Sporadic E opening 30th June, 2008

Sporadic E was even poorer than one day before. OIRT band was packed with several Mayaks and Rossiis from the area TA-SR-VG with strong signals. These are omitted here. No sign of Sporadic E on the CCIR band at all..

FM LOG - Monday 30 June 2008

72.56 1657 RUS: Nashe R., Moskva. Tambov-tx.

Sporadic E opening 29th June, 2008

Once again an OIRT opening but not so good as on the 2nd June. Also some CCIR Russians and Ukrainians over 99 MHz. Usual networks omitted here.

FM LOG - Sunday 29 June 2008

66.41 1806 RUS: R.Zvezda. Novorossiysk-tx.

69.08 1715 UKR: UR Luhanska ODTRK, Luhansk. Rovenky-tx.

99.5 1838 UKR: R.Lux FM, Kyiv. Poltava-tx.

104.0 1825 RUS: R.Novaya Rossiya, Novorossiysk (KD).

106.8 1811 UKR: Europa Plus. Donetsk-tx. NoID. "RADIO___, EUROPA??, 345-1068, ??_Jun08", PI: 5000.

106.8 1819 RUS: R.Shanson, Moskva. Possibly Krasnodar-tx but there's tx also in Chernihiv, Ukraine.

Sporadic E opening 28th June, 2008

Very short opening to Italy in the afternoon didn't give anything but Subasio. In the evening, some Romanian and Ukrainian OIRT stations. Also a short opening on the lower CCIR band with two transmitters from Romania (Radio 21 and Kiss FM) and one from Moldova (Radio Shanson Pridnestrovie) - and that's all. Usual networks omitted here.

FM LOG - Saturday 28 June 2008

67.46 1722 MDA: R.Sanatatea, Edinet. Edinet-tx. NoID. "Sanatate" mentioned more than once in Romanian language.

67.58 1724 MDA: Antena C, Chisinau. Straseni-tx.

69.14 1743 MDA: BBC. Cahul-tx. In Russian.

70.10 1729 UKR: UR Vinnytska ODTRK, Vinnytsia. Bershad (VI)-tx. "Oblashno Radio" Id before changing to national programme

88.5 1800 ROU: R.21, Bucuresti. Constanta-tx.

88.8 1709 MDA: R.Shanson Pridnestrovie, Tiraspol.

Sporadic E opening 26th June, 2008

Not so much Es than yesterday but more luck with IDs from interesting stations. Mostly stations from Greece but also Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Italy were heard. First time received in Finland are unerlined. Usual networks omitted here.

FM LOG - Thursday 26 June 2008


88.5 0621 GRC: 88miso, Thessaloniki (25).

88.6 0840 I: tent.R.Potenza Centrale, Potenza. Taranto-Piazza Dante (TA)-tx.

88.8 0650 I: R.Alfa, Castelgoffredo (MN). "R.ALFA__", PI: 50C8.

88.9 0831 SRB: R.Index, Beograd. Beograd/Torlak-tx. "__INDEX_", PI: D032.

89.4 0604 GRC: Lampsi FM, Athens (1). Thessaloniki (25)-tx.

89.4 0821 I: Kiss Kiss Italia, Napoli. Parabita-Cima Terrisi (LE)-tx.

90.4 0629 GRC: Aristera Sta FM, Thessaloniki (25).

92.8 0617 GRC: Ellinikos FM, Thessaloniki (25).

94.8 0558 ROU: Guerrilla FM, Bucuresti. NoID. "??RADIO_", PI: E0D3.

98.7 0625 GRC: R.Sport, Thessaloniki (25).

99.1 0610 BUL: R.Veselina, Sofia. Sofia-tx.


102.3 0634 GRC: +R.Akrites, Stavroupoli (25).

106.7 0631 GRC: ERA Kavalas, Kavala. Thasos/Mt Ipsarion-tx.

Sporadic E opening 25th June, 2008

This has been the best Es day here so far. Will this also remain as the best day of the Es season 2008...? Perhaps, if there wouldn't be any "mega" openings in July or August. This has been very poor season so far. Not so many Es days and the quality of conditions have been low in general. Well some nice stations today anyway. First time received in Finland are unerlined. Usual networks omitted here.

FM LOG - Wednesday 25 June 2008

87.5 0801 ?: UNID. French music. Anybody, any idea? "pr______", PI: FFFF.

87.5 0834 G: tent.Lynx FM, London. Reggae music. After a while also another pirate which could be Mystery based on the played music.

87.8 0541 CZE: R.Kiss Jizni Cechy, Ceské Budejovice. Ceské Budejovice-tx. 100 W.

87.8 0547 CZE: R.Blanik, Mnichovice. Praha-Malesice-tx. NoID. "BLANIK_P", PI: 233C.

87.9 0806 HOL: NOS Omroep Zeeland, Oost-Souburg. Goes-tx. NoID. "OMROEP__, ZEELAND_", PI: 841B.

87.9 1618 TUR: Küpe FM, Istanbul. NoID. "KUPE_FM_", PI: 3468.

88.0 0756 BEL: R.Chekkafi, Bruxelles. NoID. "Chekkafi", PI: 6493.

88.6 0529 SVN: R.Koper - Modri Val, Koper. Nanos-tx. NoID. "RADIO_KP".

88.6 0757 F: R.Soleil, Paris (75). NoID. "_SOLEIL_", PI: F230.


88.7 0803 HOL: +RadioNL, Sneek. Apeldoorn-tx.

88.7 0933 DNK: DR P1, København. Ølgod-Bavenshøj-tx. NoID. "DR_P1___", PI: 9201.

88.9 0813 BEL: NRJ, Bruxelles. Péruwelz/Chateau d'eau-tx. Only one NRJ on the freq. "__NRJ___", PI: F220. Belgian transmitter oherwise wouldn't be worth of logging.

89.0 0755 F: R.France International, Paris (75). NoID. "__R_F_I_", PI: FE10.

90.2 0535 AUT: KroneHit, Wien. Weitra/Wachberg-tx. NoID.

91.1 0805 F: R.Cristal, Vernon (27). Amfreville (27)-tx. NoID. Only carrieer in stereo. "CRISTAL_", PI: FB39.

91.8 1002 NOR: NRK P3, Trondheim. Bjerkreim-tx. NoID. "NRK_P3__", PI: F203. Norwegians also on 98.7 (NRK P2 from the same site) and 90.3 which should be Radio Norge from Bokn.

94.6 0835 G: BBC R.Berkshire, Reading. Henley-on-Thames-tx.

94.9 0542 I: R.Bruno, Carpi (MO).

95.3 0830 G: BBC Southern Counties R., Guildford. Brighton/Whitehawk Hill-tx. NoID. "BBC_SCR_", PI: CD12.

96.2 0752 F: Soleil Média, Reims (51). NoID. PI: F785.

96.9 0821 F: Tendance Ouest, Saint-Lô (50). Villedieu-les-Poêles (50)-tx. "TENDANCE", PI: FB38.

96.9 1001 G: Northsound 1, Aberdeen. Durris-tx. NoID.

97.5 0809 F: Contact FM, Tourcoing (62). St.Quentin (02)-tx

97.6 0811 F: ROC FM, Roubaix (59). Lille (59)-tx. NoID. Should be Christian station according to their web site. "_ROC_FM_", PI: F934.

97.6 0825 G: BBC R.Kent, Tunbridge Wells. Folkestone/Creteway Down-tx. NoID.

98.1 0801 BEL: +Nostalgie Vlaanderen, Antwerpen. Brussel/Blauwe Toren-tx. NoID. "NOSTLGIE", PI: 6508.

98.7 0535 I: R.Sound, Codigoro (FE). Lido delle Nazioni (FE)-tx. NoID. "_SOUND__", PI: 58A1.

99.1 0829 F: R.Bonheur, Pléneuf-Val-André (22).

Sporadic E opening 21st June, 2008

Sporadic E after a long break but quality is still weak.

FM LOG - Saturday 21 June 2008

87.9 1019 TUR: Küpe FM, Istanbul. NoID. "KU????M_, WWW_____", PI: 3468.

88.0 0958 ROU: BBC WS. Bucuresti-tx.

88.8 1243 BIH: R.Glas Drine, Sapna.

89.4 1000 GRC: ERA Spor, Athens (1). Pythion (33)-
tx. This is a new tx site in Evros near Didimoticho with the following tx's 88.1 ERA 3 (this one was also audible with classical music in mono), 93.8 ERA 2 and 98.9 ERA NET.

91.1 1021 BUL: R.Bravo, Varna. Burgas-tx.

Tropo 8th June, 2008

Good tropospeheric conditions were going on in the coastal region in southern Finland. Some signal enchancements were available also in my region, here in eastern Pirkanmaa. Nothing especial except one station. Thanks to Hasse Mattisson for listening to my sound sample and comparing it with the live output on 98.1 FM in his region - this is a local station to him.


FM LOG - Sunday 8 June 2008

98.1H 0559 S: R.Nybro, Nybro. Short nonstop melody. Audible for ten minutes and nice signal at it's best. This was total surprise even though several SR frequencies came loud from that direction. I never heard this one in Turku, SW Finland!

Proper antennas finally installed!

I had only a yagi aerial with three elements on balcony at this QTH until the 5th of June, 2008. From this date on, however, there are also two Triax FM 8S yagis installed on a rotatable mast on the roof. The first Sporadic E openings this season offered mostly weak signals - this must be partly due to the inadequate antenna system. But from now on the antenna system should be sufficient. The usual direction for the antennas is pointing to SW. There is a strong cable leak from the direction of SE, hopefully that will be fixed soon.

Sporadic E opening 3rd June, 2008

Two Sporadic E peaks, one in the mornig and another one in the evening. The morning's peak was giving stations from Greece, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. The evening's peak was raising signals from the UK and surpsrisingly also Serbia's Radio Index. All usual networks omitted here. Weak quality openings in general.

FM LOG - Tuesday 3 June 2008

88.0 0733 ROU: Kiss FM, Bucuresti. Barlad-tx. "KISS??__", PI: 515A.

88.9 0644 SRB: R.Index, Beograd. Beograd/Torlak-tx. Also in the evening.

91.8 0743 ROU: R.Sud-Est, Slobozia.

92.7 1736 G: BBC R.Scotland, Glasgow. "BBC_Scot", PI: C415.

Sporadic E opening 2nd June, 2008

This was the season's first real opening to Russia.
Interesting stations were audible first on the OIRT band but the stations appeared also on the western CCIR band. There were some new stations for me from the Bashkortostan, Tatarstan and Orenburg regions. Of course, usual national networks were heard but these are omitted here.

FM LOG - Monday 2 June 2008

66.68 0821 RUS: R.Yuldash, Ufa. Ufa (BA)-tx.

67.79 0753 RUS: Kunel Radiosa, Naberezhnye Chelny.

69.68 1106 RUS: Narodnoe R, Moskva. Ryazan/Mosolovo-tx.

72.41 1006 RUS: Vashe R., Cheboksary. Ibresi (CV)-tx.

88.0 1056 RUS: Russkoye Radio, Tolyatti. Local ID.

89.8 1026 RUS: Dorozhnoe R.. Dimitrovgrad (UL)-tx.

101.9 0935 RUS: Evropa Plus, Naberezhnye Chelny. Local ads.

101.9 1030 RUS: Avtoradio, Moskva. Nizhniy Novgorod-tx.

102.3 0920 RUS: Novaya Volna, Buzuluk (OB).

105.0 0932 RUS: R.Yana Gasyr, Kazan. //102.6.

105.1 0944 RUS: R.Shanson, Moskva. Nizhnekamsk (TS)-tx.

Sporadic E opening 1st June, 2008

Just a trace of France. Usual networks omitted here.

FM LOG - Sunday 1 June 2008

87.8 1749 F: Le Mouv', Toulouse (31). Lyon (69)-tx. NoID.

87.9 1746 F: France Bleu Drôme Ardèche, Valence (26). "BL??DROM", PI: F905.

88.9 1806 LUX: RTL R.Lëtzebuerg, Luxembourg. NoID. "RTL_Letz, POST____, 90071234", PI: 7210.

Sporadic E opening 28th May, 2008

Shortly skip to the Netherlands at noon. Romania etc. in the evening. Usual networks omitted here. Romania seems to be quite anemic radio country these days - mainly boring networks. Just for the records, Info Pro was received on four frequencies 88.5, 92.4, 93.9 and 96.2, for example.

FM LOG - Wednesday 28 May 2008

87.9 0931 HOL: NOS Omroep Zeeland, Oost-Souburg. Goes-tx.

88.6 0934 HOL: Slam!FM, Hilversum.

88.7 1657 ROU: Kiss FM, Bucuresti. Focsani-tx. "_KISS_FM", PI: 515A.

90.5 1708 ROU: R.1, Alexandria. Local px!

94.1 1747 BUL: R.FM +, Sofia. Burgas-tx.

95.3 1645 ROU: R.Trinitas, Bucuresti. Ploiesti-tx. NoID. "TRINITAS, 95,30MHz", PI: E24D.

97.6 1653 ROU: RR 4 Muzical, Bucuresti. Ploiesti-tx. NoID. "MUZICAL_", PI: FF02.

97.6 1733 TUR: R.Tatlises, Istanbul. "TATLIN__, SESI____", PI: 319B.

98.1 1732 ROU: Pro FM, Bucuresti. Râmnicu Vâlcea-tx.

99.2 0937 HOL: Slam!FM, Hilversum. Vlissingen-tx. NoID. PI: 82A5.

99.4 1741 BUL: R.Fokus, Sofia. Sozopol-tx.

Sporadic E opening 25th May, 2008

More sporadic E... First time received in Finland are unerlined. Usual networks omitted here.

FM LOG - Sunday 25 May 2008

88.0 0943 I: R.Studio 24, Chiaravalle (AN).

88.9 1003 SRB: R.Index, Beograd. Beograd/Torlak-tx. NoID.

88.9 1159 LUX: RTL R.Lëtzebuerg, Luxembourg.

94.1 1119 F: +Parenthèse R., Paris (75). Dijon (21)-tx. New network with 10 transmitters started in October 2007 and focusing exclusively on family and parenting issues. An interesting format!

97.4 1116 F: R.Star, Vesoul (70). Langres (52)-tx.

Sporadic E opening 24th May, 2008

Finally the seasons first Es opening on CCIR frequencies 87.5...108 MHz. First time received in Finland are unerlined. Usual networks omitted here.

FM LOG - Saturday 24 May 2008

69.68 1840 BLR: BR R.Brest, Brest.

88.9 1701 SUI: +R.32, Solothurn. Rütschelen-tx.

89.0 1929 CZE: R.Impuls, Praha. Ostrava-tx. NoID. "_IMPULS_", PI: 2203.

89.4 1658 SUI: R.Fribourg, Fribourg. Sorens/Gibloux-tx.
91.0 1930 CZE: Frekvence 1, Praha. Ostrava-tx. NoID. PI: 2205.

91.8 1623 F: R.Lac, Genève. Mont Salève (74)-tx. Tx is in France

92.8 1521 I: R.Studio Delta, Cesena (FC). NoID. PI: 53FB.

94.0 1543 I: R.Linea Network, Civitanova Marche (MC). Ascoli Piceno (AP)-tx.

97.6 1926 SVK: R.Hey!, Bratislava. Banská Bystrica-tx. NoID. "*_HEY_*_", PI: 5345.

99.1 1529 I: R.Center Music FM, Ancona. Ancona-Forte Montagnolo (AN)-tx. "_ANCONA_", PI: 5475.

Licenced Serbian Broadcasters 2008

SERBIA: National broadccasting licences as well as licences for Belgrade stations were granted in 2006. Regional licences were granted in 2007 and local licences were granted just recently in the beginning of this year, 2008. Also a new licencing round for some extra licences aound Serbia has started just recently in May 20th. Let's look a little bit now how the already made decisions look like. Of cource there can be changes regarding these licences and stations but following the next link you'll find a list of licenced Serbian broadcasters 2008. The frequencies of Radio Beograd networks were incorporated into this list from the information available at the web site of Radio Beograd. The frequencies of Radio Novi Sad in this list are the frequencies already known in the past. Otherwise all the information is from the official documents of RRA (Republička Radiodifuzna Agencija). More ...

SRB: Radio Vihor, Pančevo 1680 kHz

A special International broadcast in Serbian and Finnish from Radio Vihor, Pančevo arranged by my friends Harri and Jim visiting the station during their trip to Serbia, was advertised in advance. It was supposed to be on the air on Sunday 18th of May starting at 20 UTC for one hour on 1650, 1660 or 1670 kHz. But... hearing this transmission proved to be a kind of challenge. I decided to drive to my AM pedition place, to a village of Aitoo, for catching the signal of this "rarity" station.

I was in position just in time but hearing the station wasn't that easy. When trying to track down the signal of Vihor I noticed signals on the aforementioned frequencies 1650, 1660 and 1670 kHz but nothing didn't match to Radio Vihor. I almost thought that 1670 kHz playing music that sounded like Bombfunk MC could have been Vihor because of the music originating from Finland... I also checked for other frequencies but in a lesser extent. When the time seemed to be running out soon, I decided to send SMS to my friend Tero to find out how he is hearing the station. To my luck, he told that Harri had phoned him and told that they had changed frequency to 1680 kHz. OK, I concentrated to this new frequency now on. To hear the station was still a tricky task to complete. I noticed apparently a Greek station on this frequency and heard also "Funky town" music. But then with the latter was fading another music station.

And just when the station was supposed to be signed off according to the original plan, the time was already 21.01 UTC - I suddenly heard clearly numbers said in Finnish language. That was the postal address of this special transmission. Soon after that also some "Radio Vihor" IDs. And very soon the frequency was taken over by another much stronger station which turned out to be Radio Barones. I will add sound clips later.

Thank you Harri, Jim and Radio Vihor for arranging this special broadcast!!

AM LOG - Sunday 18 May 2008

1680 2101 SRB: R.Vihor, Pančevo. The end of the address of this special broadcast appeared suddenly with numbers said in Finnish language "4 8001 BC Zvolle Holland". Also ID "This is Radio Vihor". At 2104 UTC Radio Barones occupied the frequency with it's greetings to Radio Vihor and Harri.

Start of the Sporadic E Season 2008

It's the time of the year when the Sporadic E Season 2008 is in our hands. Yes - I received the first signals on OIRT band today for this season. However nothing to hurray, no real logs yet. Not so much OIRT signals to be discovered and only identified transmitters were three networks from Tbilisskaya (KD) site as follows: Radio Rossii 66.20, Radio Mayak 66.98 and Radio Yunost 67.76. All of these were heard between 11.50-12.00 UTC.

DX Pedition Aitoo

The first DX pedition to Aitoo in November. Once again nice signals from North America. The following frequencies were open with NA stations: 1030, 1110, 1120, 1130, 1140, 1150, 1190, 1200, 1210, 1220, 1290, 1300, 1310, 1320, 1370, 1410, 1460, 1470, 1480, 1500, 1510, 1520, 1550, 1560, 1570, 1580 and possibly 1650 kHz. More specific log will follow later - no tapes checked yet.

AM LOG - Sunday 11 Nov. 2007

1130 0323 USA: WBBR New York, NY

1140 0059 CAN: CBI Sydney, NS

1150 0016 USA: WHBY Kimberly, WI

1150 0105 CAN: [in French]

1200 0258 CAN: CFGO Ottawa, ON

1290 0138 CAN: CFRW Winnipeg, MB

1300 0159 USA: KKOL Seattle, WA

1300 0417 USA: WOOD Grand Rapids, MI

1310 0118 CAN: CHLW St. Paul, AB

1310 0301 CAN: CIWW Ottawa, ON

1320 0319 CAN: CKEC New Glasgow, NS

1320 0147 CAN: CHMB Vancouver, BC. Chinese or Korean.

1370 0559 USA: WDEA Ellsworth, ME

1470 0312 CAN: CJVB Vancouver BC. Chinese.

1500 0513 USA: WLQV Detroit, MI. Good Christian music.

1510 0500 USA: WWZN Boston, MA

1520 0350 USA: WWKB Buffalo, NY

1560 0244 USA: WQEW New York, NY

Local Radio Station Closed Down

The signal of local "community radio station" on 87,9 MHz has disappeared today, on the 6th of November 2007. The transmitter was on the air continuously almost eight weeks at least since the 14th of September when it's existence was discovered. The radius of it's coverage area was about 400 meters. It broadcasted in stereo and it's programme content was mainly just "empty" carrier. However, the signal had strong mains hum. When talked about real broadcasted audio, MSN Messenger sounds were often heard on the frequency - couple of times also music and sound track of some TV programme.

Of cource, we are now talking here about now-legal 50 nanowatts minitransmitters whose nominal radius of coverage area is around 5 meters. That figure refers to good quality stereo signal but one can easily imagine that these can be heard from much further distance with weaker signals. We must keep in mind that on a free channel the signal just above the noise level can be very listenable, readable as we can say. In this case, the distance to the transmitter was approximately 200 meters and the tuner showed 10-28 dB signal strength at different times. Triax 3-el. Yagi was the receiving antenna.

What was unusual here was the fact that this minitransmitter was on the air continuously almost eight weeks. It was connected to the mains judging by the strong mains hum audible all the time. But as stated there was something wrong with the connection because the mains hum was so loud. These little devices are usually battery operated to eliminate the humming problem.

These minitransmitters can be a real threat to FMDX-ing if used on a "wrong" frequency and if several equipment are used in a relatively small area. In this particular case, the Sporadic E season 2007 is now over and no potential tropospheric targets is on the frequency in question, so this community broadcaster was rather harmless. The situation would be totally different during the summer months...

Minor tropo lift 23.-27.10.2007

October usually offers good tropospheric conditions but not every year. There hasn't been good tropo openings this autumn so far so I'm sure many listeners have waited for those. Well, somewhat better tropospheric propagation was available in the end of October, between the days of 23 and 27 October. Nothing fancy but Oslo of Norway was reached anyway. Plenty of Swedish transmitters from Västernorrland, Västerbotten, Jämtland, Uppland, Västmanland, Dalarna and Gävleborg were audible - however not so much PLR stations. Some catches as examples:

88.5V 1608 FIN: Club FM, Helsinki. Kaarina-tx. ID. Was heard everyday during 23.-27.10.2007 fading in and out above the noise and YLE's QRM. Mostly quite weak. 23.10.2007

88.7H 0931 NOR: NRK P1. Oslo-tx. NoID. Heard this one several times already in Aitoo and Turku. 24.10.2007

93.6V 0016 S: 106,7 Mix Megapol Gävle, Gävle. Sandviken-tx. 400 W repeater according to onair.nu. "106,7 Gävle Sandviken Mix Megapol". This was the best catch from this tropo period. 26.10.2007

95.2V 1648 FIN: Metro FM, Helsinki. ID. 26.10.2007

95.9V 1206 FIN: Steel FM, Mariehamn. Not among the best frequencies in Pirkanmaa. 24.10.2007

96.2V 1724 FIN: Iskelmä Uusikaupunki, Uusikaupunki. ID. 24.10.2007

101.9 1452 FIN: YLE R.Vega, Helsingfors. Hanko-tx. 24.10.2007

106.7V 0027 S: 106,7 Mix Megapol Gävle, Gävle. ID. 26.10.2007

107.0V 1637 FIN: Iskelmä Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä. Pihtipudas-tx. ID. 23.10.2007

107.2 1648 FIN: Russkoje R., Helsinki. Kotka-tx. ID. 23.10.2007