As far as I know – and correct me if I’m wrong, comments are more than welcome – KYODO from Japan is the only service that still broadcasts newspapers in FAX on HF / Shortwave. According to their website they are radio-transmitted twice a day to about 800 ocean-going ships and fishing boats, and hotels in resorts abroad. The first newspaper was published in 1964.
I received them with my RSPdx and MLA30+ antenna on June 26th, around 17:30 h UTC on 16971 kHz. Interesting detail: apparently because of the complexity of the Japanese characters they transmit in 60 rather than the more common 120 lines per minute.
A good overview of the few FAX transmission still available can be found on this website. KYODO has transmissions from Singapore as well.
For my reception of their program in Korean language I received this detailed e-QSL from KTWR Trans World Radio Guam.
Detailed eQSL from KTWR Guam
Checking my files I found that it was almost 40 years ago that I QSL-ed KTWR Guam for the first time. This is the card I received for my reception on 11840 kHz, December 30th, 1983.
HCJB, “Heralding Christ Jesus Blessings” or “The Voice of the Andes” from Ecuador was the 4th QSL I received for my reception on the family radio back in 1979. At the time I could barely believe that I had just received a station from so far away. But it definitely contributed to me becoming a DX-er!
Operating since 1931 HCJB was the first Christian Radio Emmisary in the world. In 2009 the HCJB station was dismantled for the construction of the new Quito city airport. With satellite, FM and internet emerging it was thought that media consumption altered. Focus was on “planting” HCJB programs at local stations in local languages.
So I guess HCJB Deutschland is part of the heritage. With a 1.5 kW transmitter from Weenermoor, Germany, just across the border with the Netherlands in Ost Friesland they broadcast the Christian message. For my reception of their program on 5920 kW Mr. Mark-Torsten Wardein sent me a nice QSL card, a letter, a CD and additional info about their station.
I received this e-QSL and a nice friendly email from Pop Shop Radio. I heard their programme on 5950 kHz via WRMI, Okeechobee, FL, USA. Pop Shop Radio is a program made in Hope, British Columbia, Canada. Having lived in Alberta, Canada for 4 years such a Canadian QSL is always special. And yes, I have driven through hope on a trip to Vancouver. No suprise, because as Tony from Pop Shop Radio wrote: all 4 highways to Vancouver pass through Hope.
Check this link for their latest schedule. The schedules posted on the WRMI website seem a little bit outdated.
Following a tip from Hugo Matten I was trying to receive Charleville Radio VMC, Australia, transmitting weather fax messages on 13920 kHz for a while. Initially I didn’t succeed. On my suburban home QTH I’m very pleased with my Megaloop FX antenna on lower frequencies. However I am a bit worried that the performance in the higher frequency bands leaves room for improvement.
While camping I decided to test my new Boni Whip antenna in combination with the RSPdx. I purchased these specifically for camping trips. And on the first attempt I was lucky! Below you see one of the pictures I received, using HDSDR and MultiPSK. Australia is easily recognizable.
Weather report by FAX from Charleville Radio VMC, Australia
My reception on May 1st was awarded by Craig from Kordia with their beautiful eQSL card. Within in a day! Now I’m trying to catch Wiluna Radio… I got some signals, but not enough for a decent FAX image.
Today I received an email Radio 292 newsletter. They apologize for not sending out QSLs of late due to a lack of time. Ofcourse you can always try to QSL this station via one of the many individual program owners of shows they relay. Check their website for more info.
Interesting is that they will relay programmes from the European Parliament on Radio 292 for the first time. Frequencies are 6070 and 9670 kHz: May 6th : 9-10 h UTC May 9th : 17-18 h UTC May 13th : 9-10 h UTC
eQSLs are awarded. Reports should contain at least 15 minutes of content description and comments on signal quality. WebSDRs allowed. Send your reports to QSL@europarl.europa.eu
QSL RNZ Pacific 11725 kHz is my second QSL from the other side of the world in two days only!
It is always fascinating to receive radiosignals from the other side of the world. But when I got into DX-ing in the late 70-ies, Radio New Zealand International was not an easy catch. They were using two old US military transmitters from World War II with 7.5 kW only. I still remember vividly how “once-off “reception conditions allowed us to receive them in perfect quality during a DX-weekend with the BDXC in the Meppel Youth Hostel.
In support of a more proactive foreign policy towards the Pacific, new 100 kW transmitters were taken in service in 1987. Location is Rangitaiki on the Northern Island with studios in Wellington. They are rebranding to RNZ Pacific. I hear them frequently on 11725 kHz in the evening hours. Their latest schedule can be found here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/listen
RNZ Pacific is no longer processing postal reports but offers a webform . It doesn’t generate an automatic QSL, reports are still being reviewed fortunately. I sent a report for my reception on my SDRPlay RSPdx with 10 meter longwire while camping in Appelscha, Drenthe.
QSL RNZ Pacific 11725 kHz (formerly Radio New Zealand International)
Charleville Wiluna Radio with DCS messages on 16804.5 kHz is a relatively easy catch. Two things are a little bit more complicated:
First problem: what was the station I was actually listening to? Australia is a big country. In the 80-ies, individual stations had dedicated callsigns. I received VIP (Perth), VIS (Sydney), VIM (Melbourne) etc. in CW. But like in many other countries everything is now centralized, and Charleville (east coast, near Brisbane) and Wiluna (west coast, near Carnarvon) operate under the callsign VIC (formerly the Carnarvon callsign if I’m right). Mind you, both Charleville and Wiluna are not even coastal towns. Bad news: this is probably not going to change anymore…
1988 OTS QSL received via VIP Perth Radio, showing all call signs in use in those days
Second problem: whom to write to? Again “modern times”. As far as I know RCC Australia falls under the responsibility of AMSA “Australian Maritime Safety Agency“. But my email to them was answered with “this is something for Kordia”. Kordia is a service provider in Australia. But when I searched the internet I learned that Kordia was changing to “Ventia”. From my own experience I know that such changes typically result in a change of email addresses etc… so I decided to send a physical letter to the RCC Canberra address. And here comes the good news: my letter ended up with Craig Bloom, Senior Communications Operator at what is still Kordia. Craig answered with a kind email and the beautiful VIC QSL card! Drop a comment if you want to receive the contactdetails as I don’t like to publish email addresses that are not part of public domain.
UPDATE: Craig confirmed that rebranding of Kordia is complete, but their part of the operation will continue as Kordia.
KBS World Radio is the International Service of the Korean Broadcasting System for South Korea. Via the Issoudun transmitter in France I received a program for the “amis francophone” with pop music from South Korea. Getting a QSL is an easy but a bit unpersonal “do it yourself” service via a webform on the KBS World Radio website.
Radio Charleston International is probably one of the easiest identifiable stations on the bands. As far as I know this “free radio” station from Berlin, Germany, only broadcasts music from the pre-WWII era, predominantly from from the “roaring twenties”. For my report to charlestonradiointernal@yahoo.com I received this e-QSL:
BDXC : SWL 2262 PRe VERON : NL 14228 If you want to get in touch, just leave a message on one of my posts. Please note that I don't publish email addresses of verifiers which are not part of the public domain. So if you don't see the QSL address, just leave a message and I'll get back to you.
Feel free to copy anything on this weblog. A link back to my site is appreciated.
