Latest News
This is an on-going summary of news, reports and observations to support the various DX Guides that are available at dxguides.info
Updated 4 June 2023
Shortwave
China Hulun Buir Broadcasting Station was heard on 3900 kHz in Chinese on 30 May 2023 with abrupt sign-off at 1440 UTC. (Tony Rogers using KiwiSDR in Chongqing, China)
Gannan Broadcasting Station was heard on 3990 kHz in Chinese on 30 May 2023 with sign-off at 1350 UTC. (Tony Rogers using KiwiSDR in Chongqing, China); The parallel frequency of 5970 kHz was heard on 1 June 2023 with sign-off slightly later today on both frequencies at 1356 UTC. (Tony Rogers using KiwiSDR in Novokuzneck, Russia)
Ethiopia (target broadcast) A presumed target broadcast in Oromo was heard during checks at 1500-1530 on 15425 kHz on 23, 24 and 30 May with many mentions of "Oromiya". May have been Oromo National Media which was missing from its usual frequency of 15385 kHz at this time. (Tony Rogers)
Guam Typhoon Mawar: Typhoon Mawar was the strongest Northern Hemisphere tropical cyclone on record in the month of May, and the strongest tropical cyclone worldwide in 2023 so far. It passed north of Guam as a Category 4-equivalent typhoon with maximum sustained winds up to 140 mph with gusts up to 165 mph on 24 May 2023, bringing hurricane-force winds and heavy rain marking as the strongest storm to affect the island since Typhoon Pongsona in 2002.
KSDA Guam suffered antenna damage during Typhoon Mawar in May 2023. Four of their five antennas were damaged. Their one transmitter was on as usual but two other transmitters were noted off after the cyclone. From 27 May 2023 their two transmitters were heard. However since 31 May 2023, KSDA is not heard at all. (Jose Jacob, 4 June 2023)
KTWR Guam has been off air since 23 May 2023 as their antennas were damaged in the Typhoon Mawar fury. Though the cyclone was on 24 May, they shut down broadcasts as precautionary measure on previous day. The staff is safe. (Jose Jacob, 4 June 2023)
Kyrgyzstan The Kyrgyz Telekom transmitter on 5130 kHz is expected to be on air for the remainder of June 2023 between 1455v and 1755v UTC on Monday 5th, Tuesday 6th, Wednesday 7th, Thursday 8th, Friday 9th, Monday 12th, Tuesday 13th, Wednesday 14th and finally on Thursday 15th. Best heard on KiwiSDR's in Novokuzneck and Novosibirsk, Russia. (Tony Rogers); a day-by-day account of the 5130 kHz transmitter can be found by clicking this link
Myanmar Thazin Radio on 9590 kHz was heard signing-off at 0930 UTC on 24 May 2023. (Tony Rogers using Cha-Am KiwiSDR in Thailand)
Palau In the 4 June 2023 edition of AWR Wavescan, it was reported that T8WH Palau suffered damage as a result of Typhoon Mawar (as did KSDA and KTWR in Guam). However they were monitored by Jose Jacob on Sunday 4 June 2023 on 15680 kHz beamed to South Asia at around 0330 UTC. (Jose Jacob)
Saudi Arabia Saudi-based Al-Arabiya FM is now heard in Arabic at 0800-0900 on 21745 kHz (via Dhabbaya UAE 250 kW) and 1900-2000 on 15420 kHz (via Woofferton UK). These frequencies were registered with the HFCC on 15 May 2023 and seemingly replace the existing broadcast at 1100-1200 on 21745 kHz. (Tony Rogers)
Singapore The BBC World Service relay in English to South-East Asia on 3915 kHz at 2200-0000 has been discontinued on this particular frequency. This entry has been removed from the various guides that it previously appeared in.
USA Radio Angela, which has been broadcast over WBCQ on 5130 kHz has been discontinued. The last broadcast was on 1 June 2023. WBCQ is expected to introduce alternative programming on this frequency soon.
Vanuatu Radio Vanuatu is currently on air between 1830v-1100v on 7260 kHz, with no frequency changes in between.
Radio Vanuatu usually begins its daily transmission at approximately 1830 UTC (0530 local time) with 15 minutes or so of instrumental music, with the National Anthem at around 1845 followed by the opening announcement and the start of normal programming. A day-by-day account of Radio Vanuatu's shortwave activity can be found by clicking this link
Vietnam Monitoring during May 2023, four Voice of Vietnam domestic channels were confirmed as follows: 5925 kHz: Voice of Vietnam 2 // MW 549 kHz; sign-on noted at 2145 and sign-off possibly at 1500; unsure of any transmission gaps in between as HFCC registration indicates. 6165 kHz: Voice of Vietnam 4 in ethnic languages; morning sign-on noted at 2145; evening sign-on noted at 1145 and sign-off at 1330; unsure of exact duration of transmissions. 9635 kHz: Voice of Vietnam 4 in ethnic languages (perhaps the service for the Central Highlands); sign-on noted at 2200 and sign-off at 1530; unsure of any breaks in-between. 11720 kHz: Voice of Vietnam 1 // MW 675 kHz; sign-on at 2145 and sign-off at 1658; unsure of any breaks in-between. (Tony Rogers using KiwiSDR's in Vietnam, Thailand and India)
Siren-type jamming is currently being conducted against two broadcasts in Vietnamese: 1100-1200 FEBC on 9795 kHz and 1230-1300 Radio ĐLSN on 9670 kHz. (Tony Rogers)
Mediumwave
India Please note the updated schedule of the Akashvani Bengali External Service on 594 kHz. They also carry English and Hindi Home Service news in between their Bengali programme (like for Nepali External Service): 594 kHz - Chinsurah 1000 kW to Bangladesh: 0030-0900 Bangla/Maitree, 1000-1515 Bangla Maitree, 1515-1530 Hindi, 1530-1545 English, 1545-1830 Bangla/Maitree. (Jose Jacob)
Schedule for Akashvani on 1071 kHz (Rajkot 1000 kW to Pakistan): 2330-0100 Punjabi, 0100-0130 Sindhi, 0400-0745 Urdu, 0930-1130 Urdu, 1130-1200 Saraiki, 1200-1330 Punjabi, 1545-1930 Urdu. (Thanks to Jose Jacob. Please see https://www.qsl.net/vu2jos/mw/es.htm)
** This page is updated regularly with the latest news, reports and observations (older items will be deleted at an appropriate time) **