Thursday, March 14, 2013

Stamps and more for QSLing

 The radio hobby, whether medium wave, shortwave or amateur radio, agree there is only one source for foreign stamps and DX supplies. Bill Plum’s Airmail Postage and DX Supplies, offers hobbyists a source for worldwide postal stamps, that can be enclosed within outgoing reception reports.

Stamps are enclosed in a glassine envelope, eliminating the worry of stamps sticking to your letter. Among the DX supplies are European Air Mailer and European Air Return Envelopes, and excellent alternative to the smaller U.S. sized airmail envelopes. To learn more about Bill’s products line or the current postage stamp price list, send email to plumdx@msn.com or write him at; Bill Plum’s Airmail and DX Supplies, 12 Glenn Road, Flemington, NJ 08822.

  Radio Algérienne has resumed broadcasting on shortwave, using transmitters in Issoudun, France. The current Arabic schedule is available in MTXpress. Send program details to; Radio Algérienne, 21 Boulevard des Martyrs, 16000, Algiers, Algeria. Streaming audio at www.radioalgerie.dz/

Victor Goonetilleke informs DXers of a new contact from Bhutan Broadcasting Service. Victor states, “they have no QSL cards, so he is sending personal replies. I prepared my QSL text, which he can cut and paste for ease.” Send program details to Kaka Tshering, General Manager at kakatschering@bbs.bt

Curious about the presence of shortwave during the Cold War era ? It was a time when a plethora of stations flooded the airwaves with an entertaining and ideological stance of east against west. The Glory Days of Shortwave Radio is presented by Georgi Bancov of SWL DX Bulgaria. The 41 minute video brings an extensive video of interval signals, identifications and QSLs, presented in alphabetical order by-country at www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf_UzdvTyKQ

BANGLADESH
Bangladesh Betar, 7250 kHz. Full data color Tribal Girl card in headdress. signed by Abu Tabib Md. Zia Hasan, Senior Engineer. Received in 30 days, by postal mail, in reply to email report to rrd@dhaka.net with attached audio clip. Station address: Research & Receiving Center, Bangladesh Betar 121, Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Shabag Dhaka-100, Bangladesh. (Supratik Sanatani, Kolkata, India/playdx) Streaming audio www.betar.org.bd/
     
              
GUATEMALA
Radio Verdad 4055 kHz. Full data QSL and personal letter signed by Dr. Edgar A. Madrid, Director, plus pennant and station info pamphlet. Received in four weeks for an English report and currency. Station address: Apartado Postal 5, Chiquimula, Guatemala. (Artur F Llorella, Catalonia, Spain/HCDX) Streaming audio www.radioverdad.org   Email: radio.verdad.em@gmail.com

MEDIUM WAVE                                                                                                                
Luxembourg-RTL 236 kHz AM. Full data station QSL card, unsigned. Received in 18 days for an AM report. Station address: 45, boulevard Pierre Frieden, L-1543 Luxembourg. (Christian Ghibaudo/playdx)  Streaming audio www.rtl.lu/

Mexico-XEFD 590 kHz AM. Full data prepared QSL card returned as verified by Ing. Sergio Guttierrez. Received in 93 days for fourth followup. Previously sent reports in 2001, so actually  seven follow ups. QSL address: Blvd. Hidalgo 200-A, Fracc Polanco, 88710 Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. (John Wilkins, CO/NRC DX News 80-03) ^ Streaming audio via tunein http://tunein.com

 USA-KCCY, 1350 kHz AM. Pueblo’s Legendary Country. Full data prepared QSL card returned as verified by Jenna J. Mangino, plus note. Received in seven days from follow up. Station address: 1350 KCCY, 106 West 24th Street, Pueblo, CO 81003 (Wilkins). Streaming audio via iHeart www.1350kccy.com

 USA-KCJJ, 1630 kHz AM. The Mighty 1630. Full data prepared QSL card returned as verified by Tom S., General Manager. Received in nine days for an AM report, prepared QSL card and one mint stamp. Station address: KCJJ Radio, 845 Quarry Road, Suite 120, Coralville, IA 52241 P.O. Box 2118, Iowa City, IA 52244. (Loyd VH, SC) Website: www.1630kcjj.com/

WBT 1110 kHz AM. Charlotte’s News Talk. Full data station logo card with illegible signature. Received in seven days for an AM report, prepared QSL card (not returned) and one mint stamp. Station address: One Julian Price Place, Charlotte, NC 28208  (Van Horn) Streaming audio www.wbt.com/    

WFBL 1390 kHz AM. CNY Talk Radio. No data email response from Don Wagner, General Manager d.wagner@lmgiradio.com. Received several hours after email followup. Original AM report sent with two mint class stamps. Station address: CNY Talk Radio, 8456 Smokey Hollow Road, Baldwinsville, NY 13027. (Al Muick, PA/HCDX) Website: www.wflb.com/

WOR 710 kHz AM. Full data station card, signed by Timothy Reill, W2TRP, V.P. of Engineering, plus prepared QSL card returned as verified. Received in nine days for an AM report, prepared QSL card and one mint stamp. Station address: 111 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10006. (Van Horn) Streaming audio www.wor710.com/

 WQLR 1660 kHz AM. The Fan. Full data prepared QSL card returned as verified by Peter F. Tani, V.P. of Operations, plus coverage map and sticker. Received in nine days for an AM report,  prepared QSL card and one mint stamp. Station address: 4200 West Main, Kalamazoo, MI 49006 (Van Horn)  Streaming audio http://1660thefan.com/

 MYANMAR
Radio Thazin, 7110 kHz. Generic style email reply, thanking me for listening. Email indicated though a new station, they are trying to get better performance. Received for monitoring their English program 1430-1500 UTC. Reply received in less than two hours for email to thazinradio@yahoo.com  (Ron Howard, CA/DX Fossils/NASWA)

SOMALILAND
Radio Hargeisa, 7120 kHz The Voice of the Republic of Somaliland. No data E-QSL confirming reception only, from Saafi Ali, Online Officer. Received for an E-report to radiohargaysa@hotmail.com  (Howard)

 UTILITY
Brazil-Babitonga Patrol Ship, 12681 kHz. Full data prepared QSL card returned as verified by 1st Lt. Raphael Cruz Rangel de Souza. Received in 92 days for a utility report. QSL address: Commando Do 5° Distrito Naval, Av. Almirante Cerqueira e Souza, 70 Rio Grande, RS Brazil. (Roberto Landolfo/UDXF)

Germany-Hamburg Radio, 13146 kHz. Full data QSL card, signed by Reiner Dietzel. Received in 23 days for a utility report. Station address: DP07 Seefunk, Esteich 84, 21129 Hamburg, Germany, (Patrick Robic, Austria/UDXF)

Honduras-Cenamer Radio, 10024 kHz. No data letter and prepared QSL card returned, signed by Jorge Rodriguez, Jefe Unidad de Coordinación de Búsqueda y Salvamento. Received in 58 days. QSL address: Corporación Centroamericana de Serviscios de Navegación Aérea COCESNA, Centro Coordinator de Salvsmento, RCC Centroamerica, Apartado Postal No. 660, Tegucigalpa M.D.C., Honduras. (Robic)
(Monitoring Times/QSL Report-Gayle Van Horn)