Re: [IRCA] Department of bizarre QSLs

["Jim Pogue" <jpogue@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Craig. The Navy runs a rebroadcast of the Armed Forces Network on SW
frequencies intended primarily for ships in the Indian Ocean without good
satellite receiving facilities. It is sort of a hybrid SWBC/utility
operation, but they do QSL OK. Here is a link for more info.

http://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/radio/shortwave/

I heard AFN Diego Garcia on the 4 mHz frequency in the afternoon here thanks
to tip from J.D. Stephens. Not great reception but enough to send a
reception report. If you want to try for a QSL, the main office in Southern
California sends out a nice card. You can send an e-mail reception report
and the QSL usually arrives in less than 2 weeks. No return postage
required. Here is the e-mail address for QSLs:

QSL@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


They were just building the DG facility when I was in the Navy (1969-73). It
was VERY arduous duty then. Anyone who volunteered for a 1 year assignment
got their guaranteed choice of orders when they left, plus 30 days of basket
leave. I'm sure it's no resort still, but hopefully it's better now than in
the early 70s.

They used to say, "There's a woman behind every tree - you just can't find
any trees."

Good luck to your son and please thank him for his service to our nation for
me.

73s, Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: irca-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:irca-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Craig Healy
Sent: Friday, December 22, 2006 3:45 PM
To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America
Subject: Re: [IRCA] Department of bizarre QSLs

Partial data letter from AFN Diego Garcia with beautiful 8 x 10 photo of
island, signed by IC2 Bennett. Date on letter is Jan 23, 2006, postmark on
envelope is the same. Almost a year to arrive!!! The envelope, letter and
photo were all in good shape, so I don't think they were just stuffed in a
corner somewhere. Still, pretty weird if you ask me.
-=-=-=-

What did you hear from there?  My son was stationed on DG for a year and a
half.  The only radio he knew about was a 50w thing.  He didn't say anything
about utes, but I'd be very surprised if they verified anyhow.  He might be
going back.  I hope to supply him with a radio and some incentive to use it
and report.  He did say that Australian stations were good around sunset.  I
was hoping to figure a way to get a remote receiver there, but..

Surface mail can take a *very* long time.  I sent him a computer monitor
while he was there.  Took literally months.

Craig Healy
Providence, RI




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