Typhoon Haiyan aftermath (Source: VOA News)
Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Alex, who writes:
The Philippines disaster has prompted the BBC World Service to put on a short wave service to the Philippines.
[The BBC notes:]
“We have extended the hours until next Tuesday to give a longer run in the evening, so on SW the following hours are heard.
09:00 – 11:00 GMT
11825 kHz – 25 Metre Band
12010 kHz – 25 Metre Band
17790 kHz – 16 Metre BandThere is also existing SW which is not necessarily targeting the Philippines but which they should be able to pick up as follows:
11:00 – 15:00 GMT
6195 kHz – 49 Metre Band
9740 kHz – 31 Metre Band00:00 – 02:00 GMT
6195 kHz – 49 Metre Band
9740 kHz – 31 Metre Band
11955 kHz – 25 Metre Band
[UPDATE: Frequencies and times have been updated as of 15:30 UTC, November 13, 2013]
In Alex’s message he also noted that the info from the BBC is presently a bit vague. He will keep us updated as he receives more information.
with regards to dans comment about the amateur radio mantra “if all else fails…”
check this out:
hero.para.org.ph
The amateur radio community was the first, and til today in some areas THE only provider of communication from and to the disaster areas.
Yes, by now.. weeks after… some cell towers are back in operation (people still have no power to charge their phones) – but in many areas there is not even that. On all major hit islands is a radio-amateur joining a radio-network, and linking their desaster zone to the world.
You people in your comfy living rooms, in areas of the world were the worst you can experience is rainfall on your way to the garage… tend to laugh at the “ham radio mantra” and some people in our community are indeed clowns. But there is also those who are not.. and there is many places on our planet today that does not have the same communication infrastructur that you are used to with your broadband-everywhere life and internet in your pocket.
Some places rely on wireless – especially in not so dense populated areas where it is not commercially viable or technically difficult to establish a cellphone network.
Too bad it requires a major desaster to open only a few sleepy eyes.
Thanks i am one of those ham radio operators.
So many people did not take us seriously, now they do.
This is really dumb. On Newsday last hour the mentioned they added extra frequencies and times. But then didn’t give them out on air. Instead they told people to go to the BBC website for more information. Humm! how can people do this is telecommunications lines and mobile services are down?
I was listening to the 1100-1130 World Service segment on WNYC this morning, and it was announced that “in addition to all the usual methods, listeners in the Philippines can hear us on shortwave.” All I could think of is the amateur radio mantra, also applicable to SWBC, that the medium works “When all else fails.”
What is really dumb is there is no mention of this in any of there news magazine targeting South East or East Asia.