Radio Melodía from Colombia returns to 6140 kHz shortwave

Radio Melodía in Bogotá Colombia has reactivated 6140 kHz, which had last been used by the station 24 years ago. In the mid-1980's the station briefly appeared on 6045 kHz, but since then it has been heard only on 730 kHz mediumwave. From January 29 the station has been logged around the world with a powerful signal on 6140.6 kHz, announcing call sign HJQE for shortwave and HJCU for mediumwave. In early February the station was off the air on shortwave for about two weeks, but since mid-February it has been heard on 6139.8v kHz. The address is listed as Calle 45 No. 13-70 (Apartado 19823), Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia. A sample station identification can be found in the audio section.
(DXing.info, January 31, 2003, updated on February 16)

Hit Shortwave on 4050 kHz broadcasting to Afghanistan

A station on the frequency of 4050 kHz, identifying as "Hit Shortwave", is broadcasting to Afghanistan. Thanks to a recording provided by DXing.info and research done by Bernd Trutenau, the language that is used in the talk programs has been identified as Dari by a WRTH correspondent in Tajikistan. Talk programs have only been introduced recently to the programs, which initially consisted only of music and short announcements. Dari is almost identical with Tajik, and is the language spoken by ethnic Tajiks in Afghanistan. Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek is the likely location of the transmitter, but this has not been confirmed. Kyrgyz State Radio has been quiet about the programs, which would suggest a clandestine radio operation. More about the station can be found in the DXing.info Community (1/2) and a sample station identification is found in the Audio section.
(DXing.info, January 29, 2003, updated January 31)

The English Service of Radio Deutsche Welle (DW) will discontinue shortwave transmissions to North America, Australia and New Zealand as of March 30. While shortwave broadcasts to these "highly developed media markets" is terminated, DW will focus on expanding the number of radio stations, like Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) or ABC News Radio, who rebroadcast DW programming. DW will continue to be available in North America on shortwave in German, but in English only on the Internet and via satellite. The reduction in shortwave broadcasts was announced as part of changes branded as a "facelift" for radio broadcasts in English. There will be an increase in the number of daily news bulletins from 13 to 24. "News on the hour every hour will be our visiting card," says Uta Thofern, Head of the English Service, according to a DW press release. Newslink, the flagship current affairs program, will be broadcast round the clock in the form of special editions tailored to the different audiences around the world. This means there will be three live editions of Newslink for the Asia-Pacific Region, two for Africa, with repeats, two for North America and two for Europe every weekday. DW also plans to introduce digital shortwave transmissions to East Asia and Europe with analogue shortwave transmissions to Asia and Africa continuing for the foreseeable future.

Germany's Mega Radio now on 819 and 1386 kHz

Mega Radio in Germany has added two new mediumwave frequencies, 819 kHz in Regensburg (5 kW) and 1386 kHz in Würzburg (5 kW). The new transmitters have been heard in Central Europe and Scandinavia from January 16. A few days later a 1-kilowatt transmitter from Nürnberg was heard for the first time on 945 kHz, where Mega Radio already had another 1-kW transmitter in Münich. Mega Radio transmits also on 576, 630, 693, 738, 1116, 1431 and 1575 kHz, as well as on 1440 kHz (from Luxembourg) during daytime. According to the station website, the frequency of 981 kHz should be launched in March.
(DXing.info, January 18, 2003, updated January 24)

Broadcasting company Alex from Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine, is transmitting on shortwave using the name Dniprovska Hvylya (in Ukrainian) and Dneprovskaya Volna (in Russian). According to Alexander Yegorov in WWDXC, this "Dnieper's Wave" is broadcasting on Saturdays and Sundays from 1000 to 1300 UTC on 11980 kHz shortwave. The transmitter power is only 100 watts and the modulation is AM with a reduced carrier. A dipole antenna directed to the south and north is used for the transmission. Yegorov says that most of the time the station relays Ukrainian national channel UR-1, and that schedule may be revised because of interference caused by CRI from 1200 UTC. The station can be contacted at the address Alex TV & Radio Broadcasting Company, 48 8th Bereznya St, Zaporizhzhya, 330068 Ukraine.
(DXing.info, January 10, 2003)

HCJB broadcasting from a new site in Australia

HCJB World Radio has begun broadcasting from a new transmitter site in Kununurra, Western Australia. A 100-kilowatt transmitter began regular operation (using initially just 25 kW) on January 5, 2003, on 11755 kHz (to be replaced by 11770 kHz on February 2). These morning broadcasts are directed to the South Pacific. After a week of testing, regular afternoon broadcasts to Asia on 15480 kHz (sample station identification) will begin on February 2, while evening transmissions to Ethiopia on 15430 kHz will be launched later. When all planned transmissions are on the air, the schedule is as follows:

Time (UTC):	Frequency (kHz):
0700-1200	11770
1230-1730	15480
1800-1830	15430 only Mon & Sat

Kununurra is replacing some transmissions currently broadcast from the HCJB transmitter site in Pifo, Ecuador. HCJB received the licence for the new station in April 2002 and originally planned to begin broadcasting before Christmas 2002, but the transportation and installation of the transmitter was delayed. The transmitter has been designed and built at the HCJB World Radio Engineering Centre in Elkhart, Indiana. HCJB welcomes reception reports, which (thanks to information obtained by Jerry Berg) should be sent either by email or by mail to HCJB Australia, GPO Box 691E, Melbourne, Australia 3000, along with return postage. The Melbourne studios are used to produce programming in English and Oromo.
      Launched in 1931, HCJB is the first missionary broadcast organization in the world. Together with its local partners, HCJB World Radio now has ministries in more than 90 countries and broadcasts the gospel in more than 100 languages and dialects.
(DXing.info, January 1, 2003, last update January 30)

The purpose of the radio news section is to inform about new mediumwave (AM) and shortwave broadcasting stations worldwide. Other news are published only on major international broadcasters or issues very relevant to DXers. New programs and schedules are not covered.

The news are edited by Mika Mäkeläinen. Extracts from news items may be quoted if the website http://www.DXing.info is mentioned as source. See terms of use for details.