Every year, the BBC broadcasts a special program to the scientists and support staff in the British Antarctic Survey Team. The BBC plays music requests and sends special messages to the small team of 40+ located at various Antarctic research stations. Each year, the thirty minute show is guaranteed to be quirky, nostalgic, and certainly a DX-worthy catch!
Regular SWLing Post readers know that I’m a huge fan of the Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast (and without fail, it falls on my birthday each year!).
Hit the record button!
Halley VI: The British Antarctic Survey’s new base (Photo credit: British Antarctic Survey)
This year, I’m calling on all SWLing Post readers and shortwave radio listeners to make a short recording (say, 30-60 seconds) of the show and share it here at the Post.
The recording can be audio-only, or even a video taken from any recording device or smart phone. It would be helpful to have a description and/or photo of your listening environment and location, if possible.
If you submit your recording to me, I will post it here on the SWLing Post–and insure that the BBC World Service receives the post, too. The recordings will be arranged by geographic location.
Are you in?
If you’re interested in participating, mark your calendars for June 21st! I’ll post updates and frequencies about the Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast here on the SWLing Post. Please follow the tag: Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast…and get ready for some cool solstice fun!
Hi everybody:
Here is the link to video file while I record broadcast.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/arbddgo9dfp1jcx/IMG_0150.MOV?dl=0
I am located in Istanbul, Turkey. I used Sony ICF-SW77 for listening with internal antenna on 5905 KHz. The sound was not clear but understandable. Time was 21:35 UTC.
Tom; your help in obtaining a QSL would be appreciated. Best regards and wishes from Turkey, Istanbul.
Thank you for anouncement. I recorded couple ov videos and published them on Facebook shorwave listeners group page. I also have them on my ipad, they are pretty big for emailing. https://www.facebook.com/groups/403939909685884/
My setup : Commradio cr-1 and indoor Active Loop AOR LA390. Location – Khimki, near Moscow. Igor
Hi, Igor,
I tried to find your video but had no luck. If you could upload it to Vimeo or YouTube, I could embed it in the upcoming post. If you do this, please send me a link! 🙂
Best,
Thomas
Hi Tom.
Here is a sound file of the broadcast monitored in central Malaysia, using the frequency 5.985 kHz via Ascension Island at 21.30 UTC:
https://www.box.com/s/orlqt7pf3q1jqbtw4ohnmnpxq0qpfeqn
By 21.35 UTC, QRM from presumably Myanmar Radio overwhelmed this frequency. Worst of all, reception on 9.590 kHz via Wooffeton was in audible due to strong QRM from PBS Xizang. Transmission on 5.905 via Dhabbaya was the only audible signal after 21.35 UTC, and it was a paltry (SINPO) 15341, best heard in USB.
Your help in obtaining a QSL would be appreciated. Thank you and 73s, Timm
Nothing heard in Tucson AZ.
I her them here in North Carolina. Quite weak, but audible on 9590 kHz.
-Thomas
Are they still on at 01:40 June 22? I hear something way down in the noise:
BBC Arctic
The programme can also be heard at transmission, 2325 GMT/UTC on Sunday, 21.June and later via BBC iPlayer http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02tp3cv
Test frequencies used a week or so ago at 2130 GMT/UTC were:
5905 from UAE
5985 from UK
7425 from Ascension
9590 from UK
E&OE depending on the results of the test these could be the ones used.
Watch this space
We still await final details
Many thanks, Kris! Yes, please let us know the moment the frequencies are confirmed!
Best,
Thomas
K4SWL
I’ll be ready here in Argentina!!
Andrés
Great idea, Thomas. I expect you’ll get lots of support for this project. Signals beamed to Antarctica are usually very good here….we’re in the right direction! 😉 So, I’ll endeavour to record what I can here for you.
Are you intending to add these recordings to your Radio Archives? If so, I did recordings of last year’s broadcast on various freqs. You are most welcome to download and add those to your archives, if you like. The relevant post is:
http://medxr.blogspot.com.au/2014/06/bbc-antarctic-transmission-great.html
I’ve not seen any release of frequencies for this year’s broadcast yet. They often run test transmissions one week before to confirm that they have chosen the right freqs. After the tests, they occasionally end up dropping or changing freqs when the actual broadcast comes around.
All the best …. and Happy Birthday (in advance!). 🙂 Rob
I recall listening last year and I heard absolutely nothing from here in Virginia. I hope this year will be better.
Indeed, George, let’s hope propagation is working in our favor!
I’ll be listening here from South Florida on my hot vertical or my dipole for the lower frequencies. I’ll be waiting for the times and frequencies and I can record direct to CD.
Thanks BOB
Excellent! Thanks, Bob!
Hi
I should be able to do it for you and place it on my YouTube channel.
Frequency and times in UTC when you can please?
Thanks
Mike
Hi, Mike, I’ll post the schedule and frequencies as soon as I can confirm them! -T