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 ..

https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/wavescan

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)

Radio Japan NHK World South Asia Flash

On December 29th,after several weeks of poor to barely audible reception of Radio Japan NHK World's shortwave transmissions of Bengali,Hindi & Urdu service,I heard very good reception overall on their respective frequencies.

Here is a brief reception summary.

Date:December 29,2022

Receiver:Grundig Yacht Boy 400

External Antenna:Long Wire multistranded Copper wire 79ft long 35ft height approx. RG6 coaxial cable feedline etc

Place Of Reception:Abhayapuri(Assam)(India) 

All time mentioned  in  Coordinated Universal Time(utc) 

Radio Japan NHK World

Bengali 

1503-1530utc 11610kHz (Via Yamata-Japan,300kW)

SINPO 45444 very weak could be ignored as slight noise side band splatter of broadcasting station from 11620kHz ,slight occasional fading,overall good reception

News,feature program

Here is the audio file link recorded around 1505utc:

https://app.box.com/s/nhseoxx8bdx3fn47sk3aoh6kdri0vnb6

Hindi 

1530-1549utc 11610kHz (Via Yamata-Japan,300kW)

SINPO 45545,good signal strength,slight fading occasionally,overall reception excellent

opening annoucements,news,Japanese Language Learning program

The audio file link recorded around 1530utc:

https://app.box.com/s/d0ar34kwpqb5xnwcc89y1b09x7y55c48

Urdu

1600-1619utc 11620kHz (Via Yamata-Japan,300kW)

SINPO 55545,excellent signal strength,no noise,no interference,slight occasional fading,excellent overall reception

Usual opening annoucements,News,Japanese learning program

The audio file link recorded around 1601utc:

https://app.box.com/s/gphawjjirc5fpio4un39m2wntl66ko90

QSL Card Flash...Down the memory lane:

Radio Japan used to be a good verifier of reception reports and I also have received lots of QSL Cards from the station..Here is a scanned version(both sides  of a beautiful QSL Card for a reception report for  Radio Japan Hindi Service received in 2005 signed by Radio Japan's T Sato.It is showing  "Snow On a fishing port" Ine-cho,Yosa-gun,Kyoto Prefecture

With Best Wishes

73

Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)

(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)

Radio Japan NHK World Radio Update

On March 28th,Radio Japan NHK World Bengali was on air as per schedule from 1500utc onwards on 11655kHz (Yamata,Japan-300kW) with excellent overall reception.News,Japanese Learning Lesson & Bengali song etc aired on full 30 minutes program.

On March 27th, on very first day new summer broadcasting schedule, in place of Bengali transmission ,English transmission was aired on 11655kHz from 1500 to 1530utc.

Here is the audio file link of the beginning of the transmission around 1459utc:

https://app.box.com/s/km0nctstcvc7smkuapz8jlhdv775qyao

Another audio file link recorded around 1508utc:

https://app.box.com/s/tmbaogy3ftbqn73d1e0qav9a83j55qpz

For all monitoring Observations 

RX:Grundig Yacht Boy 400

ANT: 75 Feet Length  33 ft Feet Height 

Long Wire Multistranded Cu .75sq mm Wire(Approx)

with coax lead in

Location of Reception Place(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India):NL56hi(Grid Location)

Here is a few portion of schedule of Radio Japan effective March 27th to October 29th of 2022 for  Bengali.Hindi & Urdu Language.

All transmissions are via Yamata ,Japan(300kW) except the Urdu language transmission in medium wave

Bengali

1500-1530utc  Everyday   on 11655kHz 

Hindi on 11655kHz

1530-1550utc Monday To Friday

1530-1551utc  Saturday-Sunday

Urdu on 9440kHz 

1600-1620utc Monday To Friday

1600-1621utc Saturday-Sunday

On 927kHz Medium Wave via Tajakistan Relay

1700-1720utc Monday To Friday

1700-1721 utc Saturday-Sunday

The complete frequency schedule link in pdf format  for this summer season (A22) of Radio Japan NHK World on Radio effective from March 27 to October 29,2022

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/ja/information/brochure/pdf/radio_frequency_schedule.pdf

More reports,observations etc.

Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)

Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

First Day First Report for B21 Season On Radio Japan NHK World A Few Observations

Here is a few monitoring observations of Radio Japan NHK World Bengali,Hindi & Urdu Transmission on new frequencies on the very first day i.e. of October 31st of B21 season (winter) of international broadcasting.

RX:Grundig Yacht Boy 400

EXT ANT: 75 Feet Length  33 ft Feet Height 

Multistranded 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:October 31,2021

Radio Japan NHK World Hindi 

0059-0112utc 6155kHz via Tashkent,100kW

Good signal strength,but low intensity audio as often the case of transmissions from Tashkent,good overall

Here is the link to the audio recorded 0102utc:

https://app.box.com/s/tdwym9d1nzg109faqlbzye8uka3esb5z

Radio Japan NHK World Bengali 

1300-1329utc 5895kHz via Tashkent-Uzbekisthan,100kW

Signal strength was good intitally later weakened slightly,audio intensity audio (  low modulation  as the case of Tashkent transmission),slight noise,fading was there as transmission progressed,slight ..very weak sideband splatter  as source of interference 

Music,opening announcements etc,news,sunday Mailbag Program-Katha O Sur

Here are the links to the audio recorded at 1300utc:

https://app.box.com/s/t8hjkbk2c7uftq7n0ub9hu4dx63eif19

,at 1310utc:

https://app.box.com/s/d8r69sozrbntj2he72rv7kz2jubjklqv

& finally at 1328utc:

https://app.box.com/s/zqnso7ygfqo0j7ddcvdfvv6bmq2fejfb

Radio Japan NHK World Hindi

1430-1449utc 15720kHz via Madagascar,250kW

Good signal strength,slight fading was there,overall good receotion

Opening announcement etc,Sunday Mailbag Program-Cheri Ke Desh Say

Here are two links of audio recorded at 

1430utc:

https://app.box.com/s/csoop5gmqg52nmf3gpolpq0zk7lgk915

& at 1437utc:

https://app.box.com/s/difm3crztp63m5s5dzq25q0nfibtxo2t

Radio Japan NHK World Urdu

1527utc onwards for a few minutes  9580kHz via Dhabbayya-UAE,250kW

Good signal strength,side band splatter slight as a source of interference from a radio station broadcasting on 9585kHz,overall reception was good

Sunday Mailbag Program was on air

Here is the scanned copy of a detailed Radio Japan NHK World QSL Card  from 2003 depicting Winter Camellias (Ouda-cho,Nara Prefecture).

                                    For Your Eyes Only....

More Monitoring updates/observations of B21 season  soon.

73 & Sayonora for the time being

Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)

(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)

DX News From Nippon..Land Of Rising Sun..

Kon'nichiwa!!

Here is a few DX News items related to Radio Japan Bengali Service which I like to share with you all.

Radio Japan NHK World Bengali 60th Anniversary Special Program:

Radio Japan Bengali Service will be completing its 60th year on air on April 3rd this year.To mark this occasion , Radio Japan Bengali Service is planning to air special programs on April 3rd (saturday)and 4th(sunday).Listeners are requested to tune into these special 60th anniversary programs.

Change of Shortwave  Frequency & Transmitter Site  In Spring Summer Season:

Radio Japan Bengali Service is changing its frequency on shortwave from March 28th,2021 with the start of so called A21 season of broadcast.

The new frequency of broadcast is 15365kHz from 1300 to 1345utc.

This will be relayed from Dhabayya,United Arab Emirates(UAE).
And there will be no change of FM frequency in Bangladesh.

All this announcements were made on March 14th edition of "Katha O Sur".I heard it on shortwave.

At present,Radio Japan Bengali is broadcasting on 11685kHz (long standing all seasons frequency) relayed from Kranji,Singapore. during 1300-1345utc.

Here is the scanned copy of both sides of a  non detalied QSL Card depicting all transmitter stations used , received from Radio Japan in 1999.

                            73 & Toriaezu sayōnara!!
                            Gautam Kumar Sharma(VU3WTI)
                            Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

Radio Japan NHK World Bengali

Heard in a recent edition of Radio Japan Bengali's Mailbag Program "Katha O Sur" that for the time being Radio Japan will not change the frequency of 11685kHz during 1300-1345utc.There has been complains from listeners about poor receptions of this frequency..Here is a vedio recorded ...about reception of Radio Japan Bengali December 11th evening in my QTH Abhayapuri..at 1337utc.

Working condition..Rx:Grundig YB 400  ANT:40ft lengt. & 30ft ht copper wire with co-axial cable leadin..

73 & 55

Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)

(Abhayapuri((Assam)(India)

Another Radio Japan Bengali Service Update

Radio Japan Bengali Service announced on their transmission on March 15th that due to present unprecedented situation in Japan after the recent earthquake & Tsunami, they will not be able to hold the Listeners Meet in Dhaka,Bangladesh next month. Radio Japan Bengali Service had decided to hold the listeners meet in Dhaka to mark 50th anniversary of its broadcasting and starting of FM transmission in Bangladesh via Bangladesh Betar transmitters.They have noted down the details of listeners who have already registered with them in order to attend the listeners meet.And when the situation improves , they may discuss the possibilty of holding the listeners meet there in future.

73 & 55
Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)
Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

Radio Japan NHK World Update

Due to the extra-ordinary situation after Earthquake & Tsunami in Japan, Radio Japan NHK World English has extended its News Segement of their usual 30 minutes transmission to present 10 or 15 minutes to 29 minutes. They will cover & update listeners with news plus interviews about latest developments etc from Earthquake & Tsunami hit region in Japan for a while.
As heard on March14th transmission of Radio Japan NHK World-Bengali & Hindi transmission on shortwave, they have cancelled all scheduled announced summer special programmes for a while & will air for a while will cover & update listeners with news plus interviews about latest developments etc from Earthquake & Tsunami hit region in Japan.
I believe all Radio Japan Services will follow this for a while.
And Radio Japan-Bengali Service also announced in their transmission on March 14th, due to disruption of postal service plus transport services due to the Earthquake & Tsunami in Japan, there will be delay in receiving postal correspondence from Radio Japan.
And heard on both transmissions of Radio Japan-Bengali & Hindi Service that listeners are requested to send their feedbacks via feedback form on their
respective websites.They didn't mention about the usual e-mail idd of sending feedbacks etc i.e. nhkworld@nhk.jp

New Frequency of Radio Japan-Bengali effective March 27th:
In Katha O Sur, the sunday Mailbag Programme on March 13th,Radio Japan-Bengali Service announced about its new frequency i.e. 11685kHz for its 1300-1345UTC transmission effective March 27th.However, the transmission will be relayed via Singapore in place of Uzbekistan for better reception quality in target areas.

New Frequencies of Radio Japan-Hindi effective March 27th:
On Radio Japan-Hindi Service's sunday mailbag programme on March 13th, new frequencies of their new morning transmission & night transmission with change of transmission time were announced.
0130-0200UTC on 11740kHz (hope I noted it correctly)
and for their night transmission
1430-1515UTC on 15745kHz
I'm not sure about the transmitter site of these transmissions.


73 & 55
Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)
Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)