Israel Radio to halt all shortwave broadcasts, available on Internet

Israel Radio’s shortwave radio broadcasts in all languages will cease on March 31. Shortwave radio broadcasts have been under threat of closure for years, but were saved in the past by a barrage of protest letters from listeners around the world. From April 1, people who have been listening to shortwave radio will be able to pick up all their favourite broadcasts via the Internet.

IBA spokeswoman Linda Bar said the IBA will be seeking funding to allow Farsi-language broadcasts to remain on shortwave. Bar noted that under the Broadcasting Authority Law, the IBA is not mandated to provide shortwave broadcasts. For many years, such broadcasts were co-funded by the Foreign Ministry and the Jewish Agency, which gradually dropped out of the partnership with the IBA.

There have been so many announcements of closure, later rescinded, that it remains to be seen whether this time it’s for real. It’s a case of “believe it when you don’t hear it.”

(Source: The Jerusalem Post website, Jerusalem, in English 17 Mar 08 via BBC Monitoring)

Radio Free Asia is giving 3 seperate QSL for Sept , Oct and November 2008

Radio Free Asia's mission is to provide accurate and timely news and information to Asian countries whose governments prohibit access to a free press.

Broadcast Frequencies of RFA

Find the right frequency for listening to RFA news broadcasts via shortwave radio

RFA encourage our listeners to tell us when they receive our transmissions. Your reception reports, or QSL cards, help us evaluate the quality of our signal strength. Please find mailing instructions below the frequency table.
As of August 3, 2008


Burmese (6 hours daily)
0030-0130 13820, 13865, 17835
0300-0400 11605, 17830
1230-1330 7390, 9320, 13675
1330-1400 7390, 9320, 11540
1400-1430 7320, 9320
1630-1730 7505, 9305
1730-1830 7505, 9300

Cantonese (2 hours daily)
1400-1500 7280, 11595
2200-2300 9355, 11715, 11785

Khmer (2 hours daily)
1230-1330 12140, 15525
2230-2330 7580, 13740

Korean (5 hours daily)
1500-1700 1350, 5870, 7210, 7490
1700-1800 1350, 5870, 7465, 9370
1800-1900 1350, 5870, 7210, 7465
2100-2200 1350, 7460, 9385, 9770, 12075


Lao (2 hours daily)
0000-0100 15545, 15690
1100-1200 9355, 15560


Mandarin (12 hours daily)
0300-0600 13760, 15130, 15635, 15680, 17615, 17880, 21550, 21690
0600-0700 13760, 15165, 15635, 15680, 17615, 17880, 21550
1500-1600 9455, 9905, 11540, 12005, 12025, 13675, 15495
1600-1700 9455, 9905, 11540, 11795, 12025, 13675, 15530
1700-1800 7260, 7280, 9355, 9455, 9540, 9905, 11540, 11795, 13625
1800-1900 7280, 7355, 9355, 9455, 9540, 9865, 11540, 11700, 13625
1900-2000 1098, 7260, 7355, 9355, 9455, 9850, 9865, 9905, 11700, 11785, 13625, 15510
2000-2100 1098, 7260, 7355, 9355, 9455, 9850, 9905, 11700, 11740, 11785, 13625
2100-2200 1098, 7105, 7355, 9850, 9905, 11740, 11935, 13625
2300-0000 7540, 11760, 11785, 15430, 15485, 15585


Tibetan (10 hours daily)
0100-0300 9365, 11695, 11975, 15225, 17730
0600-0700 17510, 17780, 21500, 21690
1000-1100 15460, 17750, 21510
1100-1200 7470, 13830, 15375, 17750
1200-1400 7470, 11590, 11605, 13830, 15375
1500-1600 9370, 11550, 11585, 11795
2200-2300 5865, 7500, 9880
2300-0000 7470, 7500, 9805, 9875

Uyghur (2 hours daily)
0100-0200 9350, 9490, 11895, 11945, 17640
1600-1700 9350, 9370, 9555, 11750

Vietnamese (2 hours daily)
1400-1430 1503, 9455, 9715, 11605, 11680, 12140
1430-1500 9455, 9715, 11605, 11680, 12140
2330-0030 7520, 11580, 11605, 13740, 15535, 15560

*Universal Time Code

E-mail your reception report to qsl@rfa.org, fill in the online form, or send it by regular mail to: Reception Reports

Radio Free Asia
2025 M Street NW, Suite 300
Washington DC 20036, USA
202-530-4900
contact@rfa.org

RTI is giving up to One Million NT$ for Internet Submession

Friends, RTI is giving up to One Million NT$ for Internet Submession. These days with the help of Internet any one can make radio programs . The “I Show” Webcast contest is aimed at promoting RTI’s online broadcasting in English and Japanese while interacting with worldwide listeners at the same time. The contest gives the public a chance to make an online radio program about Taiwan. Web users are invited to send their entries and be the judge of the contest! Winners will receive cash rewards and other prizes, and they might even have the chance to host English and Japanese programs for RTI!

Contest Rules:-
Eligibility

Anyone interested in radio production is welcome to join the contest regardless of nationality. However you must be an I’m Vlog member first.
Entry Format
(1)All entries must be either in English or Japanese.
(2)In your program you should introduce Taiwan to the rest of the world; suggested topics include food, politics, culture, travel, entertainment, literature, history, etc.
(3)About uploading your entry:
There is no limit to the number of entries per person. When you have finished creating your work, please upload it to the competition home page.

(4)Participation: All participants must apply for I’m Vlog membership online.

All participants must apply for I’m Vlog membership online.
(5)Evaluation Criteria:

Flow 20%, Creativity 20%, Content 40%, Language Fluency 20%

It is an opportunity that allows web users to make a radio program regardless of age or nationality.

As long as you speak fluent English or Japanese, the NT$500,000 cash award could be yours!

Prizes :----

For each of the three seasons, with separate prizes for English and Japanese entries.

English and Japanese：
First prize: NT$20,000
Second prize: NT$10,000
Third prize: NT$5,000
Shortlist prize (7): NT$3,000 each

There will be a souvenir prize for members whose entry receives the most online listeners during each season. Also, members who cast votes, upload programs and recommend entries are entitled to enter a lucky draw. See Prize
Note: each member is limited to one ballot per season. The button for voting will appear on the screen only after members finish listening to the whole program.


Final
Separate prizes will be awarded to English and Japanese entries.

English and Japanese：
First prize: NT$ 500,000
Second prize: NT$300,000
Third prize: NT$100,000
Honorable mention (3):NT$20,000 each
Best content prize: NT$10,000
Best web application prize: NT$10,000

There will be a souvenir prize for members whose entry receives the most online listeners during the previous three seasons. Also, members who cast votes, upload programs and recommend entries are entitled to enter a prize draw.

Note: only winners of the first three prizes and the seven candidates on the shortlist of each season qualify for the final. The judges will then choose the ten best entries among them and the total score will be decided by the numbers of viewers and the votes they receive.

For more info log on to : http://rti.im.tv/english/

or

http://www.rti.org.tw/

Monitoring Times Magazine

A full-spectrum monthly magazine for the radio listener, Monitoring Times covers scanning, shortwave and other radio topics from below 500 kHz to 900 MHz and above. Presented in an easy-to-understand style by our experienced writing staff, we’ll help you get the most out of your time and your equipment with practical listening tips and frequencies.

Monitoring Times comes in two formats print & acrobet version.
You can order your copy of your Monitoring Times magazine from this website by checking right corners of this Blog

Radio Prague's Mail Box Quiz

Our September mystery Czech was born in 1926 in Ostrava, into a Jewish family. At age 13 he was among the hundreds of children rescued from Czechoslovakia by Sir Nicholas Winton. He studied at Oxford and later became one of the leading directors of the 1960s new wave of British cinema.
Please send us your answers to english@radio.cz or Radio Prague, 12099 Prague. Four of you who answer correctly will receive small gifts from Radio Prague. I’d like to point out that answers copied and pasted from internet sources, such as Wikipedia, will be disregarded unless the source is duly credited.

Radio Sweden Special 70th Birthday Broadcast

Radio Sweden Special 70th Birthday Broadcast
Live from Studio Five in Stockholm, Sweden

Ever since 1938 Radio Sweden has served as an important link between Swedenand the rest of the world. On Wednesday, September 3 we'll be celebratingour 70th birthday with special broadcasts, a panel discusion, and livemusic.Our first English broadcast of the day, at 12:30 hrs UTC, will be a liveprogram from Studio 5 at Broadcasting House in Stockholm. We'll be taking alook back at some of the major stories we've covered over the years, andtalking with many guests, including some wellknown Radio Sweden voices fromthe past.That will be followed by a special panel debate in Swedish with a number ofcultural and media personalities.The 14:00 hrs UTC Swedish broaadcast will also be live from Studio 5.The entire special program, from 12:30 to 16:30 hours UTC, will be carriedlive in a special web broadcast.So don't fail to join us to celebrate our 70th, Live from Studio Five.

Radio Sweden organize a special quix compitition which you can participate by log on to their website @ www.sr.se

DW Bengali , Urdu service Website Prizes Giveaway

You can win exciting prizes each day by visiting & navigating DW Radio-Bengali website.
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/0,,615,00.html

There will be some prize info etc hidden on a page or pages of website. One can win those/this each day by finding the place & then send the necessary info perhaps to DW Radio.Believe there will be instructions there.

Believe DW Radio-Show By Urdu is going to launch similar giveaway via its website soon.

DW Hindi service Website Prizes Giveaway !

DW Radio-Hindi service is giving away exciting prizes each day for those who visits their website www.dw-world.de/hindi

There will be some prize info etc hidden on a page or pages of website. One can win those/this each day by finding the place & then send the necessary info perhaps to DW Radio.Believe there will be popup instructions there as soon as you find the link where the prize info is hidden.

DW Radio-Hindi servce is going to organise a Listeners Meet in India in October 2008.But the exact date & place of the meeting has not been yet decided.The listeners will be informed about it as soon as it has been decided.

RTI Frequencies all

Europe:-

UTC Frequency (meter band)

1800-1900 3965 (75.66)
2200-2300 15600 (19.23)


North America :-

UTC Frequency
0200-0300 9680 (30.99) Midwest
5950 (50.42) East Coast

0300-0400 5950 (50.42) West Coast
0700-0800 5950 (50.42) West Coast


Africa :-
UTC Frequency
1700-1800 15690 (19.12)

South America:-
UTC Frequency
0300-0400 15215 (19.71)

Southeast Asia:-
UTC Frequency
0300-0400 15320 (19.58)
1100-1200 7445 (40.29)

RTI contests for September 2008

Groove Zone :: Win a prize by telling us about the moon!

On September 14, Taiwanese people will gather together with friends and family to barbecue and gaze at the moon. That’s how people here celebrate the Moon Festival (which is also called the Mid-Autumn Festival. Now we’re offering you a chance to win a prize by telling us how the moon is viewed in your country. In 50 words or less, share with us a tradition, a story, or a poem about the moon. We’ll give prizes for the most interesting responses!

Details----
* In 50 words or less, tell us how the moon is viewed in your country. Be creative – the most interesting answers will be selected!

* Entries must be received before September 8. Winners will be announced on the September 13 Moon Festival edition of Groove Zone!

* Send entries to: PO BOX 123-199 / Taipei Taiwan, ROC

* Or email your entry to: androo@rti.org.tw (emails are preferred because postal mail often does not arrive on time!)
Thanks for listening to Groove Zone!

************************************

Global Exchange September Topic

September topic:
Tell us about your comfort food..
What food brings you the best memories and good feelings?

Every month, we pose a new question to listeners as part of our Global Exchange segment. If we choose your letter to read on the air, you will receive a special RTI souvenir.

Send entries to natalie@rti.org.tw or to PO Box 24-38/ Taipei, Taiwan

RTI's New frequency for listeners in South Asia

Starting September 7th, RTI's transmission to South Asia will be changed from 15515 KHz to 11600 KHz.

QSL Card

One of the interesting sides of DXing as a hobby is collecting QSL cards (acknowledgement cards from the broadcaster) confirming the listener's reception report (sometimes called SINPO report-see next section). QSL means Acknowledge Receipt in Radio term. Usually a QSL card will have a picture on one side and the reception data on the other. Most of the broadcasters will use pictures and messages indicating their country's culture or technological life. In fact these cards are much valuable compared to postal stamps collection of which has already became an international hobby.

What is S I N P O

SINPO stands for the following quantities measured in a scale of 1 to 5 wherein the lowest indicates the least and highest number indicates most. S - Signal strength I- Interference with other stations or broadcasters N - Noise ratio in the received signal P - Propogation (ups and downs of the reception) O - Overall merit After some experience, anybody can compute these values by experience. Keep in mind that the broadcaster will be getting similar reports from other listeners from your area on the same programme you did listen.

After listening to a broadcast (usually from 30 minutes to 2 hours), the listener has to create a report with SINPO values, indicating her/his location (called QTH in amateur radio teminology) in Longitude and Latitude (or else, if you are in a popular town, can indicate that without worrying about the geographical location). A brief description of the programme listened to, listener's opinion about it, suggestions if any so on.

The listener can send the report to the broadcaster either by post or by E-mail indicating she/he expects a QSL from them.

Understanding Shotwave DXing

Listening to shortwave broadcast stations for news and information programming is common, but for many shortwave listeners (abbreviated as "SWLs"), the goal is to receive as many stations from as many countries as possible, also known as DXing. "DXers" routinely test the limits of their antenna systems, radios and radio propagation knowledge. Specialized interests of shortwave listeners may include listening for shortwave utility, or "ute", transmissions such as shipping, sailing, naval, aviation, or military signals, listening for intelligence signals (numbers stations), or tuning in amateur radio stations

In the 1930s, shortwave broadcasters from the United States consisted of several private stations. The idea was to use popular American radio programs to attract audiences overseas, and thus to bring advertising revenue. But foreign audiences were difficult to measure, and were not always relevant to U.S. advertisers. During this decade, new receivers appeared on the market as well as popular shortwave magazines and clubs. Shortwave stations often offered unique QSL cards for DXers.

In Europe, shortwave broadcasts from Britain and the Netherlands began in 1927, and U.S. shortwave listeners could hear the well-organized international broadcasting efforts from Germany, Italy, the Soviet Union, Britain, and many other countries. Various well-known shortwave broadcasters became established. The BBC began as the "BBC Empire Service" in 1932 as a shortwave service.[3] Its broadcasts were aimed principally at English speakers. Radio Moscow was broadcasting on shortwave in English, French, German, Italian and Arabic by 1939. The Voice of America (or VOA) began broadcasting in 1942 as a result of the United States entry into World War Two and was introduced with the Yankee Doodle theme that is still familiar to shortwave listeners.

Shortwave listening remained as an organized hobby during the second world war, although in a reduced form, with so many DXers in the military service or working late hours in defense industries. Most shortwave receiver manufacturers shifted to the war effort, but Zenith began its popular multiband Trans-Oceanic series in 1942. In some other countries, during the war, listening to foreign stations was a criminal offense.

In the 1950s and 60s, shortwave DX columns in US magazines such as Popular Electronics "Tuning the Short Wave Bands" and Electronics Illustrated "The Listener" became news sources for serious radio listeners. Electronics Illustrated "WPE Monitor Registration" program begun in 1959 even offered "callsigns" to hobbyists. A number of specialty radio clubs such as the Newark News Radio Club also arose during these decades and provided hobbyists with an exchange of DX news and information. In the 1970s, Popular Electronics and similar magazines expanded coverage of other areas of electronics lead to the cancellation of several longtime shortwave listening columns.

Short Wave DXing

Hello everyone . This is my blog on Shortwave DXin. DXing is the hobby of tuning in and identifying distant radio signals, or making two way radio contact with distant stations in amateur radio, citizens' band radio or other two way radio communications hobbies. Many DXers also attempt to receive written verifications of reception (sometimes referred to as "QSLs" or "veries") from the stations heard. The name of the hobby comes from DX, telegraphic shorthand for "distance" or "distant"