The sparkling sun, lately, has brought noise, but also some interesting finds. For medium wave hunters, although if in mid summer (which isn't exactely the best season for the low spectrum), it's a really interesting period. So, here are some of recent catches that gave yours truly some satisfaction. Every entry is intended with Aosta as QTH (north-western Italy), Icom R71 as receiver, and a 10 meters vertical antenna homebrew from a fishing rod. Don't be lazy, switch on your radios, it's fun time!

1620 kHz – 04.00 UTC – 6th August 2011
A index did rise 'til 27 that night. I wasn't obviously aware (either you sit at the radio, or you're checking tables), but I noticed an unexpected TA opening on X-band channels. 1620 was dominated by Rebelde (I'd pay to see a clip of the transmitter and of how much power they put in it!), but a fading did reveal WDHP from Frederiksted. Here is the TOH id: "You're listening to WDHP 16-20 AM, from the United States Virgin Islands". Not the best, in terms of quality but remember we're talking an august night, and a station that most of the time relays BBC.

1566 kHz – 03.00 UTC – 6th August 2011
County Sound Radio, from Guidlford, in the United Kingdom, wasn't a premiere for yours truly. However, with its 750 watts, and a channel crowded as a commuter bus, I rarely heard it so intense. Here comes ID jingle. News followed (even if they're not in this recording.

1566 kHz – 03.18 UTC – 6th August 2011
With two muscled UK stations (County Sound and BBC Somerset/Bristol), the test by Challenger Radio in Rome quite passed unoticed here (while 1368 kHz from Padova blasts without any forgiveness). Except for that night, when, during their classic 30s songs slot, I managed to snag an announcement in Italian, including ID. Then, music restarted and they disappeared in the channel mud. Just in time!

1512 kHz – 22.30 UTC – 11th August 2011
I've to admit the reception of "Ondamedia Broadcast", from the Bologna area, has become my obsession. I can't see how I have no way of receiving this new italian medium wave station. However, if the attempts will bring results like this almost local IRIB1 from Ardabil, obviously in Farsi, I hope the struggle for Italy will last something more…

7200 kHz – 02.24 UTC – 14th August 2011
I was awake at late night to witness US and Brazil amateurs crossing the pond in 40 meters, with more strenght than European station, then decided to give a try to the top margin of the band. Hope was to find NVK Radio Sakha, but I should stop trusting Aoki. The Japanese list tells Radio Omdurman,  Sudan's State broadcaster, signs on at 02.30, while WRTH has it starting at 02.00. Not a disappointment, tho', as it was quite loud, and it's always pleasant to find a nice signal from another continent. Some sub-saharian sung parts, then – at 03.28 in the recording – comes the id in Arabic: "Huna Omdurman, idha' atu l-gumhuriya as-Sudan".

I would like to thank Alessandro Groppazzi for his precious assist with some Unids. Now, back to the dial, this plenty has to be taken until it lasts.

73,
Chris

HCJB started earlier today (as I type it's still Saturday 13th August 2011), at 18.00 UTC, tests for its new transmitting site in Germany. The central Europe service in German, on 3995 kHz, is now delivered to waves from Weenermoor, in the northern part of the Country (53 12 N, 07 19 E). This will gradually put to an end to the airing from Bremen (53 05 N, 08 50 E). So, you'll ask "how is the test going?". My personal answer, as well as the one of many DXLD Yahoo group members (who tried to listen through various remote receivers), is "Fine". I did try to tune HCJB at 20.29 UTC, and below you'll find the result. It's readable, it's quite strong, it has good dynamics. In a word, it's fine.
 

73,
Chris