Please share your recording of the 2021 BBC Midwinter Broadcast to Antarctica here!

33 Replies

Halley VI: The British Antarctic Survey’s new base (Source: British Antarctic Survey)

In the comments section of this post, I’d like you to share your recording of the BBC Midwinter Broadcast to Antarctica!

In years past, I’ve created a post with all of the Midwinter recordings curated in one article. This usually takes me 12+ hours to prepare over a couple of weeks as many of the audio clips and video recordings must be formatted for the site and embedded. There is also a lot of discussions back/forth confirming details with listeners. This year, my schedule is such that if I try to piece one of these articles together I might not have it published for many, many weeks. That and I will not have reliable internet service over the next couple of weeks.

Instead, I’d like to try something new!

Please comment with your recording on this post!

Listening to the 2017 BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast from the back of my vehicle in Saint-Anne-de-Beaupré, Québec, Canada.

I’ve created this dedicated post where you can comment and include links to audio and video of your 2021 Midwinter Broadcast recordings. This will allow you to post your logs and recordings at your convenience without my availability becoming the bottleneck.

Here’s the format I’d like you to leave in your comment of this post:

Name:

Listening location:

Notes: (Include frequencies and any details about your receiver and antenna.)

Link to audio or video: (YouTube, Vimeo, Internet Archive, SoundCloud, etc.)

Video and Audio Recordings

There is no way to directly upload audio in your comments, however, you can link to the recordings if you upload them to the Internet Archive (which I’d highly recommend) or any of the video streaming services like YouTube and Vimeo–or audio services like SoundCloud.

If you have a photo you’d like to include in your comment, send me an email from the same address you used in your comment. I’ll manually post the image at the top of your comment when time allows.

As with each year, I’ll make sure the BAS team and the BBC receive a link with all of your recordings!

Click here to comment with your recording of the 2021 BBC Midwinter Broadcast to Antarctica!

Spread the radio love

33 thoughts on “Please share your recording of the 2021 BBC Midwinter Broadcast to Antarctica here!”

  1. Giuseppe Morlè iz0gzw

    I’m Giuseppe Morlè iz0gzw,
    also this year I listened to the BBC broadcast WS Antartic Midwinter dedicated to the members of the Halley Science Base in Antarctica …
    I used my case with the Tecsun S8800 and built-in loops / Styles and the Tecsun pl 660 also hooked to the system …
    Very good listening on Ascension 6170 and Woofferton 7305 …
    evanescent but understandable about Dhabbaya 6035 and Woofferto 9505 …
    You can see the video on my Youtube channel at the following link:

    https://youtu.be/D9FbmeK-r2E

    My briefcase proved to be a good portable listening station with its built-in antennas.
    Thanks to you and a greeting from Italy.
    Ciao. Giuseppe.

    Reply ↓
  3. Chris Mackerell

    Name: Chris Mackerell

    Listening location: Marahau, Tasman Bay, New Zealand

    Notes: All four frequencies noted using my Elad DUOr receiver and Wellbrook ALA-1530S+ loop antenna.

    Best signal 7305 kHz: https://www.dropbox.com/s/9pi1rxttnl19itq/20210621%202130-2200%207305%20kHz%20WOF%20Sync-AM.mp3?dl=0

    9505 kHz also good, but required using just the upper sideband to avoid splash from 9500 kHz: https://www.dropbox.com/s/m223ianwmj375gf/20210621%202130-2200%209505%20kHz%20WOF%20ECSS-U.mp3?dl=0

    6035 kHz weak but audible: https://www.dropbox.com/s/npfgpa1mu91na9s/20210621%202130-2200%206035%20kHz%20DHA%20Sync-AM.mp3?dl=0

    6170 kHz: just a blip on the SDR spectrum – no usable audio: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ezzxae7fy3bll5w/20210621%202130-2200%206170%20kHz%20ASC%20AM.mp3?dl=0

    Reply ↓
  4. Richard Langley

    I have uploaded my recording of the complete broadcast to the SRAA:
    https://shortwavearchive.com/archive/bbc-world-service-annual-antarctic-midwinter-broadcast-june-21-2021

    Here is the accompanying text:
    A live, off-air, half-hour recording of the BBC World Service special Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast on 21 June 2021 beginning at 21:30 UTC. The broadcast, hosted by Cerys Matthews, featured messages and music for the staff of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) overwintering in Antarctica. In addition to personal messages from family and friends, there were special messages from BAS personnel and others including one from Sir David Attenborough accompanied by a blackbird. The transmitter had a “crash start” and the first two words of the introductory announcement (“This is”) were cut.

    The recording is of the transmission on a frequency of 7305 kHz from the BBC’s Woofferton, England, transmitting station (300 kW rated transmitter power, antenna beam 182 degrees). The transmission was received on a Tecsun PL-880 receiver with a Tecsun AN-03L 7-metre wire antenna outdoors in Hanwell (just outside Fredericton), New Brunswick, Canada, in AM mode with 2.3 kHz RF filtering. Reception was fairly good with little noise and fading and reasonable signal strength, which was better than that on the parallel frequencies of 9505 kHz from Woofferton and 6170 kHz from Ascension Island. A fourth frequency, 6035 kHz, transmitted from Dhabbaya, United Arab Emirates, was not heard. At the very end of the program, there is some slight adjacent frequency interference.

    Reply ↓
  5. Szymon Slupik

    Name: Szymon Slupik
    Listening location: Krakow, Poland
    Notes:
    – The receiver is (as can be seen on the video) the Sony ICF-Pro70 (which I have refurbished by replacing all electrolytic capacitors with tantalums) with a standard telescopic pole antenna
    – The environment is fairly RF-free (no PWM devices or switching power supplies in vincinity)
    – I was quite surprised the signal from Ascension was quite clear

    Link to audio or video:
    2021 06 BBC Antarctica 7305kHz Woofferton https://youtu.be/wLKRfNh6Tgk
    2021 06 BBC Antarctica 6170kHz Acension https://youtu.be/Y3eRAVF48H8

    Reply ↓
  7. Ken

    Hello, this is the reception report from Japan.
    No signals of 6035 (Dhabayya), 6170 (Ascension), 7305 (Wooderton) and 9505 (Wooderton) kHz were detected. Fortunately, however, got the signal for Africa via Ascension at 12095 kHz. The signal was weak but relatively stable.
    +——-+
    ANT: Beverage
    RX: ICOM IC-705

    Reply ↓
  9. Mark Wilson

    Name: Mark Wilson
    Listening location: Hertfordshire, UK

    Notes:
    Broadcast was audible on all 4 frequencies, but there was a lot of wideband interference on 6035 and 6170. 7305 was slightly clearer than 9505. Antenna – random long wire in roof space. Receiver:- Drake R8B via Global ATU.

    Link to Video:- https://youtu.be/eB0PBW5SKYk

    Reply ↓
  10. Ralf Bender

    Ralf Bender from Germany, JO40BT
    Complete transmission of the 2021 #BBC Antarctic #Midwinter Broadcast on my YT-Channel here: https://youtu.be/WxmCWV3ixWE
    Received with Sangean ATS-909X2 and a Wellbrook antenna. Reception was done or tried on 6035 kHz from Dhabbaya, 6170 kHz from Ascension (6857 km), 7305 kHz from Woofferton (770 km) and 9505 kHz from Woofferton (770 km). Good reception from Ascension and Woofferton, weak signal but readable from Dhabbaya. RRI on 7310 kHz booming in with station signal on 7305 kHz 2 minutes before the end.
    Vy 73
    Ralf (DO5RBB / DL0103SWL)

    Reply ↓
  11. Roberto

    Hello from Perugia, central Italy.
    Really exciting and moving listening. It reminds us of the primary and unique purpose of radio: keeping people in touch and shortening the distances. I just missed recording the first 10 minutes, but the next 20 minutes were ok. I send you an excerpt of it, just the final 150 seconds of the broadcast.
    You can unload it here:
    https://www.dropbox.com/s/4qubkbrzyle3kl0/20210621_BBCAntarcticMidwinterBcst.mp3?dl=0
    Conditions:
    RX: nooelec NESDR SMArt + HamItUp
    ANT: PA0RDT miniwhip
    SDR: HDSDR v.2.80
    Thank you!

    Reply ↓
  13. Hannu Hakonen

    Hello, fellow DX’ers and SWListeners.

    Name: mr. Hannu Hakonen
    Listening location: Helsinki, Finland
    Notes: frequency was 7305 kHz, radio a very nice recently bought Sangean ATS-909x and a homebrew broomstick on the balcony which works okay considering it’s urban environment where I live.
    Link to audio or video: I attached this audio clip to my website http://www.notuli.com/DXing/BbcAMB_2021_7305kHz.mp3

    I recorded that with my mobile phone and converted the file to mp3. Hopefully it works fine.

    It was nice to listen to this special programme again.

    All the best to you all!

    Cheers and regards from hot Finland (not really used to these summers of >+30C),
    Hannu

    Reply ↓
  16. Walter Salmaniw

    Walter Salmaniw MD. While busy at work, I was able to access my KiwiSDR in Masset, BC (100 km south of Ketchikan, AK) for most of the broadcast. Only 9505 was remotely audible. The other frequencies were far too low for this time of the year. Nonetheless, the 9505 channel was at least fair quality using the KiwiSDR and a 450′ Beverage aimed due North. Here’s a link to the wav file for the last few minutes of the broadcast: https://app.box.com/s/gf7f2fbmf96xck9h9qvhk7qpr78dw10u

    Reply ↓
  17. TomL

    TomL –
    TomL Midwinter BroadcastFull BBC Mid-Winter 2021 Broadcast, 21 June 2021 on 9505 kHz at 21:30 UTC.

    QTH of recording: Campton Forest Preserve, St.Charles IL USA.

    Equipment: AirSpy HF+, laptop, 29 foot Loop-On-Ground antenna (3-conductor wire connected in series), Wellbrook medium aperture amplifier at antenna. Signal Strength around S7-S8, Noise less than S1.

    Edited with Audacity audio software for noise reduction and added fake stereo delay.

    https://archive.org/details/21-jun-2021-21h-29m-59s-z-9.505-mhz-sam-bbcmw-2021full

    Reply ↓
  18. Giuseppe

    A large band of sever thunderstorms created impossible atmospheric conditions here in upstate NY, but I could sometimes make out a distant voice on the 9505 kHz tx from Woofferton in between lightning.

    Reply ↓
  19. David Elden

    Dave, Ottawa, Canada. Ascension: ~8500km/5300mi; Wooferton: ~5100km/3200mi.
    Receivers: XHDATA D-808 (~15 foot wire antenna plugged into external antenna jack); Belka DX (supplied telescopic antenna fully extended). Recordings made on Zoom H1 recorder (first version) using output from headphone jack on receivers into mic/line in input on recorder, monitoring signal using headphones from recorder.
    Reception was not as good as 2020, noisy and barely readable but did hear “midwinter” a few times to confirm ID. [2020 recording on 7360kHz from Wooferton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS3RLLFYFc0 ]
    Recordings are at this URL (Dropbox folder, cut and paste into browser address box, ignore and close any pop-ups, no need to sign-in or have Dropbox account to play files):

    https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gc5pzl0no8v9pd0/AAAJkuDW8OVha8i3iwEc3mV_a?dl=0

    [not sure how you create a link in this comment box]

    List of recordings:
    Woofferton 9505 kHz XHDATA D-808 21:32 UTC
    Ascension 6170 kHz XHDATA D-808 21:33 UTC
    Woofferton 9505 kHz Belka DX 21:36 UTC
    Woofferton 9505 kHz Belka DX 21:41 UTC
    Ascension 6170 kHz XHDATA D-808 21:43 UTC
    Woofferton 7305 kHz XHDATA D-808 21:53 UTC

    Reply ↓
  21. Nithin George

    Nithin George,Thodupuzha,Kerala
    Woofferton at 9505kHz was listenable in Kerala and better than other frequencies.
    Dhabbaya at 6035kHz suffered static and Beijing 6030kHz DRM 23kbps shortwave broadcast interferences in Kerala.
    Ascension broadcast was listenable but very weak signal strength.
    Receiver was Gospel GR-216 with wire antenna of 15m.

    Reply ↓
  22. NITHIN GEORGE

    Nithin George,Thodupuzha,Kerala
    Woofferton at 9505kHz gave best listening experience compared to other frequencies and stations in Kerala, South Asia.
    Dhabbaya 6035kHz suffered from static noises and Beijing 23kbps DRM shortwave broadcast at 6030kHz in Kerala.
    Ascension broadcast was listenable but weak.
    Woofferton at 7305kHz good signal but suffered static interferences for me.
    I used a Gospel GR-216 receiver with 15m long wire antenna.

    Reply ↓
  24. Mark Smith

    Name: Mark Smith VK2XMB

    Listening location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Notes: 7305 kHz, nothing heard on the alternate frequencies. Radio was IC-705 with AH-705 tuner and Vibroplex 40/20/10 deployed vertically. Due to the S6 noise intelligibility was poor but some of the delightful accents could be heard. The play on words of the song “Ain’t no sunshine” was good for a chuckle!

    Link to audio or video: Not available as I do not have an account

    Reply ↓

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.