This is Radio Bulgaria’s weekly DX Program for radio amateurs and short wave listeners which is included in our one-hour broadcasts starting as follows: Friday at 22.00 UTC on 6200 and 7400 kHz beamed to Europe, Saturday at 00.00 and at 03.00 UTC on 5900 and 7400 kHz to North America, as well as in the half-hour broadcast on Sunday at 07.30 UTC also on 5900 and 7400 kHz to West Europe.
In this issue by DX Editor Dimiter Petrov, LZ1AF, with Broadcast Tips by Rumen Pankov:
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Welcome to our first DX Program in 2010! We hope it will be a more peaceful year and with better propagation conditions. Sunspot Cycle 24 is going upwards to provide more DX activity and promote more friendship throughout the world! That’s what Ham Radio is meant for! We will continue to keep you informed of the latest developments in Amateur Radio and DXing! So, good luck and FB DX!
Propagation Forecast by K7RA (extracts)
Many of us are nearly giddy with joy over the recent steady increase in sunspot activity, which seems long overdue. Average daily sunspot numbers rose over 10 points this week compared to last, from 21.1 to 31.4. The monthly average daily sunspot numbers for September, October and November were 6.6, 7 and 7.7, so this is quite a large jump.
Five new sunspot groups emerged since December 6, the latest on December 19 and 20; another one is being formed and expected to reappear about 11-12 days from now. Solar flux values at 72 are predicted until January 4, around the time this region emerges, when it rises to 75, then 77 for January 5-6, then 80 on January 7-9, and 85 for January 10-18! Steady quiet geomagnetic conditions, with planetary A index rising slightly to 7 are predicted.
Amateur Radio Attracts Teenagers! A good start into 2010!
Stephanie is Youngest Radio Amateur in the UK
Stephanie Gregory is all EARS – and she couldn’t be happier she’s making waves. The bubbly seven-year-old is the youngest licensed radio amateur in the United Kingdom. And it’s all down to the help and support she’s been given as a member of the Elderslie Amateur Radio Society (EARS). Stephanie has just passed her amateur radio exams which means she has no longer has to operate from the radio club under supervision.
Dover Boy, VE3NOA, is Quite the Ham
Andrew Copeland, 11, of Port Dover, is the youngest person in Canada to earn an amateur radio licence as VE3NOA. Andrew has a bright future in electronics, and he has the paper work to prove it. He recently took a grueling 25-page test on the finer points of ham radio operation. It took him nearly two hours to answer 100 multiple-choice questions.
Andrew’s tutor is his father Gary Copeland, owner of Dover Antenna Service and holder of an advanced radio licence. Andrew has had a long fascination with his father’s hobby.
DX Survey: Choosing the Top DXPedition of 2009
The ‘DX World of Ham Radio’ web page is conducting an online survey to see which expedition warrants the title DXpedition of the Year 2009. Special engraved trophies will be shipped to the top three. To participate in the survey, go to http://dx-hamspirit.com .
VK5ALE ARC Club Rooms Destroyed
Sad news from Port Lincoln, Australia. VK5ALE Lower Eyre Peninsula Amateur Radio Club rooms were completely destroyed by an enormous bush fire December 23. Strong, hot North winds made fighting the fire impossible. 12 homes were lost, countless sheds and rural properties have been destroyed….but thankfully, no lives were lost.
VK Hams Commemorate Recovery from Bushfire
Australia’s Yarra Valley Amateur Radio Group will be setting a field station with the call VI3KIAH in commemoration of the work done by hams at the Black Saturday bush fires. The suffix KIAH is an Australian Aboriginal word meaning ‘beautiful place’ or ‘from a beautiful place’.
VI3KIAH will be at the Frank Thompson Reserve Kinglake 2pm to 8pm local time on Sunday, February 7, 2010. Its first 173 contacts will qualify for a “From the Black” QSL card. The significance of 173 is that number of people died in the disaster.
BROADCAST TIPS
Libya. Radio Voice of Africa was reported with a program in English between 14 and 16 hours on 21695 and 17725 kHz. News in English from the same station were heard also at 19.20 hours on 1251 kHz. The QSL address is: Voice of Africa, English Service, P.O.Box 4677, Tripoli, The Great Jamahiriya Libya.
Moldova & Madagascar. Radio Mada International was heard after 15.30 hours, Sunday on 15670 kHz. The station broadcasts from Moldova to Madagascar.
Chad. Radio Chad with a program in French and Vernaculars is received in Sofia regularly around 05.50 hours on 6165 kHz.
Sultanate of Oman. Radio Sultanate of Oman has been received often in Sofia between 14 and 15 hours on 15140 kHz relaying the local “Radio Oman FM” in English, including dance music and news in English at 14.30 hours.
Israel. Radio Galei Zahal was heard with music programs at 6.30 and at 11.30 hours on 6973 and 15784 kHz.
Syria. Radio Damascus is on short wave again on certain days and was heard with a strong carrier and weak audio at 17 hours in Russian on 9330 kHz; at 18.05 hours in German and at 19.03 hours in French and after a pause at 21 hours in English, all on 9330 and 12085 kHz.
Guinea. Radio Guinea in Conacry is received in Sofia after 15 hours on 7125 kHz.
Thank you for being with our first DX Program in 2010! Your opinions and suggestions will be appreciated and all reception reports confirmed with the QSL card of Radio Bulgaria. Please address your letters to English Section, Radio Bulgaria, Sofia, Bulgaria or by e-mail to english@bnr.bg .
So, have a Happy, healthy and full of DX New Year! And, stay tuned in to our DX Program for the latest DX news and topics!
73 & DX!
