There’s an interesting YouTube documentary released by the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation on the refurbishment of both transmitters and antennas for the mediumwave outlets of 558 and 990 kHz. This was completed with the financial and technical assistance of the Japanese government. It will be very interesting for MW DXers to see how well the new facility will be heard beyond the Fijian borders.
https://youtu.be/VTLKeW-TmoQ
There is also a somewhat less interesting YouTube video of the Fijian dictator Prime Minister Bainimarama at the official launch of the revitalized service, which can be found at https://youtu.be/kOza_Ov7f48
It was fascinating to hear Prime Minister Bainimarama talking about democratic freedoms in the broadcasting media….This from a man who for many years has done his level best to suppress and control the Fijian media on countless occasions!
(My thanks to Mauno Ritola and Bruce Portzer for alerting me to the above links)
73, Rob Wagner VK3BVW
Rob Wagner, VK3BVW, is the author of this post and a regular contributor to the SWLing Post. He also blogs at the Mount Evelyn DX Report.
This is a fantastic little show…I will have to be sure to show it to my students who sometimes wonder why anything at all is still broadcast on medium wave. It also warms my heart to see that a Japanese heavy-weight tech corporation like NEC is still making and servicing AM broadcasting equipment. The more AM equipment that is out there, the more likely AM radio will be to survive into the future.
Absolutely, Mike. I couldn’t agree more. Thanks for your comments.
Indeed, 558 kHz Fiji had been heard recently at improved levels by USA DXers. Gary DeBock (my cross-town DXing pal and ultralight radio enthusiast) recorded them from the Oregon coast last week:
https://app.box.com/s/13ra6q2edyniegz3jnwii1nlu6dcoz05
Ahh, good news indeed. Thanks, Guy!
Those trans-Pacific MW DX catches really impress me. Pure magic!