Friday, February 24, 2017

Radio City, Patiala changes frequency from 107.2 to 91.1 MHz

Radio City, the FM station of Music Broadcast Ltd, in Patiala has changed it's frequency from 107.2 to 91.1 MHz due to interference.


All India Radio - Extended schedule on the ocassion of "Shivaratri" today

Watch out for extended schedule (past 1740 UTC) by AIR Hyderabad 4800 kHz carrying live broadcast in regional language "Telegu" on the ocassion of religious festival "Shivaratri" on 24th Feb, 2017 (Friday).

Following MW/SW stations are also expected to carry this extended broadcast :
720 - AIR Chennai
738 - AIR Hyderabad
837 - AIR Vijaywada
900 - AIR Kadapa
927 - AIR Visakhapatnam
936 - AIR Tiruchirapalli
999 - AIR Coimbatore
1197 - AIR Tirunelveli
1269 - AIR Madurai
4920 - AIR Chennai

Tamil FM stations from SriLanka also carry live relay of special program for Maha Shaivaratri.
----
Alokesh Gupta
New Delhi

Disaster preparedness: APRO to use amateur radio

To add teeth to the disaster preparedness, Assam Police Radio Organisation (APRO) has decided to fall back on the use of amateur radio, also known as HAM radio.

The APRO is already working on a plan to regroup trained HAM radio operators once again after the Government of India lifted the ban on its use recently.

Full story at :


Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation - Golden Jubilee Stamp & FDC


The Sri Lanka Philatelic Bureau of the Department of Posts has issued a new postal stamp to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation in the denomination of Rs.10.00 on 5th January 2017.

Date of Issue: 5th January 2017
Denomination: Rs.10.00
Stamp Designer: Mr. Pulasthi Ediriweera
Catalogue No. : CSL 2210
Sheet Composition: 20 stamps per sheet


                          The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation - Golden Jubilee First Day Cover

The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Service commenced on 22nd July 1924 as a test transmission. It was launched officially on 16th December 1925.The test transmission was initiated by broadcasting a speech made by the then Governor Sir William Henry Manning, addressing the Lanka Electrical Engineers' annual meeting. The broadcasting service was officially inaugurated by broadcasting the speech made by the then Governor Sir Hugh Clifford addressing the general public from his office situated at Fort.

On 05th October 1945 the Ceylon Broadcasting service was instituted as a separate government Department while arrangements were made to construct a new building for the Service at the Torrington Square.

The station was known by many names from time to time such as " Wireless Broadcasting" and "Colombo Broadcasting". It functioned under the purview of the Postal Department until 30th September 1949.

From 5th October 1979,it was made independent and came to be known as Radio Ceylon.

On 5th January 1967 the Department of Broadcasting was converted to a government Corporation by way of Act No.37 of 1966.

The Corporation was inaugurated by the Hon. Prime Minister and came to be known as the Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation.

On 22nd May 1972 with the enactment of the first Republican Constitution, the Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation was renamed as the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.

On 5th January 2017 the SLBC celebrates its Golden Jubilee by relocating its core functional Divisions in a new Administrative Building to be declared open by H.E. President Maithreepala Sirisena and the Hon. Prime Minister RanilWickramasinghe. A major Project aiming to renovate SLBC's studio complex will also reach completion by the same date.

(Text from The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation - Golden Jubilee Folder)

Isle of Music via Spaceline, Bulgaria - Test Transmission

On Sunday, February 26 at 1500-1600 UTC, Spaceline will be doing a test transmission on 9400 kHz from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria using an episode of From the Isle of Music, a program dedicated to the music of Cuba which is heard weekly on WBCQ and Channel 292.    This transmission will be aimed primarily at Russia and the Ukraine but may be audible in other areas. (From the Isle of Music will continue on WBCQ and Channel 292 for their target areas regardless of the results of this and a subsequent test. )

If you monitor this broadcast, reception reports can be sent to :
1.  Spaceline at   info@spaceline.bg
2.  From the Isle of Music at  tilfordproductions@gmail.com

From the Isle of Music in particular would be grateful for any reception reports from the test, especially from the Balkans, Ukraine, Russia, Turkey etc,  and will respond with an eQSL.

(Pavel Ivanov via open_dx)

Bangladesh Betar - The Story of Glory

These days, when information technology and the internet are not far from our grasp, on hearing the name "Bangladesh Betar (Betar meaning radio in Bangla)", one might ask, "Who would listen to Bangladesh Betar today?" You may contemplate that their programmes are not interesting enough for this day and age, or even term them "monotonous." However, to your surprise, there are still a large number of people who feel nostalgic on just hearing the name of the shows that used to air in Bangladesh Betar.

Full story at :

http://www.thedailystar.net/star-weekend/heritage/bangladesh-betar-the-story-glory-1365967


Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Radio Oomrang special transmission on 21st Feb 2017

Radio Oomrang annual transmission

1600-1659 UTC on 15215 kHz via ISS 500 kW / 300 deg to E/NAm Frisian dialect, German & English on Tuesday, February 21, 2017.

Radio Oomrang broadcasts once in a year on shortwave in lower German language via facilities of Media Broadcast in Germany. Radio Oomrang announces as "The Free Voice of Frisian People from Amrum island in Germany". Station ID is in english.

About Oomrang :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%96%C3%B6mrang

AirSpy HF+ specs unveiled...

This will be a game-changer from Youssef (Airspy, SDR#), outstanding performance at a low price. SDR Console support – of course.

Preliminary specs:

RX range: 0 .. 30 MHz (HF) and 60 - 270 MHz (+)
Architecture: Hybrid (Direct conversion + DDC) using 2 x sigma delta ADC's @ 36 MSPS
Front end: Tracking Filters (all bands), High Dynamic Range LNA's and Mixers
AGC: Smart AGC controlled by the DSP
DSP: CIC, CFIR and a final (programmable) channel FIR - 18bit resolution
Final bandwidth/resolution after DDC: 18bit @ 600kHz - Scaled and streamed as 16bit
Image rejection: better than 120dBc
Blocking DR: 108 dB
Separate HF and VHF RF inputs - with option to use one multiplexed input if desired
USB 2.0 with Plug and play - No drivers needed
The RF section resides inside a metal shield
Aluminium enclosure about 60 x 100 x 15 mm^3

Basically, this addresses the lack of affordable and good performing receivers for HF and VHF.

Target price  < $200


Simon Brown, G4ELI
http://sdr-radio.com

(Via sdr-radio.com list)

2 x 36MSPS IQ (equivalent to direct sampling at 72 MSPS) gives roughly 36 MHz of bandwidth, however the ADC's used are sigma-delta with intrinsic anti-alias filtering.

We start with 16bit IQ at 36MSPS then it is frequency translated and decimated to 744.192 ksps 18bit IQ with a bit more than 600 kHz bandwidth plus the digital filter roll off. Given the very nature of sigma delta ADC's, the pressure on the front-end filtering is relaxed and the tracking filters are even more effective.

The image rejection is performed using a newly designed algorithm that matches the performance of the hardware.

All the decimation number crunching happens in the device like in most high end DDC receivers, so we only need a small USB throughput in the end (~23Mbps), and the CPU usage in the PC is very low.

Performance wise, the result is comparable to things like Perseus, RFSPACE, Elad, etc. but with a more modern full CMOS sensitive front end and at a fraction of the price.

Hopefully, this will redefine the word "performance" for most Hams and SWLs ;-)

(Youssef via sdr-radio.com list )


Days of the radio

Nostalgia' is probably the first word we associate with 'radio'. A 5-minute break from the hassles of Friday traffic, a request show and a song for your lover, or that catchy jingle simply refusing to erase itself from memory – these are what make radio, RADIO!

So tune in and stay tuned...the transmission begins now...

(The Daily Star, Bangladesh)


RTÉ longwave 252 set to continue until at least 2019 after positive talks

RTÉ are set to continue transmitting their longwave 252 service until at least 2019 after positive talks took place at a consultative meeting in London.

Full story at :


Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Loving radio in the internet age

Paul Fernandes| TNN | Updated: Feb 13, 2017, 02.24 PM IST

A few radio enthusiasts nostalgic about the glorious days when their short-wave radio sets shaped their lives debated at an interactive session on myriad ways to revive the medium. "Radio programmes can be aired to listeners at Goa's bus stands, markets, parks and beaches. Educational institutions and NGOs can use radio to highlight social issues," Roland Martins, coordinator of Friday Balcao, the fortnightly discussion event said.

Full story at :

Radio rules imagination !

Celebrating World Radio Day 2017 -by F.Sheheryar, DG,AIR

When Neil Diamond crooned "reaching out, touching me, touching you" in that iconic song Sweet Caroline, he could as well be singing about radio. Radio, which reaches out across seemingly insurmountable geographical divides, touches countless lives and yet remains in the background. 

It was to honour this radio that the United Nations proclaimed 13 February as World Radio Day in 2011, with the vision of celebrating how it helps shape our lives.

Read the full article at :





The Magic of Radio

Fifty-six AIR FM transmitters to be upgraded in 12th Plan

NEW DELHI: With All India Radio putting all its important channels on FM to make them more accessible, a total of fifty-six FM transmitters are to be upgraded to ensure better reception covering a larger area.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore has told Parliament that the upgradation of these transmitters has been approved under the Twelfth Plan.

Source/Full story at :



Thursday, February 09, 2017

Radio Pulpit 657AM releases results of its digital trial

Radio Pulpit 657 AM, which began its trial of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM30) medium wave (digital radio) in 2014, has released its results on broadcast quality.

The station made history by leading the South African radio broadcasting industry into the digital era with the first live digital medium wave broadcast. It transmitted the DRM30 trial broadcast from Pretoria during the period September 2014 up to October 2015, with support from Broadcom International and Sentech. DRM30 measurements were conducted successfully on 1440 kHz, using a 10 kW DRM30 transmitter with the purpose of presenting test results to ICASA.


More info about trials at : http://www.drmsa.org/index.php/about/trials

Thursday, February 02, 2017

Hyundai Mobis & NXP India Deploy DRM Chips and Receivers Designed in India

The development and deployment, showcased at a DRM Round Table conference on January 31, was made possible by a regional collaboration between All India Radio, NXP Semiconductors, Hyundai Mobis, and the DRM Consortium.

NXP Semiconductors, the world's largest supplier of automotive semiconductors and Hyundai Mobis, the world's leading tier-1 automotive supplier, have announced the successful completion of field trials of MOBIS DRM receivers and NXP chips designed in India. The chips and DRM receivers are now deployed in DRM-fitted car infotainment receivers in a newly launched vehicle in India by a leading carmaker.

Read the full story at :


Norway: Initial Listener Reactions to FM Shutdown Aren't Positive

But dyed-in-the-wool FM holdouts have quite a few options for tuning in to FM radio

Read more at :

Wednesday, February 01, 2017

Nautel to Provide 30 FM Transmitters to Turkey

January 17, 2017 – Nautel Limited has announced that it will supply thirty 5 kW NVLT FM transmitters to Turkish Radio-Television Corporation (TRT) over the coming months, with an option to purchase 9 additional transmitters if needed. The transmitters will be deployed at key locations throughout Turkey.

Based in Ankara, TRT provides one local, five regional and four national radio services as well as 6 AM Radio broadcasts. Additionally, Voice of Turkey provides shortwave programming in 32 languages. TRT radio is available on internet, satellite and cable as well as terrestrial services.

The Nautel NVLT transmitters incorporate the company's field-proven, high-power architecture into a compact footprint. With 72% typical efficiency, NVLT transmitters incorporate Nautel's award winning Advanced User Interface (AUI) as well as a suite of operational features including onboard direct-to-channel digital exciter, IP and streaming audio input ability, advanced scheduling capabilities, instrument-grade spectrum analyzer, optional onboard Orban processing and more..

"Turkey's radio infrastructure is already one of the best in the world, and we selected Nautel for this project because they have the tools we need to further enhance our broadcast capabilities," said Yuksel Solyu, Procurement Manager at TRT. "The ease of remote management via the Nautel AUI, which will be done from our headquarters in Ankara, coupled with the transmitters' high efficiency and reputation for reliability, will help TRT keep operating costs at a minimum while providing the coverage we desire."

Nautel has worked closely with TRT over the years on Turkey's Radio broadcast infrastructure. In 2009, Nautel was awarded a tender for 133 FM transmitters ranging from 1 kW to 20 kW. Nautel also supplied three 300kW MW transmitters to TRT in 2008-2009. The 136 digital-capable transmitters were used to modernize a large portion of Turkey's national FM Radio infrastructure.

"We are honored that TRT has again chosen Nautel for a high-profile project," said Wendell Lonergan, Head of Broadcast Sales at Nautel. "We are pleased to partner with TRT as they continue modernizing their infrastructure."

Nautel will demonstrate its industry-leading innovations including FM transmitters at CABSAT in Dubai, Stand A1-42, in March 2017 and at NAB, Booth N8324 in April.

About Nautel
Nautel is one of the world's largest manufacturers of broadcast transmitters. With more than 14,000 transmitters deployed in over 177 countries since 1970 and more than 6,500 deployments of AUI-enabled transmitters, Nautel continues to lead the way in providing valuable new solutions for digital broadcasting and other applications.

(Press Release)

Voice of America Celebrates 75 Years

WASHINGTON D.C., February 1, 2017 -- Today the Voice of America (VOA) celebrates 75 years on the air.  From its first 15-minute radio broadcast in German in 1942, VOA has grown into a multimedia international broadcast service providing programming and content in 47 languages on multiple platforms, including radio, television, and mobile.

On that first broadcast, announcer William Harlan Hale set the standard for all future VOA programs when he told his audience: "We bring you Voices from America. Today, and daily from now on, we shall speak to you about America and the war. The news may be good for us. The news may be bad. But we shall tell you the truth."

Today those words carry the weight of the VOA Charter that requires VOA, by law, to "serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news." What's more, VOA news must "be accurate, objective, and comprehensive."

"It's been 75 years since we first began broadcasting objective news and information around the world," said VOA Director Amanda Bennett. "And now, I think what we do here is more important than ever."

Over the years, VOA correspondents and freelance reporters in many parts of the world have been on the scene to cover major world events. In 1989, VOA East European correspondent Jolyon Naegele reported on demonstrations in Czechoslovakia and the fall of the communist government. That same year on the other side of the world, VOA increased programming and added staff to its Beijing bureau, to cover the demonstrations in Tiananmen Square. VOA Beijing Bureau Chief Al Pessin was expelled from China for his reporting.

Today VOA broadcasters use television and radio studios at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. to broadcast news and other programming through 2,500 television and radio affiliate stations around the world. At the same time, they provide content for mobile devices and interact with their audiences through social media. In 2016, the Voice of America's weekly audience across all platforms averaged more than 236 million people worldwide. Click here for more information on Voice of America's 75 years of history and here for a short video on its history.

VOA reaches a global weekly audience of more than 236 million people in over 40 languages. VOA programs are delivered on satellite, cable, shortwave, FM, medium wave, streaming audio and video on more than 2,500 media outlets worldwide. It is funded by the U.S. Congress through the Broadcasting Board of Governors.

(Press Release)