[HCDX] Fw: Reception report 4880 kHz

Hi out there,

below is one of two answers I got from SW Radio Africa on 4880, and anyone familiar with reception conditions in SE Africa could

send on their advice to Richard. I've done my best to answer Richard's mail, but I know that there are better "experts" around.

I thought my AOR AR7030 had gone wild yesterday June 3, at 1730 UT...

The other and first mail came from Simon Surrey, Technical Manager, SW Radio Africa, just one hour after sending the report. His mail address is simon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

I let this correspondence speak for itself.

73 Johan Berglund

Trollhättan, Sweden

----- Original Message -----

From: richard

To: johandx@xxxxxxxxx

Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2003 1:45 PM

Subject: FW: Reception report 4880 kHz

Dear Johan,

Thank you for this report and your observations. It is exciting to know that we can be picked up in Sweden. In fact you seem to be able to hear us better than many people in our target area of Southern Africa.

If it is not too much trouble I wonder if you could explain in a few words how people in Zimbabwe with a short wave radio might be able to get a better signal. At this time of year there is a big problem with propagation and many people cannot hear our programmes, which is frustrating.

Is it possible to connect a regular short wave radio to a wire propped against a tree to get a better signal? Is there an optimum length of Arial to pick up signals on the 60 metre band?

Again many thanks for your e-mail.

Richard - SW Radio Africa
4880 KHz on the 60m band
http://www.swradioafrica.com

-----Original Message-----
From: simon
Sent: 03 June 2003 23:54
To: staff
Subject: FW: Reception report 4880 kHz

I have replied. What a nice report to have.

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: Johan Berglund [mailto:johandx@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: 03 June 2003 23:41
To: tech
Subject: Reception report 4880 kHz

Trollhättan, Sweden

June 3, 2003

SW Radio Africa;

Dear Sirs,

I congratulate you to the very fine reception of your broadcasts on short wave

4880 kHz in the 60 metre band. Even "way up" here in western Sweden, your

programmes are heard very well, with an astonishing signal strenght, and fine

readability. There was simply no comparision to other signals from Africa in the

same metre band at the time. I tuned in at 17.30 GMT and stayed with you for

an hour. June 3, 2003.

The news coverage of what is going on in Zimbabwe also stunned me, with so many

details and perspectives of the peaceful demonstrations against Robert Mugabe's

illegimate regime now taking place. This one hour of listening gave me more insight

than a dozen of newspaper articles.

I do listen with a semi-professional radio, the U.K. designed and manufactured AOR

AR7030, and a 50 metre outdoor wire for aerial, but I am very sure that any receiver

with shortwave covering the 60 metre band would pick it up very well - especially in

your "target area" of Zimbabwe.

On a scale 1-5 for signal strenght, you get 4, interference 4 (just occasional telegraph beeps,

and some voice communication, in Russian, I think), 5 for noise (no background buzz) 4 for

propagation (steady, only slightly variable signal strength) and 4+ for overall quality of recep-

tion. SINPO 44544.

A few details from your broadcast (times are GMT) At 17.33 an interview with a woman

who really had a horror story to tell, how she and her husband going in their car had had a

man jumping onto the roof of the car and stabbing it with a knife (or was it a bayonet ?), how

they had passed policemen not bothering and how they eventually escaped that drama...

After that you spelled out you website and at 19.43 a news story how staff members of The

Voice of the People had been beaten up by "war veteran" militiamen. Station identification :

-You're listening to the news from SW Radio Africa, Zimbabwe's Independent Voice. Then

about the arrests in Harare, MPs in police custody , and an interview with the owner of a Harare

farm supply store. The news went on well beyond normal time, you said, because of the

vast amount of things to report on. It came to a close at about 18.18, with a frequency

reminder about 4880 kHz, and the programme went on with a long and catchy Zimbabwe

Freedom Hymn.

I will indeed listen to 4880 kHz tomorrow too, and keep in touch with developments. I strongly

support your cause, and this broadcast that I heard made me very much more aware of the

terrible situation that freedom and democracy is suffering in Zimbabwe. I have not yet visited

your website, just wanted to write this letter first, with a very fresh impression of your programme.

Thank you so much, and all my best wishes. If you have the time, please just acknowledge that

I have heard your programme.

Sincerely yours

Johan Berglund (retired traffic officer)

Vabacksvägen 10

S - 461 91 Trollhättan

Sweden