The Amateur Astronomer (via WBCQ): December 31, 2015

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The Amateur Astronomer host: Troy Riedel

The Amateur Astronomer host: Troy Riedel

Troy Riedel received a unique Christmas gift this year from his son: a one hour block of broadcast time on WBCQ (5,110 kHz). Within a few days, Troy solicited questions and produced  a radio show based on his favorite hobby: Amateur Astronomy. He had his show prepared well in advance of the December 30th broadcast time. Most impressive!

Read the full story behind Troy's broadcast on the SWLing Post. 

This broadcast of The Amateur Astronomer was recorded in North Carolina on December 30, 2015 starting at 19:57 EST ( December 31, 2015 at 00:57 UTC) on WBCQ 5,110 kHz:

Radio Netherlands, Happy Station Show: December 23, 1979

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Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Richard Collings, who notes:

The Happy Station Show of Sunday 23rd December 1979. A pre-recorded special Christmas show with Tom Meijer. Broadcast from 0930 to 1020GMT [on 9895 kHz and received in Plymouth, Devon, UK].


Voice of Mongolia in English: December 24, 2015

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Voice of Mongolia broadcasting in English to Southeast Asia.  Transmitted from Ulaanbaatar-Khonkhor at 250 kw.  Interval signal, sign on, news, music, a commentary on climate change in Mongolia, more music and sign off with schedule and addresses.  Received in Sydney, Australia, using a Degen DE1103 (the old, good one) and a 40 meter longwire.

Radio Biafra: December 19, 2015

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Live off-air recording of the clandestine station Radio Biafra on 19 December 2015 beginning at 20:50:31 UTC on a shortwave frequency of 11600 kHz. This was one of the first broadcasts after Radio Biafra's return to the air following the termination or non-renewal of their contract with the previous transmitter facility. The program begins with the Biafran national anthem at 20:50:36 UTC, followed by a piece of music and then extended commentary in English. The program abruptly ended at 21:43:36 UTC. Believed to be scheduled between 20:00 and 23:00 UTC, the delayed start of the program, some audio dropout during the program, and the abrupt end of the program, may indicate studio to transmitter link problems. The speaker announced that it was a live transmission. 

The broadcast is believed to be from the Kostinbrod (near Sofia), Bulgaria, transmitter site with a transmitter power of 100 kW and is directed to Southeastern Nigeria.

The broadcast was received by the Web-interface wideband software-defined radio at the University of Twente in Enschede, The Netherlands, with a "Mini-Whip" antenna in AM mode with 5.09 kHz RF filtering. Reception was fair with some fading.

Radio Canada International, Shortwave Listener's Digest: October 26, 1981

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Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Tom Laskowski, who notes:

Radio Canada International recorded on October 26, 1981. This is another from my archive of old recordings of Radio Canada International's Shortwave Listeners Digest. This contains part two of Larry Magne's interview with Perry Ferrel from Gilfer Shortwave (part one aired on October 19, 1981, see previous program) and Glenn Hauser's DX tips. Recorded using my Sony ICF-2001 likely on 15.325 MHz around 2100 UTC. The audio quality isn't the greatest. Enjoy!

Radio New Zealand International: December 10, 2015

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Radio New Zealand International recorded in London, UK on December 10, 2015 at 1059 UTC, on the frequency of 13840 kHz using a Tecsun PL-360 radio with the supplied clip-on long wire antenna. The transmitter has a power rating of 100 kW and is located in Rangitaiki, New Zealand. Fair signal at the start of the recording but some severe fading by the end. The recording was made on a rainy afternoon at lunchtime, in one of London's parks.

Radio New Zealand International: December 4, 2015

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Radio New Zealand International recorded in London, UK on December 04, 2015 at 1359 UTC, on the frequency of 9700 kHz using a Tecsun PL-680 radio with a 6m long wire external antenna. The transmitter has a power rating of 100 kW and is located in Rangitaiki, New Zealand. Significant interference from an unidentified data transmission signal was observed intermittently during the recording.

Radio Canada International: September 13, 1979

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Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Tom Laskowski, who notes:

Radio Canada International recorded on September 13, 1979.
This 26 minute program starts with a ten minute-long news broadcast followed by a program highlighting Canada's rising bank rate, and a story about anorexia nervosa. The recording was made using a cheap GE portable with indoor antenna.
This was probably recorded around 0100 UT likely on the 49 meter band. (5960 kHz?)

Radio New Zealand International, December 1, 2015

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Radio National programme "Global Village", featuring the (great) music of Alain Toussaint.  Broadcast at 50 kw from Rangitaiki.  Received in Sydney, Australia, using a Nooelec RTL-SDR with R820T tuner, a Nooelec Ham-it-Up Upconverter, a 10 meter longwire strung inside, and SDR-Radio Console.