12345 Howrah Guwahati Saraighat Express With Electric Loco

 On the Morning of June 27th ..around 0632ist on a bright sunday morning I spotted  at my home town, for the first time in my railfan log , an electric loco  WAP7 37272 HWH powering 12345 Howrah Guwahati Saraighat Express(Via Goalpara Town) ...

With Best Wishes

Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)

Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

GKCALLING BCDXING SPECIAL Whenever Wherever We Take Chances

Peene Baloko Peene Ka Bahana Chahiye...
The popular  song from Hindi Film Haath Ki Safai by Kishore Kumar( in the film, Randhir Kapoor gave his lips to the song) and it comes to mind,whenever whereever we get a chance.. we radio enthusiasts/radio hobbyists visit radio facilities be it transmitter sites, radio stations,listen to radio plus monitor radio stations while on vacation, on car radio & visit amateur radio stations and meet amateurs so called eyeball QSOs..etc etc..

Radio Passionate Guy Needs No Excuse To Listen To Radio ..Even If He Is On Tour/Vacation...etc etc..Also like the Chess players.as depicted in Shatranj Ke Khilari film directed by Late Satyajit Ray, which was based on Munsi Premchand's short  story of the same name.

This special report 's idea began ..on the morning of  April 2nd (this 2025).My long time BCDX friend ,VU3RVY, Old Man(OM) Swopan Chakrovorty, shared an interesting information via a social media platform to me.While on official tour in Barh,Bihar, while travelling on a Car ,in the car radio ,he listened to a few FM radio stations including FM radio station of Nepal and Bangladesh.

OM Swopan used to carry a portable radio etc with him while on tour.And he used to monitor different radio stations and his inputs on radio scenes were part of DX Programs of different radio stations, radio magazines & various online groups then.I still remember one such report on his visit to then All India Radio (now Akashvani) Shillong on January 14th of 2002....That was featured on then Voice Of Amercia(VOA)'s Media/DX Program for radio enthuiasts Communication World presented by Dr.Kim Andrew Ellott on February 2nd edition of the show in 2002 (02-02-02..indeed interesting!).His voice was voiced by a Voice of America(VOA) Hindi Presenter.

Please listen to this audio clip to know yourself his experience..

https://app.box.com/s/kgtd5arvr1l11njx5d3xkcmfbk6r7txw

But nowadays, due to his job's demand,frequent tours plus other factors, Swopan is not active as such on radio monitoring, as I understand.I am missing his voice on radio,regular inputs on radio scene and also his recorded audio files.Its his inspiration that I have begun recordings of radio audios, interviews & important programs etc etc by using various techniques.Its another chapter and will discuss in detail later.I will also post radio audios from my huge recorded radio audio collection.

Now from Barh,Shillong To Kerala....

My long time senior radio friend , VU2JOS OM Jose Jacob based in Hyderabad,recently sent me a few video recordings of Radio Miami International English Service on 15770kHz around 0029utc for April 18th & 19th, which were monitored in his home in Kerala,12 km north of Kochi International Airport.He is on vacation, I understand.

And in Kerala WRMI English transmission is well heard in the morning. And a few years back, he sent me recordings of WRMI English on perhaps on 7780kHz from his home in Kerala in the early morning hour.The reception was excellent.I lost trace of the file.But during this visit , he monitored and recorded WRMI English from Okeechobee(100kW),Florida with his RIG Yaesu 757 GX II  and antenna inverted V 40ft above the ground.I converted this video recordings to audio files with assiatance of my brother.

Here is his first recording link  of WRMI on 15770kHz around April 18th(2025) around 0029utc:

https://app.box.com/s/jjvov2du15epwpdffu8qoupx9rwxuzr9

and the second recording link of the same station around same time on April 19th..

https://app.box.com/s/i5ou6m1yfcqqo62wm859yrc750qm5tua

And OM VU2JOS has set up his portable  amateur station there at his home in Kerala to operate in VHF,UHF & on HF with all antennas possibles including End Fed Half Wave.

Here is a few pictures of his antennas installed there in his home in Kerala.

Courtesy:OM VU2JOS 

Broadcasting Logs Of OM VU3NYV of Shillong While On Tour to Sikkim,North Bengal:

VU3NYV, OM SUDHANYA HAJONG from Shillong(a keen radio listener from his school days in Arunachal & also developed a keen interest in Amateur Radio later), was on a visit to Sikkim recently  and , he took his  small portable Tecsun PL310ET (with Telescopic Antenna) with him.And he shared a few vedio clips of his recordings of Akashvani Regional Stations he heard during his stay in the region.I have converted them to the audio files with the help of my brother.

On April 18th..at Ranipool,(Near Gangtok)Sikkim

Akashvani Gangtok 1404kHz 0325utc

fair signal strength,noisy, audio sometimes difficult to copy perfectly

News in Nepali by a male voice,sports related news-football, news related Nepali Commedy actor,writer & singer Madan Shereshytha 

The audio file link:

https://app.box.com/s/l53zma0w3jldl9na7ctrj59gnmw9wfm1

On April 19th..

Akashvani  Gangtok 103MHz 0210utc

Good Signal Strength in FM,loud and clear,

Program in Nepali hosted by lady and male presenter

The audio file link:

https://app.box.com/s/q2v77so7fsof5g6fhlyaipg1oo1dzpzd

On April 20th...while on return journery at Malbazar(also known as Mal) ,North Bengal

Akashvani  Siliguri  711kHz 0045utc

Good Signal strength,slight noise

Devotional Song in Bengali by a lady

Here is the link to the audio file:

https://app.box.com/s/lbyieibij5pxbz6b1064vdte14igye2d

Earlier, while Ranipool, he tried to listen to Akashvani  Siliguri on 711kHz around 0236utc on April 19th perhaps but there was heavy noise and nothing was audible.

And also on April 17th, around 1330utc(while at Ranipool) , he heard Akashvani Dibrugarh on 565kHz(correct frequency 567kHz) with fair signal strength with noisy reception.As per the vedio clip,Bihu related song was on air.

Just for reminder as per a newspaper report  which appeared over a decade back in a Guwahati based newspaper related to then All India Radio(AIR)/Akashvani Dibrugrah now at present only Akashvani Dibrugarh, it was used to be one of the most powerful medium wave station of then AIR network.And station engineering staff said that in 1970s-early 1980s, it used to receive reception reports from radio hobbyists including amateur radio operators as far as away from Scandinavian countries, Holland etc.I might have the clipping of the news item somewhere in my files.I will find out and post later.

Thanks to VU3RVY OM Swopan, VU2JOS OM Jose Jacob & OM VU3NVY again for sharing  information plus the clips and also my brother Rupam for his technical  assistance.

More observations//monitoring reports and much much more from the world of radio down the memory lines etc etc soon.

73

Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)

(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)

From Abhayapuri In Spring With 7145kHz lsb Logs

RIG: Yaesu FT891 Antenna:Inverted V dipole

Place Of Reception:Abhayapuri,NL56hi

A General Observation On 7050kHz lsb:

Belgaum Net Warm Session Summary from 0600-0700ist approx monitoring time

Nowadays, in the morning, as we are moving to summer via spring, is getting noiser and noiser from time to time, noise level moves to S3 sometimes.The reception  condition improves on 40mb overall later in the morning as the noise level moves down to minimum S1 level.But exception does occur.Now as it happens during spring-summer, even the most consistent strong received  station from Chennai of  VU2RZA is getting weaker & weaker.

Date:April 6,2025

7145kHz lsb

0748ist onwards 

VU3LGT (Asansol) VU2ATN(operating From Kolkata)...after VU2ATN going QRT,VU2DLU(Kolkata) VU2FRD(Bhubenswar,Odisha) joining .

VU2YUK OM Malcom from Aizawl heard giving call good signal strength S7-S9 here,but he might have not copied others much & others also could not copy him much.

VU2OWB(Khaspur,West Bengal) joining around 0758ist ,VU3NYV from Shillong also joined S7-S9 as his signal strength remains here in my place,

7145kHz 1718ist onwards for a minute or so

VU2YUK S7 VU3OII(West Bengal) very poor

Date:April 7,2025

7145kHz lsb 0753ist 

VU3NYV (Shillong) 57 to 59 VU2YUK(Aizawl) 58 59

0755ist onwards for a few moments

 Again I heard both of them in QSO on same frequency

this time both of them 59 

Monitor's Note :

I was very glad to hear perhpahs first HF contact between amateur operators of Shillong and Aizawl in recent years.

VU2YUK OM Malcom.operating from Aizawl (Mizoram)  heard again after a long break by me on 40mb.From my monitoring record , it was on July 10th of 2022, I heard VU2YUK on my location via uSDX RIG  with a long wire antenna etc set up on 7070kHz lsb from 0733ist onwards and on the frequency as per my record VU2EII OM Vijay  Sonam Da from Naharlagun,Arunachal Pradesh & VU2XBP from Guwahati.He is the first amateur radio station from Mirzoram, I heard on air just like a little earlier perhaps VU3HZT later upgraded to VU2EII, was the first amateur station on air from HF I heard from Arunachal Pradesh.

VU2YUK is still using his  Yaesu FT 891 with End Fed Half Wave(EFHW) antenna.I think he is also problem in reception due to noise prevalent in his locality in Aizawl.

Here is the link to the post in my blog in 2022:

https://gkcalling.blogspot.com/2022/11/flash-from-last-summer-first-amateur.html

Date:April 8,2025

From 0823ist onwards on 7145kHz lsb 

VU3NYV (Shillong)S7 to S9, VU2YUK(Aizawl ) S7 to S9 

VU2DBM(Guwahati) S7 to S9 over 5dB touching

VU2YUK went QRT but VU2DBM & VU3NYV continued for a while a few minutes after 0838ist as far as I could recall.

With Greetings....On the occasional traditional Assamese New Year & Bohag Bihu 

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)

GK Clicks

 

           Silikha Tree(শিলিখা)(Myrobalan /Terminalia chebula)
             In Our Campus At The Doorsteps of Spring...
With Best Wishes
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)

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:

https://app.box.com/s/4i2qy92ptlt5n5zm3rc3uu8c7fvi9kw7

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 ....

https://app.box.com/s/lpjejxbp3gwtqabcpvtk9798oknijh08

February 16th....0344utc...

https://app.box.com/s/2yodc5c0db65bzys3ej02uubt3rd3miu

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)

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..

https://app.box.com/s/1l1qcu7ezs9an0ae0oos8gi632adybpg

around 0344utc assamese regional news relayed from Guwahati,Station Idd etc announcement of Akashvani Kokrajhar & Hindi film music programs on air..

https://app.box.com/s/ewm0gc4iqkmr9dtztht761ie21ppwvxv

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..

https://app.box.com/s/0w6ezxgii87m8soyy1l0ajhh2vkh0j51

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

https://app.box.com/s/0w6ezxgii87m8soyy1l0ajhh2vkh0j51

0305utc on Match Ist...Dhaka on 693kHz

https://app.box.com/s/jetdq392xzadlr6oxx0x0a0h82kfbkd8

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)

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)

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..

https://gkcalling.blogspot.com/2023/02/first-call-of-cuckoo-this-year.html

https://gkcalling.blogspot.com/2022/02/first-call-of-cuckookooo-kooo-advent-of.html

https://gkcalling.blogspot.com/2021/02/advent-of-springfirst-call-of-coolie.html

With Best Wishes

Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)

(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.

https://app.box.com/s/xs8c1qaxl9gshukelanuengpblyrty2i

Here is another from later in the same evening around 1240utc...

https://app.box.com/s/rr3nrtmg247ky9upj2fvad4l9fc10219

And the following morning on January 4th..around 0351utc, the audio link..

https://app.box.com/s/hpbpxv8hds3d3honqz86d3j5bpwgdqpd

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

0329utc...

https://app.box.com/s/3vmgkvk5hcqo2g8xkh6pixlx49kktrid

0344utc...

https://app.box.com/s/r2wn1te3xuo8r8tromakklr2d9xzfzzi

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.

https://app.box.com/s/iey5uoqfb72uud6uuybhjtcukcksx43w

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

https://app.box.com/s/hebk36vvnid8y4sq7zst7a1armq79l16

0131utc with Goalparia  flok song on air

https://app.box.com/s/b69gw6qg6gt3kyfti3yajgx0lb9f2sl5

0157utc:

https://app.box.com/s/a3jdvx7ap4exg75ju82v9p6st789lr9r

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)

B24 Season Preview & Schedule Updates

 B24 season (winter Season) of international radio broadcasting is fast approaching.It will be effective from October 27th of 2024 to March 29th of 2025.Many international radio broadcasters and transmitter operators have already posted their B24 schedules.

A few disappointing developments may be awaiting for us for B24 season.

First related to Adventist World Radio(AWR):

It is now final though no formal announcement(press release etc) observed by me but information circulating in social media platforms plus B24 schedules ,AWR is going to end its all transmissions on shortwave via leased transmitter sites and will only continue its shortwave transmissions from its own transmitter site KSDA,Guam.

Another possible disappointing news...latest updated B24 schedule of AWR  to be effective from October 27th via KSDA-Guam issued from AWR Frequency Management Office in Germany, there is no mention of English transmission.And it is indicating that Wavescan,the Global DX Program from AWR on sundays is no longer be aired via KSDA-Guam.As until now Wavescan is on air as a part of English Service Program schedule of AWR.We thought there would be an announcement regarding this on the last edition of the Wavescan in A24 season on sunday October 20th regarding this,but no such announcement was made and no information was given on its upcoming B24 season schedule too.Several radio stations air Wavescan- the Global DX Program "Researched and written in Indianapolis by Adrian Peterson and Ray Robinson in Los Angeles, produced in studios of shortwave WRMI.Besides AWR's own KSDA-Guam and  AWR relays in various locations, WRMI in Florida,WWCR in Tennessee ,IRRS Italy & Voice Of Hope Africa in Zambia airs Wavecan weekly.Now let us wait for any fresh  update from AWR on the issue.

Second related to Radio Romania International(RRI)-English:

Another disappointing update-

As per the B24 schedule posted by RRI-English on their website, there is no analog transmission for our region.

The two transmissions in English are in DRM mode only to India.

06.30 – 07.00utc 21.470kHz 

04.00 – 05.00utc 15.250kHz  

I guess for a few seasons, RRI English is only on DRM to India during 0400-0500utc.And it is on air on analog mode on only one frequency to India during 0530-0600utc in A24 season.And in B24 season,there will not be any analog RRI English transmission for India.

 Now A Few  B24 Schedule Updates Info:

AWR Assamese 

(Effective October 27,2024 to March 29,2025)

On 17735kHz during 1330-1400utc 

via KSDA,Agat-Guam(100kW)

(Sunday & Wednessday)

KBS World Radio English To India

effective October 27th

1400-1600utc on 9630kHz in place of present 9785kHz( as per post on their website)

Radio Japan NHK World 

(For South West Asia region)

effective October 27th

Bengali  1500-1520utc   11610kHz 

Hindi      1530-1550utc    11610kHz

Urdu       1600-1620utc    9440kHz

              1700-1720utc    1251kHz*(via Tajakistan)

*All transmissions on shortwave are from Yamata,Japan.

English For South East Asia

On 11815kHz Via Yamata,Japan

Monday to Friday  1400-1425utc 

Saturday-Sunday   1400-1430utc 

BBC World Service English 

For South Asia perhaps

0000-0100utc 5980kHz (250kW,Oman)

0000-0200utc 6035kHz(100kW,Tashkent)

0100-0200utc 7430kHz((250kW,Oman)

I will check on air the other frequencies on different time period during the first week of B24 season from October 27th and then post a detail schedule and update you on which frequencies BBC English audible here in my location.

More observations/monitoring reports plus more B24 updates etc from time to time.

73

Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)

(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)

Colourful Sky After A Long Break

 Just Around Dusk  At Abhayapuri After A Long Break On September 7th..

With Best Wishes

Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)

(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)

Advent Of Spring At Abhayapuri??

 Read and heard somewhere when the cuckoo calls it symbolises the advent of spring.Today i.e.February 13th..just a day before Valentine's day I heard the call of cuckoo from the a mango tree while working in my campus.It was in late afternoon around 3.41PM. But the call was for only a few second in some spell.Later I heard another spell of brief call after 30 minutes or so while giving water to the plants in our campus adjacent wood.I guess it was even shorter than the previous one.Two of three cuckoos are there in our campus moving around all around the year.It has become a safe heaven for them.I have posted a post related to it in this blog.For ready reference ,I am again mentioning the link here.
https://gkcalling.blogspot.com/2023/02/first-call-of-cuckoo-this-year.html
Anyway, that's it for today..bye for now
Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)
Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER..

 WITH MY BEST WISHES & GREETINGS FOR A NEW YEAR 2024

INVERTED V 40/20MB DIPOLE AT MY QTH(ABHAYAPURI AT PRESENT)

Due to unavoidable circumstances,I could not post anything for a long time,I am sorry for that.I will be able to post more regularly from now on.Amateur Radio for me is a hobby and a tool for improving myself technically,understanding fascinating world of science of communication ....& many things ...
73
VU3WTI(Gautam Kumar Sharma)(GK)
Abhayapuri,(Assam)(India),NL56hi

From VU3WTI Latest To Past Monitoring Reports

 (WTI/MR/A23/12/21-10-23)

Place Of Monitoring:Abhayapuri(Assam)(India) NL56hi

Monitored Mode:J3E Class of emission(Amateur Stations)

Special Notes,symbols etc used for this report:

All time mentioned  in Indian Standard Time(ist) and where possible in Coordinated Universal Time(utc) also & all reports scale as per RST scale parameters(with human touch only)

> indicating onwards ,amateur station's location mentioned as per info available in first bracket after callsign as far as possible followed by Signal Report in RST scale.

Date:October 21,2023

RX:Grundig Yacht Boy 400

Ext Antenna:Long Wire End Feed etc

WX:Clear Blue sky,bight sunshine,slightly cooler

7145kHz lsb

0838-0852ist(0308-0322utc)

VU2FRD(Bhubuneswar) 59 to 55,VU2DLU(Kolkata Region) 59 to 56,VU2OWB (Khaspur,WB) 59,VU2PQS (Bhubuneswar) difficult copy 33 to 22,

Date:October 10,2023

7145kHz lsb from 1729ist onwards  for a few minutes 

VU2EII Portable operation from  Seppa Arunachal Pradesh on test with his Alinco transreceiver with End Feed Half Wave Multiband..59..

Date:October 8,2023

7070kHz lsb 

WX:cloudy ..

RX:Grundig Yacht Boy 80

EXT ANT:Same as mentioned above

With Little Noise 

 from 0801ist..VU2YPB 59 VU2YUK (Aizawl)59 QSB, VU3INI 59 slight QSB

0807ist>VU3INI 59,VU2YUK 58 QSB,VU2YPB 59

0843 to 0900utc

VU2YPB 59+,VU3OKB 59 to 59+,VU2XBP 59 to 59+,VU3ZRI 55 to 56 slight QSB(from 0848ist)

All stations other than VU2YUK operating from different parts of Guwahati City...

WX:light clouds cover in the  sky cool

More reports/observations etc soon.

73

DE VU3WTI (Gautam Kumar Sharma)(GK) on monitoring  mode, 

Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

Monitoring 7070kHz From Abhayapuri

Date:July 30,2023

(Sunday)

(WTI/MR/A23/8/30-07-23)

Place Of Monitoring:Abhayapuri(Assam)(India) NL56hi

RX:Grundig Yacht Boy 80

External Antenna: 

Long Wire multistranded Copper wire 79ft long 33ft height approx. End Fed With RG6 coaxial cable type..with Splitter Balun circuit at RX end

Monitored Mode:J3E Class of emission(Amateur Stations)

Special Notes,symbols etc used for this report:

All time mentioned  in Indian Standard Time(ist) and where possible in Coordinated Universal Time(utc) also & all reports scale as per RST scale parameters(with human touch only)

> indicating onwards ,amateur station's location mentioned as per info available in first bracket after callsign as far as possible followed by Signal Report in RST scale.

WX:Bright sunshine,scattered clouds floating,warm morning

Noise Level:Little Noise

7070kHz lsb

0846ist(0316utc) approx.> VU2DBM 59+,VU2XBP,VU2YPB was also there

VU2DBM going QRT..All three operating from Guwahati 

0857ist>VU3ZRI (Guwahati)55 to 53,VU2YPB 59,VU2XBP 59

0901ist>VU2EII(Naharlagun) 59,VU2YPB 59 slight QSB

0903ist>VU2XBP 59 QSB,VU2EII 59 QSB,

0904ist>VU2YPB 59 QSB,VU2ZRI 55 QSB, (no copy of VU3ZRI by VU2EII),VU2EII 59+(0906ist),

0907ist>VU2YPB 53 to 43 QSB(suddenly droping of signal strength to a great extent),VU2XBP 54 to 53,

0909ist>VU3ZRI 54 to 56,VU2XBP 54 to 56,VU2YPB 56(0911ist>),VU2EII 59,

0915ist>VU2YPB 59+,VU2XBP 59+,VU2EII 59+

0917ist>VU2YPB 59

More reports/observations etc soon.

73

DE VU3WTI (Gautam Kumar Sharma)(GK) on monitoring  mode, 

Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

On A Recent Day Late In The Morning..

 

Explore The Nature

 

With GKCALLING......

7145 & 7070kHz lsb Report From Abhayapuri

 Date:July 16,2023

(Sunday)

(WTI/MR/A23/7/16-07-23)

Place Of Monitoring:Abhayapuri(Assam)(India) NL56hi

External Antenna: 

Long Wire multistranded Copper wire 79ft long 33ft height approx. End Fed With RG6 coaxial cable type..with Splitter Balun circuit at RX end

Monitored Mode:J3E Class of emission(Amateur Stations)

Special Notes,symbols etc used for this report:

All time mentioned  in Indian Standard Time(ist) and where possible in Coordinated Universal Time(utc) also & all reports scale as per RST scale parameters(with human touch only)

> indicating onwards ,amateur station's location mentioned as per info available in first bracket after callsign as far as possible followed by Signal Report in RST scale.

Noise Level:Little  (as APDCL-local AC Electric Energy Supplier on load shedding or  shutdown mode for replacements of lines etc)during the monitoring period,no atmospheric noise as such

WX:Bright sunshine,scattered clouds floating,warm morning

7145kHz lsb

RX:Grundig Yacht Boy

(Other reception coniditon same)

0824-0832ist(0254-0302utc) approx

VU3JXF 59,VU2EHL 59 (both operating from Greater Kolkata area)

0835-00918ist(0305-0348utc) approx

0835ist>

9N1CA (near Kathmandu ?,Nepal) 59,VU3LGT 59 (Asansol) 

Heard strong breaking signal of another ham around 0848ist(0318utc) & another breaking signal heard around 0902ist(0332utc) approx...but the second breaking signal strength was weaker...no callsign heard in both cases.

Sometimes signal strength (QSA) of both stations went down but it picked up strength and became extremely strong ,

0902ist> VU3LGT  9N1CA both the stations 59 & beyond..

7070kHz lsb

RX:Grundig Yacht Boy 80

(Other reception coniditon same)

0919-1007ist(0349-0437utc) approx.

0910ist> VU2DBM 59+,VU3ZRI 56

0921ist>VU2YPB 59,VU2EII 56 (0922ist>),

VU2DBM 59+,

Monitor's Note:

All stations operating from Guwahati area except VU2EII operating from Naharlagun,Arunachal Pradesh ,at present only active amateur station on HF from Arunachal Pradesh,

0927ist>VU3ZRI 56,VU2EII 56-58

0928ist>VU3ZRI 59,VU2EII 58

0931ist>VU3ZRI 59,VU2YPB 59+,VU2EII 56 to 58(0932ist>),

VU2DBM 59++

Monitor's Note:

The signal strength(QSA) of VU3ZRI suddenly up & became extremely strong from 0928ist & also later too the two most consistent 59 level stations of Guwahati VU2DBM & VU2YPB became too strong in QSA level & I had to adjust my manual AGC..HI HI volume control as usual for VU2DBM...

0047ist>VU3ZRI 59,VU2DBM 59++,VU2YPB 59+

0949ist>VU2EII 56 to 59, VU2DBM 59++

0958ist>VU2DBM 59++,VU2EII 56-58 slight QSB

1003ist>VU2DBM 59++,VU2EII 56-58

An Amateur Radio News Item.....

Kolkata HF Net in the morning on 40mb A New HF Net for the weekend:

From last weekend(i.e.saturday-Sunday),I heard on 7145kHz lsb between 0730-0800ist approximately ,this net with VU3JXF as netcontroller.I heard as far as I could recall strong signal of VU3ZBG from Barasat( checking in & participants ..VU2DBE,VU2EHL(from different parts of Kolkata) ..Though I have noted down the details of reception,I am unable to trace it out..Hope I will be able to monitor it and will note down the details.

There may be slight error here & there in my reports etc...they are totally unintentional.

More reports/observations etc soon.

73

DE VU3WTI (Gautam Kumar Sharma)(GK) on monitoring  mode, 

Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)