Glenn Hauser logs February 27-28, 2022

** AZORES [and non]. 6114, Feb 28 at 0715, RTTY INTRUDER believed to be US Navy, is back. Not strong and altho abutting 6115 Nikkei Japan, USB tuning on 6115 escapes it. Lou Johnson, Georgia, keeps complaining that the RTTY QRMs WWCR after 0100 when it`s on 6115 until 0200. But WWCR is so blasting here that it would not be a problem in the unlikely event I ever wanted to listen to it. Still, RTTY, by the USG no less, has no biz inside the exclusive 49m SWBC band (Glenn Hauser,OK, WOR)

** CUBA. 11850, Feb 28 at 0229, RHC Spanish is S9+20 but JBM and suptorted; also with parasitic spur carriers on 11840 & 11860, the upper one QRMing jamming against nothing (else except maybe Yemen [non]). Meanwhile, 11760 is S9+20 distorted, 11670 S9+10 undermodulated. Somethings` always wrong at RHC. In the NASWA Flashsheet, Jerry Lenamon in Waco puts it thus about 15730 QRMing 15720 NZ:

``Only a handful of frequencies in use with over a hundred to choose from but the Cubans have to infringe. I think the Cubans would be much better off if they retired half of their transmitters in order to devote their obviously inadequate budget to the remaining equipment. I’ve heard it said that the Cuban government pretends to pay their workers and the workers pretend to work. Perhaps their equipment problems are a result of this`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

** IRAN. 7380, Feb 28 at 0234, S9/+10 of dead air - or is it just barely modulated. Per Aoki and EiBi, can only be VIRI in Arabic via Zahedan at 0230-0530. HFCC shows 500 kW at 289 degrees for CIRAFs 38 & 39 = Arabia to Turkey, Egypt, Libya (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

** ROMANIA. 5990 // 7410, UT Mon Feb 28 at 0239, lite jazz during the RRI Galbeni hour in French. Alan Roe`s Music on Shortwave says it`s `Les tubes du moment` on UT Mon & Tue while the 0230-0245 block contains other music every day except Fri. Tubes means hits in this sense, pour quoi? (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

** U S A. 15740, Feb 28 at 1921, S9+10 of open carrier. Obviously SOP from VOA Grimesland, warming up on a frequency other than the one about to start, i.e. 15730 JBA already in French from another site, in order to avoid override/collision. At 1929.5 the OC jumps to 15730 and Botswana probably just turned off. 1930 JIP music in French service; pause, cut to news about Ukraine. Same signal level as was on 15740. Rationale for making site switch in middle of French hour remains unknown.

BTW, Mike Cooper reports:

``VOA English has a new program, "Flashpoint Ukraine," airing at 2105 UT weekdays. Here is the description from today's schedule:

16:05 - 16:30 [EST] FLASHPOINT UKRAINE: Russia and Ukraine hold talks as U.N. meets --- Ukraine demanded an immediate cease-fire and the withdrawal of Russian forces as it met with Russia. How the current war is impacting Europe and the plight of refugees as they struggle to cross the border to escape fighting.

Episodes can be found here:
https://www.voanews.com/z/6932
There is also an Apple podcast page:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/flashpoint-ukraine-voice-of-america/id1610018620
Presenter: Steve Miller``

Fortunately, 2105 is the only hour in English still transmitted from North Carolina, on 11720 as long as B21 lasts, and VG here off the back to mid-America, aimed away toward Africa. Only other English SW frequency registered this hour is 6195 São Tomé. Otherwise, VOA has been getting low ratings for its breaking news coverage. This hour had been `wasted` on rock/African music (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

** U S A [non]. WORLD OF RADIO 2127 monitoring: confirmed Sunday February 27 at 2101 on IRRS via AM Italia, 1323 kHz, S9+10, no QRM but noisy, via nearby Noale SDR.

Missed checking Sun Feb 27 at 2330 on WRMI 5950; anyone hear it?

Confirmed UT Monday February 28 at 0030 on WRMI 7730, S9+15 into Missouri SDR.

Also confirmed at 0256 UT Mon Feb 28 the 0230 on WRN N America webcast.

Also confirmed UT Mon Feb 28 at 0425, S9/S7 on Area 51 via WBCQ 6160 minus 28v Hz into Knoxville = 6159.972v, just as I am mentioning the `Taste of Radio Angela` which is on 4790 right now and have mainly been monitoring, WOR ending at 0429 so must have started on time.

Next:
0130 UT Tuesday WRMI 9395 to NNW [NEW]
2330 UT Tuesday WRMI 9955 to SSE [jammed?]
1030 UT Wednesday WRMI 5850 to NW
2200 UT Wednesday WBCQ 7490v to WSW
0130 UT Thursday WRMI 9395 to NNW
0130 UT Thursday WRMI 5010 to S

Full schedule including AM, FM, webcasts, satellite, podcasts: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html

Our non-commercial broadcasts and website depend on voluntary support. One may contribute via PayPal not necessarily in US$, to woradio at yahoo.com

One may also contribute by MO or check in US$ on a US bank to: Glenn Hauser, P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702, USA (Glenn Hauser, WOR)

** U S A. 4790, UT Mon Feb 28 at 0300, WBCQ has signed on after IS & ID loop, initiating `Radio Angela`, with intro `A taste of` show. S9/+10 fading up and down and constant CODAR swishes covering from above and below, so it`s unpleasant listening direct to here. First part is about classical music which will be the entire 03-05 program henceforth on UT Mondays: unfortunately at same time as `Encore`! on WRMI 5950 at 0300-0400 - which tonight I have recorded off an SDR for later listening. By 0314 we hear Marion from her Attic; 0339 Radio Ohne Namen, etc., etc.

Radio Angela is deliberately not being webcast, as the point is to promote music and drama on SW. But I`ll have to use remotes further east to avoid the CODAR. Is WBCQ stuck on this 60mb frequency, no matter what? They are certainly aware of the CODAR. With perhaps the most innovative programming in store, yet by any objective standard, it`s WBCQ`s worst frequency; as long as 3265 is not even active: least coverage reach and facing most noise level which will only worsen into spring and summer storm seasons.

The detailed convoluted Radio Angela schedule for the remainder of Standard Time is to be distributed shortly by Bill Tilford, but still not showing at wbcq.com which displays nothing but Brother Scare on 4790, despite being withdrawn weeks ago. An advance look for the first night, UT Tuesday March 1: 0300 `Marion`s Attic`; 0400 `Bluegrass State of Mind` (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

** U S A. 9955, Mon Feb 28 at 1540, something in Spanish, a clip inside AWR Wavescan on WRMI. Since WOR was replaced on Fri at 1530, I was wondering whether other shows in the DX/media strip were also affected; but not, still there among some three dozen weekly WS airings on WRMI. Next on Tue: SW Radiogram beepery (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

This report dispatched at 2019 UT February 28

Media & Tech - 28/02/2022

Propagation outlook from SWPC

:Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2022 Feb 28 0132 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC contact on the Web
# https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
# Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
21 - 27 February 2022

Solar activity ranged from very low to low levels throughout the
week. Regions 2954 (N17, L=118, class/area=Hsx/120 on 21 Feb) and
2955 (N14, L=107, class/area=Hsx/150 on 22 Feb) were the primary
regions on the disk, but remained quiescent throughout the period.
No Earth-directed CMEs were observed.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached
high levels on 26 Feb, and was normal to moderate throughout the
remainder of the period.

Geomagnetic field activity reached active levels on 21 Feb and Minor
(G1) geomagnetic storm levels on 22 Feb due to the influence of a
positive polarity CH HSS. Active conditions were once again observed
on 27 Feb due to another geoeffective positive polarity CH HSS.
Quiet and quiet to unsettled conditions were observed throughout the
remainder of the week under a background solar wind environment.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
28 February - 26 March 2022

Solar activity is expected to be very low with a chance for C-class
flares throughout the outlook period.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is
expected to reach high levels on 28 Feb-08 Mar, 12-17 and 20-22 Mar
in response to enhanced solar wind conditions associated with
recurrent CH HSSs.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to reach active levels on 28
Feb-01 Mar, 05-06, 11-12, and 19-21 Mar due to multiple recurrent CH
HSSs. Quiet and quiet to unsettled field activity is expected to
prevail throughout the remainder of the outlook period.

:Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2022 Feb 28 0132 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC contact on the Web
# https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
# 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2022-02-28
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2022 Feb 28 99 15 4
2022 Mar 01 102 15 4
2022 Mar 02 105 8 3
2022 Mar 03 105 8 3
2022 Mar 04 105 10 3
2022 Mar 05 102 12 4
2022 Mar 06 102 12 4
2022 Mar 07 101 5 2
2022 Mar 08 101 5 2
2022 Mar 09 101 5 2
2022 Mar 10 100 5 2
2022 Mar 11 99 15 4
2022 Mar 12 99 12 4
2022 Mar 13 99 8 3
2022 Mar 14 98 5 2
2022 Mar 15 95 8 3
2022 Mar 16 95 5 2
2022 Mar 17 96 5 2
2022 Mar 18 97 10 3
2022 Mar 19 98 15 4
2022 Mar 20 99 15 4
2022 Mar 21 100 15 4
2022 Mar 22 100 7 2
2022 Mar 23 101 7 2
2022 Mar 24 102 7 2
2022 Mar 25 102 5 2
2022 Mar 26 102 10 3

Frequency Changes for WRMI for A22 Season

A team of great folks from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) office in Miami and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Atlanta, Georgia and Fort Lauderdale, Florida visited us today. They have been working with our engineers to solve some mysterious interference that airline pilots have been reporting as they fly over the east coast of Florida just east of our transmitter site in Okeechobee. It turns out that our frequency of 7780 kHz on a 44-degree beam up the East Coast of North America and on to Europe was radiating a low-power 17th harmonic (17 times the nominal frequency of 7780 kHz) on a frequency used by aircraft flying in the area. After a lot of hard work by everyone, we have come up with a plan to switch our frequency of 7780 towards Europe to 7730 kHz as of the beginning of the next shortwave broadcast season (the A22 season) on March 27th. And we will switch our transmission to Mexico and Southwestern North America from 7730 to 7780 kHz. After doing a series of tests today, we think that will solve the harmonic interference problem. Thanks to everyone for their assistance. It's much-appreciated.

Media & Tech - 28/02/2022 Speciale Ukraina

Agenda DX 28/02/2022

ANNIVERSARIO EMITTENTE
Radio Nuevo Mundo, Perù 4881 Khz (1970)
KAQQ, Spokane 590 Khz (1922)

Glenn Hauser logs February 27, 2022

** CUBA. 15140, Sun Feb 27 at 1614, RHC weekly Esperanto is JBA, S7-S9 undermodulated; seems // 11760 much stronger S9+10 but distorted. Something`s always wrong at RHC (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

** ETHIOPIA [non]. 15330, Feb 27 at 1613, HOA music, talk, S8-S9; EiBi says it`s Radiyoni Dirree Shaggar at 1600-1630 in Somali via FRANCE, but WRTH 2022 has Raadiyoonii Dirree Shaggar from Pennsylvania via France in OROMO. I was in the area looking for TOMBS cult via Bulgaria on new 15335, reported by Ivo as of Feb 19 at 1500-1800 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

** SAO TOME E PRINCIPE. 15460.072, Feb 27 at 1616, African language dialog, S6-S9, way off frequency, since it`s VOA Pinheira, in Kirundi (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

** U S A. 293 MCW kHz, Feb 27 at 0740 UT, TOR, 50-watt non-direxional beacon at Torrington, Wyoming, under but mixing with FBY, 25 watts at Fairbury, Nebraska, which is one of my regulars. I would say that despite being only second-adjacent, NE is my #1 state for NDBs. WY is also 2nd-adjacent, only CO between us. Torrington is conveniently in the SE corner, near Scottsbluff NE (Glenn Hauser, OK, WOR)

** U S A [and non]. WORLD OF RADIO 2127 monitoring: due to snoozery, missed checking Sunday Feb 27 at 1330-1400 on WMRI Europe via Channel 292, Germany, 9670; did anyone hear it? Next:

2100 UT Sunday IRRS 1323-Italy
2330 UT Sunday WRMI 5950 to NNW
0030 UT Monday WRMI 7730 to WNW
0400vUT Monday WBCQ 6160v Area 51 to WSW
0130 UT Tuesday WRMI 9395 to NNW [NEW]
2330 UT Tuesday WRMI 9955 to SSE [jammed?]
1030 UT Wednesday WRMI 5850 to NW
2200 UT Wednesday WBCQ 7490v to WSW
0130 UT Thursday WRMI 9395 to NNW
0130 UT Thursday WRMI 5010 to S

Full schedule including AM, FM, webcasts, satellite, podcasts: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html

Our non-commercial broadcasts and website depend on voluntary support. One may contribute via PayPal not necessarily in US$, to woradio at yahoo.com

One may also contribute by MO or check in US$ on a US bank to: Glenn Hauser, P O Box 1684, Enid OK 73702, USA (Glenn Hauser, WOR)

This report dispatched at 1954 UT February 27

Media & Tech - 27/02/2022

Media & Tech - 27/02/2022 Speciale Ukraina

Ascolti AM Treviso 27 febbraio

4840 27/2 0650 WWCR NASHVILLE, Nashville Px rel. E 35533
4980 27/2 0653 WRMI The Overcomer Ministry, Okeechobee4 Px rel. E 35533
5025 27/2 0654 Radio Rebelde, Bauta Mx Px Es 35533
5040 27/2 0655 Radio Habana Cuba, Bauta Px Es 35533
5085 27/2 0656 WTWW, Lebanon TN Px E 25522
5920 27/2 0657 HCJB Deutschland, Weenermoor Mx Px rel. D 25522
5955 27/2 0659 Sunlite Radio, NL-Overslag Mx E 25532
6070 27/2 0700 Radio Channel 292, D-Rohrbach Waal Mx D 45544
6155 27/2 0701 R. Oesterreich 1 Inter., Moosbrunn Nx D 55555
9385 27/2 0702 WEWN 1, Vandiver Px rel. E 35533
9400 27/2 0703 The Overcomer Ministry, BUL-Kostinbrod Px rel. E 55555
9410 27/2 0704 BBC WS Radio, STP-Pinheira Nx E 35533
9420 27/2 0705 Voice of Greece, Avlis Px Mx Gr 55555
9510 27/2 1030 IRRS- Living The Bible, Tiganesti jingle ID Px rel. E 55555
9610 27/2 1031 AWR Europe, Nauen Px Obiettivo DX RVS Magazine It 55555

73 da N. Marabello
QTH Treviso, Italia
RX: TECSUN PL-365
Ant.: filare 6 metri
https://acquamarina.blogspot.com

A cuore aperto: Marconi 296 (1934)

Oggi ho messo a cuore aperto un apparecchio MARCONI dalle interessanti caratteristiche. Risalente al 1934, il modello 296 rappresenta un punto di svolta nella produzione di apparecchi radio MARCONI. Contenuto in un bellissimo mobile impiallacciato con legni di diversa tonalità di colore e venatura, dà subito l'impressione di essere una radio di fascia medio alta.

MASCHERINA ALTOPARLANTE CON LA M DI MARCONI...e buco...	SCALA ONDE MEDIE	SCALA ONDE LUNGHE
INDICATORE DI SINTONIA	MANOPOLA VOLUME	TONO
SINTONIA	COMMUTATORE GAMMA - FONO ED INTERRUTTORE	POSTERIORE

Il circuito è tipicamente 5 valvole supereterodina, con media frequenza a 125 Khz, valore piuttosto basso ma dobbiamo ricordare che siamo nel 1934. Le valvole utilizzate sono: MX40 convertitrice ed amplificatrice AF, VMS4B, amplificatrice MF e mescolatrice, MHD4 amplificatrice BF, detector e AGC, PX4 triodo finale BF e U12. raddrizzatrice biplacca e come avrete notato, le sigle non hanno alcun possibile riferimento con tubi europei.

SCATOLA FUSIBILI - non originale -	PRESE ANTENNA E TERRA	CONTROLLO SENSIBILITA' RF
ACCORDO DI ANTENNA	PRESA FONO	CONTROLLO BILANCIAMENTO ACCENSIONE FILAMENTO FINALE BF

Prima caratteristica saliente è quella di avere il circuito di AGC o CAV che garantiva un ascolto esente da saturazione o fortissima evanescenza e rendeva il ricevitore molto più silenzioso durante la ricerca delle emittenti ed è questo uno dei primissimi se non il primo apparecchio MARCONI ad utilizzarlo. Da notare che tirando in fuori la manopola del volume si poteva escludere il CAV ed agendo su un comando posto nella parte posteriore della radio, si poteva regolare il segnale della emittente locale in modo che non ci fosse saturazione neanche se il segnale fosse stato troppo forte anche per il controllo automatico di volume.

CAVETTO ANTENNA LUCE - POSIZIONE OFF -	TELAIO E VALVOLE	TELAIO 2
PORTAFUSIBILI	FUSIBILI SU FASE E NEUTRO	REOSTATO BILANCIAMENTO FILAMENTI FINALE BF

Premendo la manopola, il CAV tornava in funzione (siamo sempre nel 1934..). I controlli e comandi sono tutti sul frontale: volume con esclusione CAV, tono a variazione capacitiva, sintonia e commutatore gamma, fono ed interruttore generale. Selezionando la gamma prescelta (OM da 200 a 560 metri ed OL da 850 a 2000 metri) tramite il commutatore, veniva illuminata la relativa scala. Passando in posizione FONO, le scale non vengono illuminate. Il tono agisce per variazione capacitiva tramite un compensatore collegato sul circuito di placca del triodo finale BF.

IMPEDENZA AF	CONDENSATORI ANTENA LUCE	NUMERO DI MATRICOLA E MODELLO LOGO MARCONI
TELAIO ESTRATTO	CAMBIO TENSIONI	LAMPADINA SCALA CON RIFLETTORE

La sintonia, ottenuta tramite un bellissimo condensatore variabile a tripla sezione, ha una meccanica piuttosto complicata e, a mio parere, poco pratica perché mette in movimento i due indici tramite un macchinoso sistema di rinvii che aumentano le possibilità di guasto e vi assicuro, per averlo fatto, che rimettere le funicelle al loro posto è cosa possibile soltanto a chi abbia un sistema nervoso d'acciaio. L'indicatore di sintonia è a proiezione, elettromagnetico e proietta la sua ombra su un piccolo schermo verde che permette di visualizzare la giusta centratura della stazione.

VALVOLA CONVERTITRICE - AMPLIFICATRICE AF -	BOBINA AEREO OM OL	BOBINA ACCORDO OM OL E PRIMA MF
ORIGINALE MARCONI	SECONDA IMPEDENZA AF	AMPLIFICATRICE DI MF

Sul retro troviamo anche il compensatore di antenna, che accorda VERAMENTE l'antenna con lo stadio di ingresso, le prese di antenna, antenna luce e terra, l'ingresso FONO ed il reostato che, collegato agli estremi del filamento del triodo finale di BF, ne permette il bilanciamento dell'alimentazione, per eliminare il ronzio residuo, tipico di questo tipo di valvola. Sempre sul retro, applicato probabilmente in tempi successivi, troviamo la scatola dei due fusibili, uno per ogni capo della rete, cosa mai vista nelle radio nostrane e segno evidente di un rispetto della sicurezza già presente quasi 90 anni or sono.

CLIP VALVOLA AMPLIFICATRICE MF	CONDENSATORE VARIABILE TRE SEZIONI  IL COMPLICATO SISTEMA DI TRASCINAMENTO INDICI SCALA	SCHERMO SECONDA MF
SECONDO TRASFORMATORE DI MF	AVVOLGIMENTO SECONDARIO AVVOLGIMENTO PRIMARIO	RADDRIZZATRICE - FINALE BF E AMPLIFICATRICE BF ED AGC - INTERNO TRIODO BF
TRIODO BF MAZDA	ZOCCOLO RADDRIZZATRICE - SOSTITUITO CON RADIOSPARES -	TELAIO - LATO COMPONENTI -

Le medie frequenze, come vedete, sono di tipo primordiale, avvolte su tubo in bakelite ma comunque efficienti anche se, dato il basso valore della MF, qualche fischio di interferenza si nota soprattutto in presenza di emittenti forti.

COMPENSATORE CONTROLLO TONO	POTENZIOMETRO CONTROLLO SENSIBILITA'	SCHERMI E CABLAGGIO BOBINA PLACCA CONVERTITRICE
BOBINA PLACCA 2	INTERRUTTORI LUCI SCALA	STRUTTURA CONTENITORE INDICATORE SINTONIA

Altra particolarità è quella del soppressore di frequenze immagine e di un vero e proprio squelch che, se abilitato, riduce di molto il rumore di fondo durante la ricerca delle stazioni ed è dosabile tramite un trimmer posto sul telaio. In più, c'è anche un filtro di rete per attenuare i disturbi ed addirittura un soppressore statico per i disturbi atmosferici. L'altoparlante è dotato di spira antironzio collegata ad una bobina soppressore che ne dosa l'intervento a seconda del volume, per non attenuare troppo le frequenze basse.

ALTOPARLANTE - MORSETTIERA -	ALTOPARLANTE . IMPEDENZA BF -	TRASFORMATORE DI USCITA
BOBINA DI CAMPO E SPIRA ANTIRONZIO	BOBINA DI SMORZAMENTO	RESISTENZA CADUTA BOBINA SMORZATORE

Il cono ha la sospensione morbida e questo conferisce un ascolto davvero impensabile per una radio di quasi 90 anni che sembra quasi un HI FI, con ottima estensione di frequenza. La potenza BF è di circa 4 watt. L'apparecchio può funzionare con tensioni tra 200 e 250 Vca e frequenza da 50 a 100 Hz. La costruzione è piuttosto complessa ed i componenti sono letteralmente stratificati e serrati tra loro ed anche se ogni stadio ha la sua sezione ed è costruito in modo quasi modulare, le riparazioni sono piuttosto difficoltose perché il cambio di un componente non visibile o una indagine approfondita, implicano quasi sempre lo smontaggio di molte parti, spesso difficili da rimettere al loro posto.

ALTOPARLANTE - CONO -

ALTOPARLANTE - CENTRATORE -

VISTA TELAIO

CONDENSATORE VARIABILE - MATRICOLA - MODELLO E LICENZA

RACCOMANDAZIONI....

All'atto del funzionamento, la nostra MARCONI mostra tutta la sua buona qualità, ricevendo la locale e molte emittenti estere con ottimo audio e sensibilità ancora impeccabile.

Paolo Pierelli