent of spring ..Can Winter Hold On For Longer..
But It Still Cool Here In My Place But May Be For A Few Weeks...
Might Be Flowering Of Modar..Polash ...The Red Brigrade ..Going On Around My home Town Like Earlier Seasons..
I am missing my outdoor photography sessions for a few years now...Hope to start with my new camera ..Point & Shoot type...
Here is a few photographs of flowering of Modar(Calotropis gigantea).
 and Palash(Butea monosperma) captured by me during My Wondering With Camera  around Abhayapuri a few years back during this time.






And about  the story of Cuckoo around our campus posted earlier on this blog , here are the links..

With Best Wishes
Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)
(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)

From Monitor's Desk Special Monitoring Observation On 20mb

 My Listening/Monitoring  Pleasure  But Others................
A few recent  Observations on 20mb reception here at my place, Abhayapuri(Assam)(India) via both long wire end fed & later with dual bander 40mb/20mb  Inverted V with one:one balun at the centre feed with RG58 co-axial cable approx 33ft ht..North South  40mb East West 20mb..RIG used Yaseu FT 891




40/20 MB Dual Bander Centre Feed Inverted V Dipole Antenna  With A Pulley Support

From.September ,2024 onwards ...Short distance reception has been unprecedented improvement  on 20mb ..I can copy VU3OIP from Barpeta..with  HIS cobweb ...etc  just around 33km approx..aerially . from Guwahati 107-109km aerially ..even VU2DBM WITH YAGI ..& VU3HZW ...with homebrewed Inverted, OM  VU3DUK  with his Diamond WD330s..perhaps.Believe it or not during morning period, during this autumn-winter, I heard VU2DBM in the morning loud and clear on 20mb in the morning during 0800-1000ist approx.He was in QSO with 9N1CA from Nepal  several days as far as I could recall on 14200/14195kHz usb.And even S21 stations on 20mb loud and clear.Many QSOs in the morning were heard on 20mb amongst West Bengal based amateur stations on 20mb too.Sometimes S21 station joined them specially S21RW from Khulna.I heard him loud and clear on 20mb.

Earlier only SK VU2RCH from Nagaon ...aerially perhaps 139,km approx ± a few kms away from my place,and with his horizontal dipole  WAS the station I heard on 20mb from Assam with satisfactory signal .twice only perhaps during 2017..no Guwahati based heard.on 20mb. And in fact later when VU2DBM Installed his multiband yagi (20mb 15mb etc )...then I could hear sometimes his signal with very very weak signal strength here at my location on 20mb specially in the evening.Later when VU3INI became active  on 20mb perhaps in 2022-23 I heard VU3INI on 20mb with his EFHW antenna twice with good strong reception on 20mb.I heard several rounds of QSO between 9N1CA & S21RW too in the morning on 20mb.Both of them heard loud and clear here.I am sorry I misplaced my monitoring log details notes in loose sheets somewhere and my laziness also to blame for such delay in sharing such interesting observations on the 20mb band.As per my general views plus my long time observations plus monitoring observations, 20mb is long distance communication band and also the best time of operation in our area is the afternoon to evening.But this winter season, it is an exception.Let us observe the behaviour of 20mb  in coming autumn-winter and also in the spring-summer seasons.

More observations/radio news/monitoring reports etc from time to time.
73
VU3WTI(Gautam Kumar Sharma)(GK)
Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

Akashvani Kokrajhar At Abhayapuri

Akashvani Kokrajhar on 102.00MHz (10kW) is received here in Abhayapuri(50-55km approx. aerial distance) on my Grundig YB 400 Rereciver with telescopic antenna fully extended right from the evening of its Inauguration Day of the newly installed FM transmitter on January 3rd.
Here is the link to  first recorded audio of Akashvani Kokrajhar on 102MHz on the evening of January 3rd (on its inauguration day) around 1227utc(5:57PM Local Time)..A Bodo Modern Song on air by a male singer.
Here is another from later in the same evening around 1240utc...
And the following morning on January 4th..around 0351utc, the audio link..

Here is the links to the audio recorded on the morning  17th instant of   Akashvani Kokrajhar on 102.00MHz ..
0329utc...
0344utc...

Akashvani Kokrajhar is also on medium wave on 1512kHz(20kW).But the reception here is not satisfactory here and also not reliable.Though I .from time to time is able to listen it medium wave.But nowadays, I am unable to listen to it on the medium wave.
Akashvani Kokrajhar was established in 1999 with a 20kW medium wave transmitter.In due course, a 100W FM transmitter on 100.1MHz was installed too.I guess the reception was not satisfactory.
But this newly installed 10kW FM transmitter has a coverage area  of 70km radius.It is surely shown its impact as far as the reception is concerned.

The Assam Tribune and The Sentinel , one of the two leading English Daily Newspapers from Guwahati also published newsitems related to Akashvani Kokrajhar's new FM transmitter inaguration.Akashbani Guwahati also gave wide coverage of the  inaguration ceremony & also went on live for several hours.Akashvani's news bulletins also gave extensive coverage of it.

I first heard Akashvani(then also known as All India Radio i.e. AIR) Kokrajhar on 1512kHz during October 2010.I had a recording to share with you all with their signing on annoucement with frequencies  in Bodo language after usual station Identification music.
Here is the link..1512kHz around 1032utc On October 11,2010.
Later after 12 years(2022)..I again listened to this station on medium wave and recorded a few audios.
And from that morning sessions, I have   made following observations.
Akashvani Kokrajhar relays Assamese News Bulletins plus special programs/broadcasts etc from Akashvani Guwahati besides major news bulletins through out the day from Delhi.Though Akashvani Kokrajhar broadcasts  programs mainly in Bodo Language but also air music programs of other communities living in the region.I heard local folk music so called Goalparia Lokogeet too .I also heard a development program in Assamese language in the morning too and I understand this might be their own production.
Here is the link the audio files recorded  and all audios were recorded on February 1st of 2022 on 1512kHz.
0117utc: Bodo flok music on air
0131utc with Goalparia  flok song on air
0157utc:

All there monitoring were done my Grundig YB 400 radio with an external antenna pf long wire(1 sq mm multistranded copper wire) end feeded with a coaxial cable of 75ohms .

Now that this newly installed Akashvani Kokrajhar's FM transmitter gives us loud and clear reception here, I will be  monitor their programs more and more.


More observations/radio news/monitoring reports etc from time to time.
73
Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)
(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)

Monday, January 13, 2025

GK With No Limit




 

Happy New Year 2025

 



With The Heartiest Well Wishes To All 
73
VU3WTI(Gautam Kumar Sharma)(GK)
NL56hi(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)