PTT Voice Mirrors (Part 2): Circa 1970's

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Frequency: various

Recption location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Your receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

Mode: Single Side Band

Notes:
Point to point stations were commonly found on shortwave in the 1970's outside of the normal SWBC bands. They could often be heard transmitting a repeating test message so a receiving station could tune them in prior to conducting radiotelephone traffic.

1.  Radio Telephone Circuit, Godthaab, Greenland

2.  PTT, Papeete, Tahiti

3.  AFA, USAF Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, USA

4.  AFI,  USAF McClellan AFB Sacramento, CA, USA

5.  Imperial Board of Telecommunications of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa

6.  Radiografica Costarricense, San Jose, Costa Rica

7.  International Radio Telephone Service, Havana, Cuba

8.  France Cables and Radio Company, Douala, Cameroon

9.  French Telecommunications Service, Noumea, New Caledonia

10.  AEZ, U.S. Army, Asmara, Ethiopia

11.  French Telecommunications Service, Fort de France, Martinique

12.  CUW, USAF Aerospace Communications Complex, Lajes AFB, Azores

13.  Malgache Republic International Telecommunications Company,

        Tananarive, Madagascar

14.  French Telecommunications Service, Pointe a Pitre, Guadeloupe

15.  France Cables and Radio Company, Niamey, Niger

16.  French Telecommunications Service, St. Pierre et Miquelon

17.  France Cables and Radio Company, Monrovia, Liberia

PTT Voice Mirrors (Part 2): Circa 1970's

Dan Greenall

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PTT Voice Mirrors (Part 1): Circa 1970's

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: PTT voice mirrors from the 1970's Part 1

Frequency: various

Recption location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

Mode: Single Side Band

Notes:

Point to point stations were commonly found on shortwave in the 1970's outside of the normal SWBC bands. They could often be heard transmitting a repeating test message so a receiving station could tune them in prior to conducting radiotelephone traffic. These recordings were all made at Ancaster, Ontario, Canada, using either a Hallicrafters S52 or Realistic DX150A receiver hooked up to a long wire antenna.

1.  Australian Overseas Radiotelephone Service, Sydney

2.  Reykjavik Radio, Iceland

3.  Moscow Radio Telephone Station, USSR

4.  Radio Telephone Station, Warsaw, Poland

5.  Overseas Station Berlin, German Democratic Republic

6.  Yugoslav Telegraph and Telephone Administration, Belgrade

7.  Swiss Telegraph and Telephone Administration, Bern

8.  ITALCABLE, Rome, Italy

9.  Netherlands PTT, Amsterdam

10.  Cyprus Telecommunications Authority, Nicosia

11.  Cairo Radio Telephone Terminal, Arab Republic of Egypt

12. PTT and Radio Administration, Tel Aviv, Israel

13. Saudi Arabian Post, Telegraph and Telephone Administration, Jeddah

14.  Moroccan Radio Electrical Centre, Rabat

15.  Companhia Portuguesa Radio Marconi, Luanda, Angola

16.  RCA Global Communications, New York City

17.  France Cables and Radio Company, Lome, Togo

18.  Zambian Post Office, Lusaka

PTT Voice Mirrors (Part 1): Circa 1970's

Dan Greenall

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UAE Radio Dubai: Circa 1983

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: United Arab Emirates Radio from Dubai

Date of recording: circa 1983

Frequency: 21.655 MHz

RX location: Brantford, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Panasonic RF-3100 and longwire antenna

Notes: By the 1980's, UAE Radio stations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi were using high powered transmitters and could often be heard nice and clear here in Southern Ontario, Canada with English language programs.
Here is an aircheck circa 1983 from United Arab Emirates Radio from Dubai broadcasting on 21655 kHz.

UAE Radio Dubai: Circa 1983

Dan Greenall

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Voice of America (via Okinawa, Rhodes, Philippines, Greenville, & Woofferton): Circa 1970's

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recordings and notes:

Broadcaster: Voice of America Okinawa Rhodes Philippines Greenville Woofferton 1970's

Date of recordings: various

Frequency: various

Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

Notes: In the 1970's, Voice of America relay transmitter sites often gave their location between programs. Some VOA programs were relayed via the BBC site at Woofferton, England (audio from 1971).

VOA via Woofferton: circa 1971s

Dan Greenall

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Reception of Rhodes in the 41 metre band was not easy here in Ontario, Canada as evidenced by that recording.

VOA via Rhodes: circa 1970s

Dan Greenall

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The transmitter at Greenville, North Carolina was their largest operation. That recording is circa 1973.

VOA via Greenville: circa 1973

Dan Greenall

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The Okinawa relay was heard on 7165 kHz, and Philippines relay 15185 kHz, both recorded in 1971.

VOA via Okinawa: circa 1971

Dan Greenall

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VOA via Philippines: circa 1971

Dan Greenall

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The Yankee Doodle tune was played during most of these interludes.

ETLF, Radio Voice of the Gospel (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia): March 23, 1971

Photo by Rich Post

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recordings and notes:

Broadcaster: ETLF, Radio Voice of the Gospel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Date of recording: 3/23/1971

Frequency: 11.890 MHz

Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

Notes: Here are two brief recordings from Radio Voice of the Gospel, station ETLF, from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In the first one, from 1971, there is significant QSB (fading) but they are in the clear. Listen for their four note drum interval signal, ID in English, and mention of the date Tuesday 23rd of March.

ETLF, Radio Voice of the Gospel (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia): March 23, 1971

Dan Greenall

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The second recording, also in English, is from the early 1970's during a transmission to West Africa in the 25 metre band where they are heard signing off.

ETLF, Radio Voice of the Gospel (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia): Early 1970s

Dan Greenall

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VLT4 ABC Radio (Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea): May 3, 1971

QSL courtesY of The Radio Heritage Foundation

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

"You are tuned to ABC Radio in Papua New Guinea; 9PA, VLT, and VLK..." This is the announcement from VLT4, the Australian Broadcasting Commission station in Port Moresby on 4890 kHz shortwave, on May 3, 1971 at 1100 hours UTC. A musical request program is ending, then station ID as above and into ABC national news. This was before independence in PNG. The station used a 10 kw transmitter on this frequency and could sometimes be heard in eastern North America with a readable signal.

Broadcaster: VLT4 ABC Radio Port Moresby Papua New Guinea

Date of recording: 5/3/1971

Starting time: 1100

Frequency: 4.890

Recption location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

VLT4 ABC Radio (Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea): May 3, 1971

Dan Greenall

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Voice Of Christmas (Pirate Radio): December 8, 1996

Many thanks to SRAA contributor Dan Greenall who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: The Voice of Christmas (pirate radio)

Date of recording: 12/8/1996

Starting time: 1610 UTC

Frequency: 6955 kHz

Reception location: Thamesford, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Panasonic RF-3100 and longwire antenna

Mode: Single Side Band

Notes: Pirate radio station The Voice of Christmas as heard in Thamesford, Ontario, Canada on December 8, 1996 at around 1610 hours UTC. The frequency was 6955 kHz USB.

Here are a few blended airchecks with Christmas music and frequent station ID's by the Pirate Elf stating they are "the only pirate radio station broadcasting from the North Pole." P.O. Box in Providence, Rhode Island given for reception reports. Concludes with their "interval signal" tune.

Voice Of Christmas (Pirate Radio): December 8, 1996

Dan Greenall

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Radio Nacional Arcangel San Gabriel LRA36 Base Esperanza Antarctica: February 20, 1999

Esperanza Base seen from Hope Bay (Image source: NOAA)

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, for sharing the following recording and notes:

Notes: After many tries, this one was finally logged while on a "DXpedition" to a cottage near Bancroft, Ontario. Here is LRA36, Radio Nacional Arcangel San Gabriel from Esperanza Base, Antarctica as recorded in Coe Hill, Ontario, Canada on February 20, 1999 at 2257 hours UTC on 15476 kHz shortwave. They are heard giving announcement in Spanish including station ID, frequency used and transmitter power (10 kilowatts). This station was usually not audible at all or too buried under the noise level, however, on this occasion, the signal came up enough to get a clear ID.

Broadcaster: LRA36 Radio Nacional Arcangel San Gabriel, Base Esperanza, Antarctica

Date of recording: 2/20/1999

Starting time: 2257

Frequency: 15.476 MHz

Reception location: Coe Hill, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Panasonic RF-3100 and longwire antenna

Radio Nacional Arcangel San Gabriel LRA36 Base Esperanza Antarctica: February 20, 1999

Dan Greenall

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Tropical Radio Telegraph Company (Point To Point): Panama City, Managua, and La Lima

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenal, who shares the following recordings and notes:

Notes: With roots over 100 years old, the Tropical Radio Telegraph Company (a subsidiary of the United Fruit Company) used to operate a few radiotelephone stations in Central America during the years prior to the Internet. They often could be heard on various shortwave frequencies transmitting a repeating test message so the receiving station could tune them in. I managed to pick up 4 of their stations in the early 1970's. These recordings are from La Lima, Honduras; Managua Nicaragua; and Panama City, Panama. I have not been able to find the one from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, but maybe it will surface later.

Broadcaster: Tropical Radio Telegraph Company (point to point)

Date of recording: unknown

Starting time: unknown

Frequency: various

RX location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

Mode: Single Side Band

Tropical Telegraph Company: Panama City, Panama

Dan Greenall

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Tropical Telegraph Company: Managua, Nicaragua

Dan Greenall

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Tropical Telegraph Company: La Lima, Honduras

Dan Greenall

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Malawi Broadcasting Corporation: June 1, 1997

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: Malawi Broadcasting Corporation

Date of recording: 6/1/1997

Starting time: 0400 UTC

Frequency: 3.380 MHz

RX location: Thamesford, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Panasonic RF-3100 and longwire antenna

Notes: Back in the days before the internet, tuning into a radio broadcast from a far away land was often the closest many of us would ever get to that particular country. Still, some of these radio visits were not easy. The Malawi Broadcasting Corporation from Blantyre on 3380 kHz was a rare visitor to my listening post. I managed this brief recording on June 1, 1997 around 0400 UTC. My receiver location was Thamesford, Ontario, Canada. In the first clip, "This is the M.B.C. and the time is 6 'oclock" can be heard. A second clip is then blended in where you can here a jingle and promotional announcement regarding "a shared vision for a country (Malawi)".

Malawi Broadcasting Corporation: June 1, 1997

Dan Greenall

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Radio Kuwait (Interval Signal): circa 1970

Photo by Brett Jordan

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Here is Radio Kuwait circa 1970, signing on in English with their interval signal, chimes, and giving their frequency information. They were transmitting on 15345 kHz to Europe at 1600 hours UTC. This recording was made in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada using a Hallicrafters S-52 receiver and a long wire antenna. Only used an open mike next to the speaker for this.

Broadcaster: Radio Kuwait

Starting time: 1600

Frequency: 15.345 MHz

Recption location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

Radio Kuwait (Interval Signal): circa 1970

Dan Greenall

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Voz Cristiana (Santiago, Chile): April 28, 1998

Photo by Kevin Fuentealba Mol

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Radio station Voz Cristiana from Santiago, Chile is heard here with a test transmission and announcement in English on April 28, 1998. My logbook says they were operating on 21550 kHz. Receiving post was in Thamesford, Ontario, Canada and I was using a Panasonic RF-3100 portable receiver hooked up to a longwire antenna.

Broadcaster: Voz Cristiana, Santiago, Chile

Date of recording: 4/28/1998

Frequency: 21.550 MHz

RX location: Thamesford, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Panasonic RF-3100 and longwire antenna

Voz Cristiana (Santiago, Chile): April 28, 1998

Dan Greenall

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Radio Kudirat Nigeria (Clandestine): March 22, 1998

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Some blended audio clips from pro democracy clandestine station Radio Kudirat Nigeria (The Voice of Democracy) operating on 11540 kHz. This recording was made on March 22, 1998 in Thamesford, Ontario, Canada. The station says they are getting reports of poor reception on their other frequency of 6205 kHz, and recommends tuning to 11540 kHz.

Date of recording: 3/22/1998

Frequency: 11.540

Reception location: Thamesford, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Panasonic RF-3100 and longwire antenna

Radio Kudirat Nigeria (Clandestine): March 22, 1998

Dan Greenall

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Radio Republik Indonesia Jakarta (Interval Signal): April 11, 1998

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Probably my favourite interval signal of all time, the Song of the Coconut Islands, used by Radio Republik Indonesia stations. Here we have Jakarta on 15150 kHz signing on April 11, 1998. Their signal had to travel over 15800 km to get to my receiver in southern Ontario, Canada, so there is a little flutter which is expected. Receiving equipment consisted of a Panasonic RF-3100 portable hooked up to a long wire antenna.

Broadcaster: Radio Republik Indonesia Jakarta

Date of recording: 4/11/1998

Frequency: 15.150

Reception location: Thamesford, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Panasonic RF-3100 and longwire antenna

Radio Republik Indonesia Jakarta (Interval Signal): April 11, 1998

Dan Greenall

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Radio Madagasikara (Interval Signal): February 18, 1997

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Rarely logged here, the interval signal from Radio Madagasikara broadcasting from the island of Madagascar, as heard in Thamesford, Ontario, Canada on February 18, 1997 at sign on around 0258 hours UTC on 5010 kHz shortwave. Their national anthem is played followed by announcements which are of unfortunately low modulation. The receiver used was a Panasonic RF-3100 portable and a longwire antenna.

Broadcaster: Radio Madagasikara

Date of recording: 2/18/1997

Starting time: 0258

Frequency: 5.010 MHz

Reception location: Thamesford, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Panasonic RF-3100 and longwire antenna

Radio Madagasikara (Interval Signal): February 18, 1997

Dan Greenall

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The Voice Of Free China: Circa 1971

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

During my early years of SWLing, The Voice of Free China from Taipei, Taiwan was an exciting catch for me. The signal came direct from Taiwan (no relay) and was often subject to "polar flutter" as it found it's path to Southern Ontario, Canada. My receiver was a Hallicrafters S-52 hooked up to a long wire antenna. This recording is from early 1971 and the frequency used was 15125 kHz. Their interval signal is heard followed by presumed ID in local Chinese dialect and ID in English

Broadcaster: The Voice of Free China, Taipei, Taiwan

Starting time: 0200

Frequency: 15.125 MHz

Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

The Voice Of Free China: Circa 1971

Dan Greenall

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FEBA Seychelles (Interval Signal): February 22, 1973

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Some of my old audio cassette tapes from the 1970's contain unedited material from my shortwave listening activities that has never been labelled or properly organized. Upon playing one such cassette, I found this recording of radio station FEBA Seychelles. After cross checking this with some entries in my old log book, I discovered it was made on February 22, 1973 around 1800 hours UTC on a frequency of 11955 kHz. My receiver was a Realistic DX150A and a longwire antenna. Receiver location was Ancaster, Ontario, Canada. A part of their interval signal "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" is played in this recording.

FEBA Seychelles (Interval Signal): February 22, 1973

Dan Greenall

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Action Radio (Guyana Broadcasting Service): March 12, 1972

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, for sharing the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: Action Radio (Guyana Broadcasting Service)

Date of recording: 3/12/1972

Starting time: believe it was around 0900 UTC

Frequency: 3.290 MHz

Recption location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

Notes: "Action Radio" (the Guyana Broadcasting Service) from Georgetown recorded signing on for the day in March 1972 on 3290 kHz shortwave. Their guitar interval signal is heard at first, a short musical interlude, then announcements in English giving frequencies used and local time as 5 o'clock in the morning. Initially taped on a reel-to-reel recorder, a copy was made shortly thereafter on a cassette (now 50 years old) from which this digital version was made.

Action Radio (Guyana Broadcasting Service): March 12, 1972

Dan Greenall

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Trans World Radio (Interval Signal): November 2, 1996

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: Trans World Radio, Swaziland

Date of recording: 11/2/1996

Starting time: 0358

Frequency: 4.750 MHz

Reception location: Thamesford, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Panasonic RF-3100 and longwire antenna

Notes: Here is the interval signal of Trans World Radio in Swaziland as received here in Ontario, Canada on November 2, 1996. If you could hear this station well, it was likely a good time to try for other more difficult catches.

Trans World Radio Interval Signal: November 2, 1996

Dan Greenall

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Radio Juventud: Circa 1970

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: Radio Juventud, Barquisimeto, Venezuela 1970

Frequency: 4.900 MHz

Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

Notes: Back in the 1970's, many Venezuelan radio stations could be heard throughout the 60 metre band. 5 of these regularly logged here in southern Ontario belonged to La Cadena Venezolana de Radiodifusion. They were Radio Yaracuy, Radio Lara, Radio Universo, Radio Barquisimeto and Radio Juventud, the latter of these recorded in late 1970 on 4900 kHz identifying their AM, SW and FM stations by call letter and frequency in Spanish. Lead in music is the tune "The Age of Aquarius." They were all good verifiers and the cards were quite similar in design.

Radio Juventud: Circa 1970

Dan Greenall

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