Notes About Stations Observed. Last opened for editing September 13, 2008
3320KHz, [2006 It is slightly offset at about 3320.012KHz.] 2007 it is now very close to nominal frequency. (GPS based marker) It is stable on this frequency. Listed as R Sonder Grense via Meyerton. 28-08'E 26-35'S 100Kw. Schedule 16.00 or17.00 to 05.30 (changing to 7185 then 9650 at 08.00) This signal also has characteristics similar to the other presumed Africans, coming up strong before sunset and fading rapidly after sunrise. (North American stations remain visible for several hours after dawn.) Programming heard, African voices/music. RSG has satellite transmissions (2006) at 68.5°E (KU) and 62°E (C) Also streams (Luister popup, active X must be enabled) http://www.rsg.co.za/ Click:- Luister. Confirmed, audio stream is that heard on 3320KHz.
Some of the reliable signals break their transmissions at night. This makes it uncertain if a dawn peak is of higher strength than may have been obtained overnight, but the absence of a peak is definite!
This list needs updating, some of these may not be transmitting now, or may have changed frequency. I have tried to date those I know.
3255KHz, BBC 100Kw Meyerton. (One listing says UK!) 28-08'E 26-35'S 03.00-06.00 & 17.00-22.00 There is interference from a nearby frequency but with better propagation was noted above the interference, the carrier was free so could be monitored.
4930KHz 2006 VOA relay Selibi-Phikwe Botswana 27-39'E 21-59'S 03.00-06.00 & 17.30-22.00 100Kw Other stations on the same frequency R. Asgabad 2 Turkmenistan 50Kw. Dawn around 01.00. This is, like VOA, listed to switch off at 23.00 and could well be the station heard behind the African later in the evening. Under different propagation conditions could influence recordings.
3306KHz Harare Zimbabwe. 29-51'E 19-26'S Listed as 24 hours 50Kw. Either conditions were bad when I checked or it is running lower power. 18/19 May Weak signal, was visible all night but no chance of an ident.
3396KHz Zimbabwe, from their Gweru site. June 2007 still on August 2008. I am looking at this station, it is not absolutely reliable but can be identified sometimes. It is close to it's nominal frequency, the audio is obscured by QRM later at night although the carrier is easily seen an recorded.
4828KHz Zimbabwe. As 3396 above but NOT the same programme. Music, station announcements seem rare. August 2008
5019.87KHz Solomon Islands. I do not expect to positively identify this one. Various SWLs measured this some time ago, signals are consistent with what would be expected on that path. June 2007 the signal is just about seen at this time of the year, the path is borderline.
4910KHz Lusaka Zambia. 28-15'E 15-30'S 02.45-05.15 & 15.55-22.05 Radio 1 Vernacular and English. Other stations on the same frequency AIR New Delhi, Tennant Creek Australia - no problems, AIR can be stronger than Lusaka until it switches off at 17.40. 18 May 2006 a station separated by about 5Hz was matching Zambia's strength. Careful setting of text file frequency could avoid this, or recording the signal and processing after could be a solution? SpecLab has the option of saving a .wav file. Ident 03.43 18 May ...Radio One, Later..Write to PO Box... Lusaka. Unreliable? Off air from 20 May 2006.
4965 16.00-03.55 Zambia Christian Voice 30 May 2006 Strong signal, listed as Makeni 35Km from Lusaka 100Kw ? English, religious programmes. See latest recordings. Easily identified but due to its early closedown will not be mutual greyline here in the morning.
2325KHz Tennant Creek Australia Northern Territory. 50Kw ends 21.30. I'm just checking this, wondering if there is any relationship to the existence of enhancements observed here and on the African stations. Probably not, but in the short while I have looked at the Africans the first time possible enhancements were seen they coincided with the return of possible dusk/dawn enhancements on the Australian signal. Other NT stations Katherine 2485KHz, Alice Springs 2310KHz, I have lots of recordings from this.
Note I am using data published on the internet for the identification. As these are home services actual identification is no so easy, local dialects and accents, weak signals, heavy static, lack of regular announcements... One answer would be to record the signals. I have, when heard, no reason to doubt the basic information. Sources:- HFCC, British DX Club, eibi, Prime Time Shortwave broadcasters sites if applicable and other SWL lists. As always, recordings must be verified by listening to the signal for signs of interference and by examining the waterfall captures.
There is a potential for mutual Greyline to Africa in our winter evenings. (3320, 3306 4950 and 4965 could be candidates)
Grayline alternative spelling.