** CHINA. Firedrake, July 2 before 1230:
16100, very poor at 1226; none higher
15445, JBA at 1226, weaker than Turkey 15450
14600, fair at 1226
14700, fair-good at 1226
Before 1300; all signals attenuated, even Cuba:
14600, fair at 1257; none in the 11s, 12s, 13s
14700, fair-good at 1257
15555, very poor at 1254
16100, poor at 1254
After 1330:
14700, very poor at 1334
15565, very poor at 1334
16100, fair at 1334 with flutter
WWV reported: ``Solar-terrestrial indices for 01 July follow.
Solar flux 133 and estimated planetary A-index 19.
The estimated planetary K-index at 1200 & 1500 UTC on 02 July was 3.
Space weather for the past 24 hours has been moderate.
Radio blackouts reaching the R2 level occurred.
Space weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be minor.
Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level are expected``
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** COLOMBIA. 14950, July 2 at 0210, still no Salem Stereo, which is supposed to resume after repairs, so worth frequent reminders to keep checking (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** COSTA RICA. 9630, July 2 at 0213 as I am trying to check Vatican on 9610, heavy QRM from REE Cariari relay transmitter, extremely distorted on fundamental and putting out heavy modulation spur spikes, worst between 9590 and 9670, also audible further out to 9550 at least; still the same at 0248, but OK at recheck 0504.
But2, at 0520, 9630 is blasting spurs again, even bothering Vietnam/Canada 9555, and now audible between 9470 and 9790, i.e. plus/minus 160 kHz. This transmitter goes out of whack again and again ruining great swathes of the 31m band, yet I see no other complaints about it! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INDIA. 15120, July 2 at 0218, S Asian music, poor signal when there`s nothing in HFCC, still snubbed by India, but Aoki shows AIR in Kannada at 0215-0300, 500 kW, 300 degrees from Bengaluru, which is the capital of Karnataka state where Kannada is the primary language, but this external service is probably for such speakers in the UAE before 7 am. Does it originate in Bengaluru studio or New Delhi? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** JAPAN. 9750 with fast SAH and 11815 with CCI from REE/Costa Rica, July 2 at 1233, NHK Japanese service with trax from ``West Side Story`` including ``I Feel Pretty``, ``Officer Krupke``, sounds like original cast recording. I must say it requires a good command of American slang and `50s culture to appreciate Officer Krupke. Depend on NHK for good taste in western music; only wish reception were better. Can you imagine any US SW station, even VOA, devoting time to playing West Side Story? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** KUWAIT. 15540, July 1 at 2050, R. Kuwait has resumed news headlines in English, soon followed by more rock music, sign-off, into Arabic until 2101.5* (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MEXICO [and non]. 6185, July 2 at 0504, XEPPM is still on the air discussing the elexion; it takes a momentous event like returning the corrupt PRI to power for R. Educación to extend its schedule.
I was also checking Univisión and Telemundo for coverage of this starting at 0200 UT: they were in and out, unwilling to suspend regular programming completely (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** NEW ZEALAND. RNZI transmissions seem to have gone haywire again, or has there been another abrupt schedule change July 1? Not according to their online schedule.
11725, July 2 at 0513, no signal from 11725 AM, which is normally heard; nor any DRM on 11675 or 13730, so both transmitters off the air or moved? R Ustralia still very good on 15515, 15240, 13630.
6165-6170-6175, July 2 at 1222, DRM noise surely from RNZI during period DRM is supposedly taking a break. AM is supposed to be on 9655 during this hour, but nothing there. Could AM be on 7440, the supposed DRM channel at many other hours? Just a very weak signal there at 1222, probably CRI via Nanning. By 1240 can no longer detect the DRM on 6170 vs ambient noise level; what will happen at 1300, when AM is supposed to start? There`s the bell-bird at *1259, accurate timesignal, news. This time of year, 6170 cannot hold up much longer here, two hours into the dayside (Glenn Hzauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** RUSSIA [non]. 9665, July 2 at 0213, VOR English via PRIDNESTROVYE has CCI from rippling SAH, presumably Voz Missionária, 10 kW Brazilian achieving almost on-frequency too. Don`t you believe the Aoki listings that RN Amazonia is ever on 9665; Pyongyang 50 kW also 22 hours a day, but unlikely at this daypart (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SUDAN SOUTH [non]. 15725, July 2 at 0512, assertive Arabic speech on and on, fair signal with deep fades, so presumed V. of South Sudan Revolutionary Radio, from [north] Sudan. He`s still going but weaker at 0527; fading to very poor by 0532, so I switch to 15400 for R. Dabanga music from Madagascar, which is still very good. Checking other African signals on 19m: 15580 VOA Botswana poor; 15120 Nigeria missing; 15190 Equatorial Guinea absent (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [and non]. WORLD OF RADIO 1623 monitoring: the 0500 UT Monday broadcast on WRMI 9955, checked July 2 at 0521 has at least two heavy pulse jammers with different rates, but I can make out a familiar voice underneath. Tnx a lot, Arnie! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 9330, July 2 at 0519, no signal from WBCQ, tho WTJC was audible on 9370. WBCQ normally has a bigger signal than WTJC. Next check 1220, still no 9330, making me wonder if the Good Friends Radio Network contract expired at Junend? However, at 1239 very poor signal on 9330 with gospel-rock, so it`s still/again there (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [non]. 17680, July 1 at 2108, CVC La Voz, Miami via CHILE is now on the air, in sked curtailed to only two hours a day, and it`s announced as a 120-minute program, `El Show de la Música Número Uno`, ``lo mejor de la música Anglo``. DJ can hardly stop blabbing on and on. But this isn`t the real hit parade, just gospel-rock in English, if you listen to the monomaniacal lyrix about Jesus, etc. This is also contrary to their outdated pdf program schedule, showing `Top 20` at 20-22 on Sundays, while the first one reached condenses this to `Show de la Música` at 21-23 Sundays (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** VATICAN [non]. 9610, July 2 at 0213, Vatican Radio Spanish on this new frequency via BONAIRE, ex-15470 – why? Was 19m not propagating southwards? It certainly was a bigsig here. Molested by REE 9630 spurs, see COSTA RICA.
0247 retune to see what happen as English at 0250 is supposed to come via Sackville. The 0230 French via Bonaire is ending, still with crap from 9630, and at 0249:45 for about 10 seconds both Bonaire and Sackville are playing VR IS, not synchronized; other than that, a very smooth transition, as the casual listener may not be aware there was a drastic site swap, both signals equally strong here. // 7305 has also just crash-started. English opens with standard announcement that as of July 1, this broadcast is no longer on these frequencies in Europe and America --- oh, yeah? What am I hearing, then?
Apparently back in the studio they are unaware that the relays continue, after the drastic July 1 cutbacks at the Santa Maria di Galeria site which was not carrying these transmissions, anyway! Sackville relays of Vatican are registered until July 31, and it looks like they will indeed proceed another month.
To be sure about the only other English relay to Americas, I alarm myself to check 13730 after 1200 July 2: yes, it`s still on via Sackville too, news about the Mexelex, US power outages vs 100+ temps. Initially this has a better signal than VOA Spanish 13750. 1213 again the announcement that since July 1 this broadcast is no longer on SW; o yeah? Geez (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
16100, very poor at 1226; none higher
15445, JBA at 1226, weaker than Turkey 15450
14600, fair at 1226
14700, fair-good at 1226
Before 1300; all signals attenuated, even Cuba:
14600, fair at 1257; none in the 11s, 12s, 13s
14700, fair-good at 1257
15555, very poor at 1254
16100, poor at 1254
After 1330:
14700, very poor at 1334
15565, very poor at 1334
16100, fair at 1334 with flutter
WWV reported: ``Solar-terrestrial indices for 01 July follow.
Solar flux 133 and estimated planetary A-index 19.
The estimated planetary K-index at 1200 & 1500 UTC on 02 July was 3.
Space weather for the past 24 hours has been moderate.
Radio blackouts reaching the R2 level occurred.
Space weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be minor.
Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level are expected``
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** COLOMBIA. 14950, July 2 at 0210, still no Salem Stereo, which is supposed to resume after repairs, so worth frequent reminders to keep checking (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** COSTA RICA. 9630, July 2 at 0213 as I am trying to check Vatican on 9610, heavy QRM from REE Cariari relay transmitter, extremely distorted on fundamental and putting out heavy modulation spur spikes, worst between 9590 and 9670, also audible further out to 9550 at least; still the same at 0248, but OK at recheck 0504.
But2, at 0520, 9630 is blasting spurs again, even bothering Vietnam/Canada 9555, and now audible between 9470 and 9790, i.e. plus/minus 160 kHz. This transmitter goes out of whack again and again ruining great swathes of the 31m band, yet I see no other complaints about it! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INDIA. 15120, July 2 at 0218, S Asian music, poor signal when there`s nothing in HFCC, still snubbed by India, but Aoki shows AIR in Kannada at 0215-0300, 500 kW, 300 degrees from Bengaluru, which is the capital of Karnataka state where Kannada is the primary language, but this external service is probably for such speakers in the UAE before 7 am. Does it originate in Bengaluru studio or New Delhi? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** JAPAN. 9750 with fast SAH and 11815 with CCI from REE/Costa Rica, July 2 at 1233, NHK Japanese service with trax from ``West Side Story`` including ``I Feel Pretty``, ``Officer Krupke``, sounds like original cast recording. I must say it requires a good command of American slang and `50s culture to appreciate Officer Krupke. Depend on NHK for good taste in western music; only wish reception were better. Can you imagine any US SW station, even VOA, devoting time to playing West Side Story? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** KUWAIT. 15540, July 1 at 2050, R. Kuwait has resumed news headlines in English, soon followed by more rock music, sign-off, into Arabic until 2101.5* (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MEXICO [and non]. 6185, July 2 at 0504, XEPPM is still on the air discussing the elexion; it takes a momentous event like returning the corrupt PRI to power for R. Educación to extend its schedule.
I was also checking Univisión and Telemundo for coverage of this starting at 0200 UT: they were in and out, unwilling to suspend regular programming completely (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** NEW ZEALAND. RNZI transmissions seem to have gone haywire again, or has there been another abrupt schedule change July 1? Not according to their online schedule.
11725, July 2 at 0513, no signal from 11725 AM, which is normally heard; nor any DRM on 11675 or 13730, so both transmitters off the air or moved? R Ustralia still very good on 15515, 15240, 13630.
6165-6170-6175, July 2 at 1222, DRM noise surely from RNZI during period DRM is supposedly taking a break. AM is supposed to be on 9655 during this hour, but nothing there. Could AM be on 7440, the supposed DRM channel at many other hours? Just a very weak signal there at 1222, probably CRI via Nanning. By 1240 can no longer detect the DRM on 6170 vs ambient noise level; what will happen at 1300, when AM is supposed to start? There`s the bell-bird at *1259, accurate timesignal, news. This time of year, 6170 cannot hold up much longer here, two hours into the dayside (Glenn Hzauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** RUSSIA [non]. 9665, July 2 at 0213, VOR English via PRIDNESTROVYE has CCI from rippling SAH, presumably Voz Missionária, 10 kW Brazilian achieving almost on-frequency too. Don`t you believe the Aoki listings that RN Amazonia is ever on 9665; Pyongyang 50 kW also 22 hours a day, but unlikely at this daypart (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SUDAN SOUTH [non]. 15725, July 2 at 0512, assertive Arabic speech on and on, fair signal with deep fades, so presumed V. of South Sudan Revolutionary Radio, from [north] Sudan. He`s still going but weaker at 0527; fading to very poor by 0532, so I switch to 15400 for R. Dabanga music from Madagascar, which is still very good. Checking other African signals on 19m: 15580 VOA Botswana poor; 15120 Nigeria missing; 15190 Equatorial Guinea absent (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [and non]. WORLD OF RADIO 1623 monitoring: the 0500 UT Monday broadcast on WRMI 9955, checked July 2 at 0521 has at least two heavy pulse jammers with different rates, but I can make out a familiar voice underneath. Tnx a lot, Arnie! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 9330, July 2 at 0519, no signal from WBCQ, tho WTJC was audible on 9370. WBCQ normally has a bigger signal than WTJC. Next check 1220, still no 9330, making me wonder if the Good Friends Radio Network contract expired at Junend? However, at 1239 very poor signal on 9330 with gospel-rock, so it`s still/again there (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [non]. 17680, July 1 at 2108, CVC La Voz, Miami via CHILE is now on the air, in sked curtailed to only two hours a day, and it`s announced as a 120-minute program, `El Show de la Música Número Uno`, ``lo mejor de la música Anglo``. DJ can hardly stop blabbing on and on. But this isn`t the real hit parade, just gospel-rock in English, if you listen to the monomaniacal lyrix about Jesus, etc. This is also contrary to their outdated pdf program schedule, showing `Top 20` at 20-22 on Sundays, while the first one reached condenses this to `Show de la Música` at 21-23 Sundays (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** VATICAN [non]. 9610, July 2 at 0213, Vatican Radio Spanish on this new frequency via BONAIRE, ex-15470 – why? Was 19m not propagating southwards? It certainly was a bigsig here. Molested by REE 9630 spurs, see COSTA RICA.
0247 retune to see what happen as English at 0250 is supposed to come via Sackville. The 0230 French via Bonaire is ending, still with crap from 9630, and at 0249:45 for about 10 seconds both Bonaire and Sackville are playing VR IS, not synchronized; other than that, a very smooth transition, as the casual listener may not be aware there was a drastic site swap, both signals equally strong here. // 7305 has also just crash-started. English opens with standard announcement that as of July 1, this broadcast is no longer on these frequencies in Europe and America --- oh, yeah? What am I hearing, then?
Apparently back in the studio they are unaware that the relays continue, after the drastic July 1 cutbacks at the Santa Maria di Galeria site which was not carrying these transmissions, anyway! Sackville relays of Vatican are registered until July 31, and it looks like they will indeed proceed another month.
To be sure about the only other English relay to Americas, I alarm myself to check 13730 after 1200 July 2: yes, it`s still on via Sackville too, news about the Mexelex, US power outages vs 100+ temps. Initially this has a better signal than VOA Spanish 13750. 1213 again the announcement that since July 1 this broadcast is no longer on SW; o yeah? Geez (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
