Wednesday, 25 May 2016

African Pathways Radio, IRIB, free radio


Extracts from my June 2016 RadioUser column, Broadcast Matters

RadioUser reader Bradley Allen received a friendly letter from Zoe Robinson of BBC Northern Ireland verifying his reception report (1341kHz) sent to BBC Radio Ulster . Station manager is Jackie Neill and the postal address is BBC Radio Ulster, Ormean Ave, Belfast, BT2 8HQ. Well, one person’s local station is another person’s DX! Bradley also received some BBC pens. 

The Free Radio Service from Holland verified with a QSL card measuring about 8 x 6 inches. Peter Verbruggen is the contact there and they were heard on 9300 and 7700kHz with a 44444 SINPO. The postal address is PO Box 2702, 6049 ZG, Herten, The Netherlands or look at their website www.frsholland.nl

Bradley also heard Magic AM from the Netherlands on 6241kHz with a 44444 SINPO. Interestingly they carried a recorded announcement stating that there is no government control nor interference over the station’s programmes. You can email them yourself at magicfreeradio@gmail.com

A new station called African Pathways Radio burst into life on 9480kHz in the spring. A trumpet fanfare opens their broadcasts, followed by an announcement of "Welcome to African Pathways Radio”. Programme content reported by DXers includes one called This Day in History, Immersed in Life and another called Pathway to Happy Homes (which was about marriage) while other programmes talk about the bible. An email address given is Amifradio@gmail.com and another, for reception reports, is info@worldchristian.org  A colourful QSL card awaits those who submit correct reception reports. However, teething troubles soon beset the station.

World-famous Sri Lankan DXer Victor Goonetilleke posted an email which he received from African Pathways Radio on the World Radio TV Handbook Facebook page: "Thank you for sending an excellent report upon hearing African Pathways Radio during our first week of broadcasting. A QSL card is on its way to you now by mail. This is just a note to let you know your message was received and to express our appreciation for your email to us. 

Unfortunately, in our fifth day of operations, a defective part shut us down - so you will not be able to receive us now. Everything at the station is new and under warranty so it is just a matter of getting the part to Madagascar and having it installed. We will let you know when we resume operations. You were part of a wonderful, though short-lived, experience with us. We wish you the best in your pursuit of worldwide shortwave reception. With kindest regards, Henry Huffard, Host, African Pathways Radio, Madagascar World Voice". Hopefully by the time you read this normal service will have been resumed.


We turn to IRIB, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, where there is some confusion over their scheduling on shortwave this summer. But if you are catching them on shortwave or medium wave it’s a good time to get a QSL card. Write to Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Valiasr Avenue, Jam e Jam Street, PO Box 19395-6767, Tehran, Iran.



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