Short-Wave Report: Reception Versus Jamming
April 1959 Popular Electronics

April 1959 Popular Electronics Table of Contents Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles from Popular Electronics, published October 1954 - April 1985. All copyrights are hereby acknowledged.

Nobody younger than about 35 years old was alive when the "Iron Curtain" was still in place. That was where the Communist countries were able to keep outside information from the rest of the free world from getting to their oppressed citizens. The Soviet Union, China, North Korea, and other regimes had a vested interest in keeping people from learning that not everybody lived in squalor as they did. Maybe you remember the tales of Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward catalogs needing to be secreted into the countries because the Communists feared their influence. The type of radio signal jamming mentioned in this 1959 issue of Popular Electronics magazine was common during the Cold War era. Modern communications has made information dissemination ubiquitous, even in the still-Communist countries - like Russia, China, and North Korea.

Short-Wave Report - Reception Versus Jamming

By Hank Bennett

For several years one of the chief scourges of the short-wave broadcast bands has been the jamming stations. It is virtually impossible to tune across any of the main short-wave bands without hearing at least one jammer and often as many as a dozen. These jamming stations are largely located behind the Iron and Bamboo Curtains and their purpose is to prevent listeners in those areas from hearing newscasts and commentaries beamed to them from outside countries. (See article starting on page 41 of this issue.)

The jammers are often so strong that they also prevent listeners in the U.S.A. from tuning in on certain channels. Many readers report that this, alone, is enough to turn them away from their receivers in disgust.

The International Shortwave Club of London has, for months, been asking their members to avoid listening to stations that are located in countries responsible for jamming and, of course, to avoid sending reception reports to those stations. Whether this has or has not had any effect on the stations is difficult to ascertain. On days when jamming signals blanket the regular short-wave bands, you might try tuning in some of the off-beat channels where the jamming is almost non-existent (although you may run into a good bit of Morse code interference from time to time). These channels include many rarely heard stations that may prove to be new countries for your log. Let's check some of them. If you want to snag a rare one, try for

V3USE, Forest Side, Mauritius. This station wanders from about 14,980 kc. up as high as 15,020 kc. and is currently being reported on 15,018 kc. at 2300 with English news. You may need a lot of patience with this one but it is being reported in Eastern states.

Another relatively clear channel is 9009 kc., where you can find Israel afternoons between 1400 and 1600. Reports indicate that it is well heard in most areas.

If you can understand Spanish, go after the Nicaraguans in the 7000-kc. band. Some of these are: YNMS, R. Phillips, Leon, 7650 kc.; YNCA, R. Atlantico, Bluefields, last reported on 7755 kc.; and YNRM, R. Musun, Matagalpa, 7593 kc. You may need a bit of extra tuning for them as they seem to wander around a bit. Try during mid-to-late evenings.

If you can tune above 40 megacycles (40,000 kc.) , try for the British Broadcasting Corporation's television Channel I (audio only) on 41,500 kc. Two stations, Crystal Palace and Divis, can be heard late mornings and they are just a few cycles apart although listed for the same frequency. (Your editor has both of them verified.) Another TV channel that is usually well heard at the same time is the French Channel II at Caen on 41,250 kc.

Other stations that can be found occasionally include: Beirut, Lebanon, on 8000 kc. (varies up to 8036 kc.); a station in Ecuador, as yet unidentified, on 8899 kc.; Radio Espana Independiente (Spanish Clandestine) on or near 6948 kc.; and JOZ, Tokyo, 3925 kc. A real tough one to log is the Falkland Islands station on 3958 kc., noted in Western areas around 1800-1900.

Check this list the next time you are baffled by the jammers. You'll find that you can have as much fun tuning the off-beat channels as you will have in the standard bands. Be sure to send reception reports; many of these stations are strictly regional and reports from outside areas enable their engineers to know where their signals are going. Let us know how you make out.

At time of compilation all reports are correct. Stations often change schedules and/or frequencies with little or no advance notice. All times shown are Eastern Standard and the 24-hour system is used.

Albania-Tirana is heard with Eng. news, music, and commentary at 1530-1600 on 6900 kc. The 7850-kc. parallel channel is rarely noted here. (541)

British Guiana - R. Demerara is scheduled Sundays at 0445-2145, Saturdays 0415-2245, weekdays at 0415-2145 on 5981 and 3255 kc. Listeners in southern states might also try for this station on 660 kc. in the medium-wave band. (477)

Cape Verde Islands - CR4AC, R. Barlavento, St. Vincente, 3960 kc., may be noted from 1825 to 1900/close with typical native music. The anthem "A Portuguesa" is played just before close-down. (MS)

Chile - CE1196, R. Sociedad Nacional de Mineria, Santiago, 11,960 kc., is often logged from about 2215 to 2230 with popular recordings. (420)

Dominican Republic - HI5B, Santiago de los Caballeros, is now noted on 4905 kc. at 1800-2000. Previously it was covered by YVKB, Venezuela, on assigned 4890 kc. (100)

Ecuador - R. Muruiial, Riobamba, has moved from 6295 kc. to 6218 kc. and can be noted at 1900-2300. (100)

French Guiana - Cayenne has moved back to 6195 kc. from 6215 kc. and is heard from 0515 s/on to 0600 when HJEZ, Colombia, blocks it out; also noted at 1730 in French, again badly cut up by HJEZ. (4,166,378)

Germany - Deutsche Welle (Voice of Germany) is currently scheduled as follows: to the Far East at 0200-0510 on 21,735, 21,650, and 11,795 kc.; to the Near East at 0930-1240 on 21,735, 21,490, and 17,875 kc.; to Africa at 1300-1610 on 17,815, 15,275, and 11,945 kc.; to South America at 1700-2010 on 15,375, 11,795, and 9735 kc.; and to N.A. at 2030-2340 on 15,405, 11,795, and 9640 kc. German-speaking listeners may receive the program schedule by airmail at no charge. (GN, 378, 474)

Haiti - The following list of active radio stations in Haiti was compiled with the help of PE reporter #4: 4VU, relay of 4VI, Cayes, on 3322 (or 3455) kc., 250 watts power; 4VGS, R. Independence, Gonaives, 5020 kc., 400 watts; 4VPM, La Voix du Nord-Quest, Port-de-Paix, 5040 kc., 225 watts; 4VRM, La Voix des Gonaives, Gonaives., 5060 kc., 400 watts; 4VBS, La Voix du Sud, Cayes, 5750 kc., 300 watts; 4VB, R. Commerce, Port-au-Prince, 5982 kc., 7500 watts; La Voix de la Vie Marie, Cap Haitien, 6100 kc., 540 watts; 4VE, La Voix Evangelique, Cap Haitien, 6138 kc., 50 watts; 4VWA, R. Citadelle, Cap Haitien, 6155 kc., 150 watts; 4VHW, R. Haiti, Port-au-Prince, 6200 kc., 1000 watts; 4VCP, La Voix du Nord, Cap Haitien, 6222 kc., 300 watts; 4VEH, La Voix Evangelique, Cap Haitien, 9770 kc., 4000 watts; 4VWI, La Voix Evangelique, Cap Haitien, 11,850 and 15,390 kc., 300 watts.

Short-Wave Abbreviations

    Anmt - Announcement     N.A. - North America(n)

    B/C - Broadcasting           R. - Radio

    Eng. - English

    ID - Identification             s/off-Sign-off

    kc. - Kilocycles                  s/on-Sign-on

Honduras - The call letters for R. Teguci-galpa, Tegucigalpa, 6035 kc., are HRTL and not HRCM as reported in other bulletins. The ID is plainly noted at 0100 s/off. (149)

Indonesia - The current Eng. schedule for Voice of Indonesia, Djakarta, reads: 0600-0700 (news at 0615) to Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands on 9710 and 11,795 kc.; 0930-1030 (news at 0945) to S.E. Asia and Pakistan on 9710 and 11,795 kc.; 1400-1500 - (news at 1415) to Western Europe and New Zealand on 9865 and 11,795 kc. The 1400 period is usually well heard in Eastern USA. Reports and suggestions about the programs are wanted and may be sent to P.O. Box 157, Djakarta. (501)

Ivory Coast - R. Abidjan, 4940 kc., is noted at 1700-1730 s/off and at 0200 in French. The "William Tell Overture" (a part) seems to be a trademark of this station for it is noted frequently. They verify promptly, (DR, 348)

Lebanon - Beirut has been found on exactly 8000 kc. at 0030 with Arabic chanting, French ID, news, but no English. (166)

Mexico - La Voz de America has replaced 15,160 kc. with 6165 kc. and is parallel to 9500 kc. at 0645-0100_ (378, 474)

Monaco - Monte Carlo can be found on 6035 kc. at 1630-1730 with operatic music and at 0100-0105 with news in French, followed by a musical program. The 7140-·kc. outlet carries Eng. and French at 2330-0000 with an excellent signal, (BW, 348, 541).

North Vietnam - Hanoi, 11,840 kc., has an Eng. ID at 0730, 0830, and 0930. English news is noted at 0930, with dictation-speed news at 0915. Parallel to 9840 kc. (166, 377, 420)

Pakistan - Karachi can be tuned in Eng. to Turkey at 1315-1400 (news at 1330) on 11,674 and 7010 kc.; to the United Kingdom on 11,674 and 9705 kc. at 1415-1500 (news at 1430) ;, and with Eng. news at 2000 to S. E. Asia on 11,885 and 15,355 kc. Reports go to R. Pakistan, 71 Garden Road, Karachi. (WF, 61, 378, 541)

Peru - OAX1Z, R. Nacional del Peru, Tumbes, 9549 kc., is a new station and has been tuned at 0700 s/on; also at 1900-2300 when Prague is not too strong. (100)

Philippine Islands - The schedule for the new 50,000-watt Far East B/C Co. is: DZF2, 11,920 kc., at 0800-0900 in Hindi, 0900-0930 in Tamil, 0930-1000 in Telugu, 1000-1100 in Eng., 1100-1130 in Eng., 1130-1200 in Russian, 1600-1730 in Japanese, 1730-1830 in Mandarin; and DZF3, 15,385 kc., at 1830-1930 in English. All transmissions are beamed west except the 1100-1200 and 1600-1830 segments which are beamed north. (92)

Saudi Arabia - Tune for Djeddah on 11,950 kc. A tone signal is broadcast at 2230-2250, an interval signal to 2300 when Home Service in Arabic begins. Do not confuse this with London's Arabic service on 11,955 kc. (378)

South Africa - Johannesburg, 15,230 kc., has Eng. on Thursdays from 1200. News at 1200 is followed by old American recordings. (61)

Tanganyika - Dar-es-Salaam is scheduled in Eng. on 5050 kc. at 2315-0000 Sundays through Fridays, and at 1300-1430 (Saturdays to 1500). The 7167-kc. outlet carries Eng. at 0400-0615 Mondays through Saturdays, and Eng. and Swahili at 0300-0400. (LP, 44)

Thailand - The Thai National B/C Station, Bangkok, 11,670 kc., gives fair to good reception only at 0850-0900 with a brief Eng. anmt at 0900. This is a relay of the Home Service for overseas listeners. (378)

United Arab Republic - Cairo now carries Eng. dictation-speed news on 11,670 kc. at 0145-0205 closing. The 11,989-kc. outlet has Eng. to Europe and the United Kingdom at 1600-1700 with news and commentary at 1615. (RM, EN, 61, 420)

Short-Wave Contributors

Jerry Badurski (JB), St. Petersburg, Fla.

Johnny Dyer (JD), Cisco, Texas

Werner Funkenhauser (WF), Kingsville, Ont.

Richard Martin (RM), Pittsfield, Mass.

Eddie Nance (EN), Elizabethton. Tenn.

George Neumann (GN), Culver City, Calif.

Larry Page (LP), Rochester, N. Y.

Denny Reeves (DR), Peoria, Ill.

Dick Schreiber (DS), Wheat Ridge, Colo.

Manuel A. Sousa (MS), Braga, Portugal

Bill Waltz (BW), Dayton, Ohio

Stewart West (4), Union, N. J.

Anson Boice (44), New Britain, Conn.

Grady Ferguson (59), Charlotte, N. C.

John Beaver (61), Canon City, Colo.

Del Green (92), Salt Lake City, Utah

Roger Legge (100), McLean, Va.

Maynard Simpers (121), Jacksonville, Fla.

J. Art Russell (149), San Diego, Calif.

George Cox (166), New Castle, Del.

Austin Frazee (190), Point Pleasant, N. J.

William Bing (226), New Orleans, La.

Glenn Cuthrell (348), Maxton, N. C.

Ken Boord (377), Morgantown, W. Va.

J. P. Arendt (378), Aurora, Ill.

L. E. Kuney (383), Detroit, Mich.

A. R. Niblack (420), Vincennes, Ind.

Robert Sabin (466), Wilmington, Ohio

Vernon Packard (474), Milwaukee, Wis.

Jerry Berg (477), W. Hartford, Conn.

Middle Eastern Correspondent (488)

Paul Buer (501), Harrison, N. Y.

Alan Roth (541), Bridgeport, Conn.

Windward Islands - Grenada's new 15,086- kc. outlet is heard well at 1600-2115 in beam to Jamaica, dual to 5010 kc. News relay from London is noted at 2100; home news at 1900. (JB, JD, 44, 59, 166, 226, 383, 420, 466)

Clandestine - R. Liberacion, Honduras, is heard irregularly at 1900-2300 on 5810 kc. (varies) with anti-government broadcasts. (DS, 100,121, 190, 420, 466)

Posted December 7, 2022
(updated from original post on 1/12/2012)