There’s a new shortwave station in South Sudan!
Kudos to Eye Media for their Shortwave Radio efforts in South Sudan to complement and extend their reach beyond local FM radio. And I must add, kudos to the United States for their part in helping to fund the venture. While I am quick to criticize my country for their cutbacks in SW funding, I have to be fair and say “well done” when something like this comes along. Here is the news report as posted April 26 (yesterday) on Radio Tamazuj and which was reported by Alokesh Gupta New Delhi on the Cumbre-DX Yahoo Group:
Eye Media, the parent organization of Eye Radio, has announced that it has launched a new shortwave broadcast service to complement its existing FM broadcasts in South Sudan.
The broadcasts starting today will bring listeners news and information in Arabic, as well as Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, Bari, Zande and Lutoho.
According to a press release today from Eye Media, “the Eye Radio Shortwave will cover the whole of South Sudan including remote areas in which communities are not able to access FM radio stations.”
Eye Radio is one of the fastest expanding media houses in South Sudan after launching FM repeaters in several state capitals last year, expanding the station’s reach beyond Juba where it is based.
In its press release, the station noted that the funding for this initiative came from USAID, the international development agency of the US government.
Shortwave radio is used for long distance communication by means of reflecting or refracting radio waves back to Earth from the ionosphere, allowing communication around the curve of the Earth. It was a popular means of long-distance news sharing before the advent of the Worldwide Web, and it is still used for reaching remote areas.
Only two other media houses broadcast on shortwave with content specifically for South Sudan: Radio Tamazuj, which operates two hours daily on the shortwave, and Voice of America, which produces the 30 minute program South Sudan in Focus.
Radio Tamazuj broadcasts from 6:30 to 7:30 each morning on 11650 kHz on the 25 meter band and 9600 kHz on the 31 meter band, and 15150 kHz and 15550 kHz on the 19 meter band each evening from 17:30 to 18:30.
Eye Radio’s new broadcasts will run from 7:00 to 8:00 each morning on 11730 kHz on the 25 meter band and 17730 kHz on the 17 meter band from 19:00 to 20:00.
Robert Gulley, AK3Q, is the author of this post and a regular contributor to the SWLing Post. Robert also blogs at All Things Radio.
I noted in January 2013 in an initial review of my FCD+ (http://funcubedongle.pbworks.com/w/page/62375070/Using%20on%20a%20Mac): Radio Tamazuj (a Sudanese/Arabic station) on 7315 kHz (reportedly using a transmitter of Vatican Radio). It appears Eye Radio is a separate activity from Radio Tamazuj so really no confusion.
It has been reported that Eye Radio is brokered by Alyx & Yey and was noted in English and other languages on April 27 from1600-1700 UTC on 17730 from an unidentified transmitter but possible Issoudun to EaAf Arabic + other languages. English was noted at 1618-1648 UTC.
Great information, thanks Richard!!
Hi Tom
I have not seen anything on location or power levels – but I will post if I do. You’re right – it would be a great DX target, and given the frequencies, there is no reason even a small station might not get enough bounce to be heard here in the U.S. 73, Robert
This is confusing. Radio Tamazuj has been on the air for a while, and I’ve heard them in the US a few times. The new broadcast is called ‘Eye Radio’? Any info on where it’s transmitting from, or how much power? Might make another interesting DX target. I believe Tamazuj broadcasts from Madagascar and Nauen.