(Source: Radio New Zealand via Mike Terry on the WRTH FB Page)
The recently appointed chair of the board of the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation is confident nationwide coverage will be achieved by Radio Vanuatu soon.
The new government recently replaced the old board following concerns over the lack of the public broadcaster’s ability to reach the outer islands.
Its new chairperson Johnety Jerety said transmission had deteriorated over the years, mostly because of poor maintenance.
He said under the government’s hundred day plan nationwide coverage had to be implemented by July 1st.
But Mr Jerety said part of the problem was that people were buying cheap radios.
“They’re not compatible to meet the standard for our transmission system within here so that is why most of the ni-Van [indigenous people] within the islands are not able to have the coverage received throughout the island.”
Johnety Jerety said they were now advising people to buy short-wave radios that are compatible.
Read this article on Radio New Zealand’s website.
This article is a little vague, but I assume when the new chairperson, Johnety Jerety, is claiming that the problem with reception has to do with “cheap radios” perhaps he means receivers that don’t cover Vanuatu’s nighttime frequency of 3945 kHz? Almost all radios with shortwave should receive their 7260 kHz frequency. Of course, perhaps he simply means that fewer and fewer listeners are purchasing shortwave radios?
Vanuatu is certainly being heard around the world–indeed, only two days ago, SWLing Post contributor, Paul Walker, was over the moon when he snagged Vanuatu on 7260 kHz from Galena, Alaska. Paul wrote:
I bagged my most wanted shortwave station ever tonight!
Radio Vanuatu on 7260!!!! Heard something under a bunch of Asian hams. [Q]uite good considering they are only running 1.5 kw out of their licensed 10 kw (that’s what they told me after the cyclone awhile back).
Great catch, Paul!
I’m happy to read that Vanuatu is investing in their station once again.
Follow all Vanuatu updates using the tag: Radio Vanuatu
RNZI’s commitment to DRM is not for the listeners. But rather using DRM for something not intended by the DRM Consortium. Which is for distribution to FM transmitters across the Pacific. The cost is cheaper than satellite and more stable than the Internet in the Pacific. But this is changing fast.
Vanuatu radio coverage was fair even at the best of times. But after Cyclone Pam hit the nation in March 2015. It got worse. The national broadcaster was fine in the major centers. But for weeks it was Radio New Zealand International and more importantly Radio Australia with their Pacific Beat program that had special programs for Vanuatu.
In the last year the mobile phone network has been expanding and buying a phone is inexpensive.
Officials in Port Vila to me in November is to install FM transmitters where they can and in other areas 1.5 to 2.0kW MV transmitters. But that FM would be the better option as the operating costs would be lower.
In Port Vila you can buy cheap Tecsun radios. They start around 9USD to 20USD.
Excellent info. TNX.
It seems to me that New Zealand is going beyond the call of duty to improve the quality of communications in Vanuatu than it’s much larger neighbor, Australia. NZ is stepping up with a DRM pipeline to the archipelago. Australia is talking, but not doing much else. Go kiwis!
Both New Zealand and Australia. But more so New Zealand.
Australia won’t use DRM. You may remember Radio Australia had some DRM frequencies, but they were never used. This was because the government decided that Australia should have one digital radio format. Which is DAB+.
So Radio Australia was never allowed to use DRM.
What is interesting about DRM is it’s really only the Kiwi’s that are using DRM for purpose. The other DRM transmissions have nearly no listeners. RNZI is using the technology as a form of distribution for content. Not for listeners. And have been doing so for some time.
The problem now is DRM’s time is coming to an end. RNZI know this and when satellite and Internet for the Pacific become the norm. DRM will be dropped. It won’t happen next year. But in the next 5 to 6 years it will.
There was an earlier article from RNZI that claimed the Chinese were going to help them convert to digital operations, but it wasn’t clear whether that was referring to AM, SW, TV or what. A conversion to DRM would definitely necessitate all new radios but I can’t imagine it being all that affordable for isolated peoples. On the other hand, if RNZI has committed to DRM then there might be radios out there already. I’ve heard RNZ’s digital hash quite a few times lately in Alabama. (I don’t have a DRM-capable radio but I recognize the wide data stream, it’s unmistakable.)
Also, if they are talking of repairing the equipment and getting it into better working order, that would explain Paul’s recent reception. His Pacific reception is always great, especially with all the North Korean frequencies he’s logged. I know his Vanuatu catch is real, I’ve heard some of the audio.
Vanuatu apparently had archipelago-wide SW coverage in the 1970’s. They used 2KW transmitters back then. They don’t have that kind of transmitter power at their disposal today.
Low power FM for a national system is probably a no-go at this time. Limited range and coverage in mountainous terrain. Plus, the local transmitters need electrical power or fuel to run generators.
An increase in the number of MW transmitters from two to five has also been suggested to cover all of the islands.
I suspect these “cheap radios” mentioned in that story have poor sensitivity and/or internally generated interferences making listening to shortwave rather difficult. Portable receivers like that are ok for listening to FM stations, but rather bad for shortwave (and mediumwave). Even today not all cheap shortwave portables from China are acceptable.
I’ve never received Radio Vanuatu here in New York, and unless propagation conditions are absolutely exceptional, I doubt I will. Even on remote receivers I’ve had difficulty picking up this station.
One day perhaps… one day.
“They’re not compatible to meet the standard for our transmission system within here so that is why most of the ni-Van [indigenous people] within the islands are not able to have the coverage received throughout the island.” – Johnety Jerety
Electrical power transmission in Vanuatu is 220V, 50 Hz, type 1 plug and socket. Population estimates for the archipelago vary but 240,000 is probably close. 75% of the population do not have electricity at home.
I have experienced a few fleeting moments of Radio Vanuatu reception but then again I haven’t tried very hard to find it. I’ll start listening for it.
Some RNZI transmissions to the Pacific region are heard very well here in northern California. RNZI makes Vanuatu news coverage something of a priority.
Power plug and socket type above should read type I, not type 1.
According to Wikipedia the country stretches across 1300 km with 63 inhabitated islands and a population of some 270.000. 60.000 live in the two biggest cities.
How should they generate electricity? On the smaller islands they hardly have electricity aroud the clock.
Solar power should do the trick. I would prefer sets with rechargable AA cells and separate loaders. This way battery life does not limit the lifespan of the radio.
Solar would be a great idea. I use photovoltaics on the boat. But, photovoltaic power isn’t cheap, requiring significant up-front cost. The villages subsist on fishing and home grown fruit and vegetables. There isn’t a lot of cash at the consumer level. One approach might be communal solar charging centers. Wind power is also a possibility. 9% of the electrical power for Port Vila is wind generated.
That is why I proposed rechargable AA cells!
If each family has a handfull of them they can use some of them in a radio, a few lights or so. The rest is at the communal charging station.
That charging station only consists of a reasonably large solar array and a very simple controller and battery holders.
Yes I agree with the community solar charging system idea. But… keep in mind that depending on latitude the Vanuatu islands receive 78 to 158 inches of rainfall per year. That’s a lot of cloud covered days. I know from experience what that means. That’s why I like the idea of charging stations with battery reserve as opposed to individual user chargers. Wind power would be an invaluable supplement to solar charging. I also agree with AA rechargeable batteries as opposed to something like 18650’s. AA cells are useful for many more applications.
Strange that Paul appears to be the only DXer in North America to pick that station up and report it. You would think the log lists would be buzzing about that one as they were with Guinea and Madagascar.
I’m not saying he didn’t hear it, but his DX reports in the past have not been accurate unfortunately, and did cause him to be banished from a DX group because he got angry with fellow DXers pointing out his errors and trying to help him out.
He is motivated which is good. Perhaps he is getting better with experience. Who knows maybe he is the only one. It would be a good catch with just using a small portable and long wire as he reports. Hopefully a QSL card confirming this catch will be forth coming.
I’m not the only one to hear it, at least two other Dxers have said to me in a private email they logged it.
I have over an hour of audio recorded from 7260 with several very clear a Radio Vanuaru mentions.
Paul,
Did you spell the station wrong or did you pick up something else. (Radio Vanuaru?) That’s what I meant by credibility. I didn’t say you didn’t pick it up but it seems you’re still having accuracy issues. Slow down and check what you’re saying before you publish.
I’m not attacking you but if you want people to believe, be more accurate that’s all. A prominent SW DXer says he doesn’t do recordings because anyone can pull a recording off of various resources available on line. Not saying you did that at all just a case in point. It can be done and unfortunately in the past there have been unscrupulous people who did just that and claimed they heard a station. Once again, I’m not implying you would do that believe me. How about you tell us in the future what your hearing specifically, stow the recordings, or give us both, that’s DX.
How about .. when I am typing on a phone in the dark by the banks of the river, mis spellings happen and I am not in the place where I feel like typing out long drawn out details or inserting my personal opinions where they dont belong.
When I get a chance, I will be uploading the audio and writing up a short report.
The combination of 75m at night and 40m by day should be reasonable. A better ham radio station should work for the less than 1,000 km distances. There are radios in the 20 EUR range that can receive these frequencies.
A cheap AM/FM radio will not cut it. For their distances they would need a 500,000 kW mediumwave transmitter or quite some FM transmitters.
An alternative could be to rent a few transmitter hours per day from Radio Australia oder Radio New Zealand.