[HCDX] QSL Report for Al Muick, Week ending 26 November 2011
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[HCDX] QSL Report for Al Muick, Week ending 26 November 2011



BRUNEI, Radio Television Brunei, 594, no data confirmation email in 424 days for initial report in English via Airmail with US$2.00 and follow-up report in English with 3 IRCs via registered mail with return receipt. V/s Magdelene Tan, Head of Pilihan FM English Broadcast (magdalene_tan(at)rtb(dot)gov(dot)bn). QSL received 63 days after follow-up. The station (at 200kW) was heard at Kandahar Airfield, southern Afghanistan on September 9 2010 at 2107 UTC with prayers and music during the height of Ramadan. Fair signal, but hefty QRM from China, co-channel. Myanmar and AIR external service off. Heard with WinRadio G303e rx and terminated 100m wire from 60 foot tower. Ms. Tan also confirms that 594 kHz is no more. The QSL eMail reads:

"*/Greetings Mr Albert Muick,/*
I apologize for the late reply on this matter; the report is correct by our station logs. The previous report log dated September 2010 that you have attached may have gotten lost in the mail. Nevertheless, it gives us much pleasure to know that we have a strong support of listeners overseas and that it can be heard while you were posted at Kandahar Airfield, southern Afghanistan. As informed by our Transmission Unit, the frequency of 594 Khz is no longer available. However, you can still tune in to our netradio at www.rtb.gov.bn <http://www.rtb.gov.bn/> and click on any of the 5 radio networks i.e. Nasional FM, Pilihan FM, Pelangi FM, Harmoni FM & Nur Islam. "

ICELAND, Reykjavik via Grindavik Radio NAVTEX, 518, f/d very friendly letter from Commander Hjalti Saemundsson of the Icelandic Coast Guard confirming my report and explaining their current setup in 5 days for email report in English. QSL was sent via airmail. QSL email is: SAR(at)lhg(dot)is . See comments below.

ITALY, IBF Turin Commemorative Broadcast, 5000, f/d e-QSL certificate from Radio Maria QSL Service in 12 days for English eMail report. Heard via Cumbria, England remote receiver. Power listed as 20 watts.

The Iceland issue is a little hard to follow. CDR Hjalti Saemundsson states: "...The Icelandic Coast Guard became responsible for the operation of 6 coastal radio stations around Iceland in 2005. These are Reykjavik (TFA), Vestmannaeyjar (TFV), Hornafjordour (TFT), Nes (TFM), Siglufjordour (TFX) and Isafjordour (TFZ) (diacritics not included - Al). They are all now remotely operated from Reykjavik which is within the Icelandic Coast Guard - Maritime Traffic Service/Operations Centre (TFB)."

"In recent years the whole maritime radio network has been renewed. All antennas changed out and new established. This includes the NAVTEX as well. The sole transmitter used to be just outside Reykjavik but instead now we have two, one at Saudanes on the north coast and one at Grindavik on the south coast. With these two we are able to cover all our NAVTEX area."

"Although we are operating from Reykjavik and the radio mechanism is no longer connected directly to the six former radio stations, broadcast is still associated with them, basically for traditional reasons."

He goes on to verify that I caught a 600W transmission from a 60m omni antenna and that the callsign is TFA, and *NOT* TFK which had been issued to Grindavik Radio and as listed in the Klingenfuss directory. Apparently, since they control those tx'ers from Reykjavik, the callsign becomes that of Reykjavik, or TFA.

It seems that mediumwave stations the world over are shutting down in favor of national FM channels. The Asia-Pacific region is no exception, with Brunei now confirming that their 594 kHz operation has been shut down. I have asked for additional details and about the possibility of reactivation on special occasions and await an answer. Aside from the occasional UTE, this was the last medium- or shortwave station to QSL from that nation.

Vy 73 to all,

Al Muick
Whitehall PA  USA

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