The BBC Antarctica winter solstice broadcast will take place on June 21, 2020 at 2130-2200 UTC.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, who confirms the three frequencies the BBC plan to use this year:
Recording the Midwinter Broadcast has become an SWLing Post community tradition! Read our previous post for more details. We will also publish a reminder on June 21, prior to the broadcast.
Halley VI Research Station on the Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica (Source: British Antarctic Survey)
On Friday, 21 June 2019, the BBC World Service officially transmitted the 2019 BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast–an international radio broadcast intended for a small group of scientists, technicians, and support staff who work for the British Antarctic Survey.
This is one of my favorite annual broadcasts, and I endeavor to listen every year. Once again, the SWLing Post called upon readers to make a short recording of the broadcast from their locale.
Below are the entries, roughly organized by continent and country/region. We had a total of twenty seven recordings submitted from all seven continents this year–simply amazing!
Putting this post together takes almost a full dedicated day sorting recordings and formatting them for the Post. If I’ve somehow missed including your entry, please contact me; I’ll amend this post.
So, without further ado we begin with a recording made in Antarctica at Germany’s Neumayer-Station III:
Neumayer Station III, Antarctica
SWL: Andreas Mueller, DL3LRM
Location: Neumayer-Station-III, Antarctica
Notes:
Hello Thomas,
Cheers from Antarctica, I am the radio operator and electronic
engineer of the 39th overwintering team at Germany’s Neumayer-Station
III. Thanks to your blog and post on Facebook I got aware of the
annual BBC broadcasts to Antarctica, and was able to sneak away from
the festivities to enjoy these 30 minutes. And would like to provide
a recording as requested by you.
SWL report by Andreas Mueller, DL3LRM
Location: 70°40’S, 008° 16’W, Neumayer-Station-III, Antarctica
Equipment: Yaesu-450D, Commercial Broadband Dipole 2x35m
The recording is about two minutes long, first 30 Seconds on 5875kHz,
then I switched to 7360kHz and remained there for the rest of the
show. I also have my little FT-817 running as a backup and control
unit, and it also confirmed that 7360kHz was the best frequency, with
S7 to S8 Signal strength, and some fading now and then. 5875kHz was
about S5, and I cannot remember hearing anything on 9455kHz, but I
have to admit that I checked that frequency only briefly.
Thanks again for bringing that broadcast to my attention, it really
was a special treat for me on that day.
73 de Andreas, DP0GVN/DL3LRM
SWL: Eric Young
Location: Anyang City, South Korea
Notes:
QTH: ANYANG CITY, SOUTH KOREA
FREQ: 7360kHz
ANT: ALA1530LNP
RCVR: G35DDC
SWL: Vermont M. Coronel Jr.
Location: Manila, Philippines
Notes:
Recording of the 2019 BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast. Signal was, I believe coming in from Ascension Island. Signal was very weak since the Sun was already above the horizon at the time of broadcast. I continued to listen for a few minutes and towards the end of the broadcast. I heard greetings from the relatives of those who are currently stationed in the Antarctic. This is a once a year special program to the scientists and support staff in the British Antarctic Survey Team. Received in Quezon City with a 45 foot antenna. -Vermont
Click here to view/listen via YouTube.
SWL: Jari Lehtinen
Location: Finland
Notes:
Reception from Ascension to day-less Antarctica in nightless Finland:
Click here to view/listen on YouTube.
SWL: Gaétan Teyssonneau
Location: Marcheprime, France
Notes:
5875 & 7360 khz passé correctement sur mon tescun pl 310 ET mais 9455 kHz signal tres faibles voir inaudible chez moi.
7360 kHz:
5875 kHz:
SWL: Ollie (13dka)
Location: West coast of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Notes:
RX: Tecsun S-8800 with magmount telescopic whip on car roof. SINPO:
5875 kHz (WOF): 53554 (interference from utility station on 5870-5875 kHz)
7360 kHz (ASC): 55545 (hum on TX audio)
9455 kHz (WOF): 35534
Click here to view/listen on YouTube.
SWL: Giuseppe Morlè IZ0GZW
Location: Formia, Italy
Notes:
Excellent signal on all 3 frequencies used … even on the simple whip of the Tecsun 660 the listening was perfect.
Thanks and a greeting.
Click here to view/listen on YouTube.
SWL: Davide Borroni
Location: Saronno, Italy
Notes:
Ciao Thomas, I am Davide Borroni from Italy my city is Saronno . I send you my videos, made with my receivers: R&S EK 56, Siemens E401 and R1251. The signal on all three frequencies was excellent here in Italy. As an antenna I used a magnetic loop of 2 meters in diameter.
I hope you like my videos
73s
Click here to view/listen on YouTube.
Click here to view/listen on YouTube.
Click here to view/listen on YouTube.
Click here to view/listen on YouTube.
SWL: Renato IK0OZK
Location: Marta, Italy
Notes:
Hi Thomas.
I send my report to BBC Midwinter 2019.
Very good signal to all frequency + 20 Db !
Utc Time 21.30-20.00
Frequency 7.360-5.875-9.455
Setup: Rx jrc nrd 91, jrc nrd 545 dsp, WJ 8718-9, antenna loop Wellbrook ALA 1530.
Rx Marconi Marine Apollo and Zeppelin antenna 16.2 Mt.
Link to my blog with article and video of reception: https://ik0ozk-radio.blogspot.com/2019/06/bbc-midwinter-2019.html
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Gabriele Somma’s workstation
SWL: Gabriele Somma
Location: Province of Salerno, Italy
Notes:
[T]his year I send you the BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast reception on the three frequencies.
I use a Perseus SDR and Ala Antenna 1530. I am writing to you from Italy and precisely from the Province of Salerno near the mythical Amalfi Coast.
Click here to view/listen on YouTube.
SWL: Adrian Micallef
Location: Malta
Notes:
[L]istened to the programme bbc antarctica on 5875 khz and 7360 khz sinfo 54554 both using a sangean ats 818 with a 27 metre antenna long wire. good job and wonderful broadcast. Sending mp3 recording.
Greeting from Malta
Adrian swl 9H4001SWL
SWL: Nuno Oliveira
Location: Santarem, Portugal
Notes:
This is the video from Santarem, Portugal with the 3 frequencies.
The first video is a Tecsun PL-880 with a 1 meter aluminium rod outside and 12 meters of RG58 coax.
Click here to view on YouTube.
The second video is a Alinco R8E with horizontal wire and 15 RG58 coax.
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Steven
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Notes:
Here is a link to my youtube recording of this years BBC Antartic Midwinter broadcast.
All three signals were good readable at my location in Scotland.
The best reception I got was from Ascension Island on 7360 AM, as there was Ute QRM on 5875.
Details of my RX etc are on the youtube video.
Thanks again,
Regards and 73,
Steven
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Jacinto
Location: Spain
Notes:
¡Hola Thomas!
Aqui los links de las recepciones desde España
Saludos y Feliz Cumpleaños
dx onda
1) https://youtu.be/sPEw9NizSi0 (With Antenna and without.)
2) https://youtu.be/cdLyINtHVbo
3) https://youtu.be/Ad8M7beIb9U (With Antenna and without.)
SWL: Roseanna
Location: United Kingdom
Notes:
Equipment used: RTL-SDR blog v3 + 18m copper wire, location UK
Click here to view/listen on YouTube.
SWL: Mark Hirst
Location: Hampshire, England
Click here to view/listen on YouTube.
SWL: Dmitry Elagin
Location: Saratov, Russia
Notes:
I listened at three frequencies 5875, 7360, and 9455 kHz at 21:50 UTC on Friday June 21, 2019.
The strongest signal was at a frequency of 7360 kHz.
Receiver: SDRplay RSP1
Noise Canceling Signal Enhancer:
Antenna 1: Long wire antenna 35 meters (115 ft) with MFJ-959C Antenna Tuner SWL and Preamp / MFJ-931 Artificial RF Ground
Antenna 2: Active loop antenna R2ATU
Receiver location: Saratov, Russia
Click here to view/listen on YouTube.
SWL: Moshe Zaharia
Location: Israel
Notes:
Click here to view/listen on YouTube.
Click here to view/listen on YouTube.
SWL: Rawad Hamwi
Location: Saudi Arabia
Notes:
BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast for this year! It was amazing as usual.
The video is available on YouTube.
Date/Time: 21/6/2018 @ 21:30 UTC | 22/6/2018 @ 00:30 Arabian Standard Time (UTC+3)
Frequency: 7360 kHz
Receiver: Sony ICF-2010
Antenna: 30 LM Random Wire Antenna
Location: Turaif – Northern Borders Province – Saudi Arabia
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Richard Langley
Location: Hanwell, New Brunswick
Notes:
I obtained a good recording of the BAS broadcast here in New Brunswick, Canada, on 9455 kHz using a Tecsun PL-880 receiver outdoors at my house with a Tecsun AN-03L 7-metre wire antenna strung to a nearby tree. Attached is a two-minute clip from the start of my recording. Also attached is a photo of the “listening post” at the back of my mosquito-infested backyard. Note the mosquito on the protective box housing the receiver and recorder!
You can hear my full half-hour recording, with more details on reception, on the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive:
SWL: Stan, WA1LOU
Location: Wolcott, CT
Notes:
https://youtu.be/3rGxxBMWiVw is “49 seconds of the 2019 BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast as received at WA1LOU in Wolcott, CT, USA using an ICOM IC-R8600 receiver and Hy-Gain 18 AVT/WB-A vertical antenna. I programmed the four frequencies that were originally announced for the broadcast into the IC-R8600, but learned afterwords that only three were used (5875, 7360, 9455). I had solid copy on 9455 throughout the broadcast. 7360 had a lot of fading, but was still fair copy throughout the broadcast. 5875 was very poor copy during the last 10 minutes; there was no copy for the first 20 minutes.”
SWL: Bob (W2RWM)
Location: North Babylon, NY
Notes:
Receiving frequency was 7360 kHz. 5875 had a continuous buzz, 9455 was fading in and out too much to understand.
Location is on North Babylon, NY, USA
Equipment is a Yaesu FT-950 and an HyEndFed 80-10 meter antenna oriented North and South.
Hope this adds to the propagation summary.
SWL: Don N7DCP
Location: South Africa (remotely controled from Idaho)
Notes:
This is Don, I am in southwest Idaho. Could only hear a slight carrier locally on 9455 MHz. So used a remote SDR in South Africa to record the audio file. Thanks and 73!
The GE 7-2990A (left) and Panasonic RF-B65 (right)
SWL: Thomas Witherspoon K4SWL
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Notes:
Out of the the three Midwinter Broadcast frequencies (5875, 7360, and 9455 kHz), I could receive the 7,360 kHz signal from Ascension Island best.
Read my full report by clicking here.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Chris Mackerell
Location: Marahau, New Zealand
Notes:
Here’s the first minute of the 2019 BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast as heard here at my home in Marahau, New Zealand.
5875 is in USB to avoid the Stanag signal nearby, the others in Synchronous AM mode.
All three were easily readable here for the entire broadcast.
All received using the same Elad FDM-DUOr receiver & Wellbrook loop antenna.
SWL: Rodrigo de Araujo
Location: Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Notes:
How are you? I’m PY4004SWL (Southeast Brazil).
For the first time I tried to listen to the BBC Solstice broadcast to Antarctica and it worked. The only problem is that I wrongly noted the 7350 frequency and with that I lost the Ascencion transmission in 7360, certainly the one that was best heard by the SWLs in my region. Still, I got “taped” 5875 and 9455, the latter with better results. I hope my recordings are useful to those who study propagation.
I have used two radios and 2 kinds of antennas that can be seen and a telescopic as well.
A) Sony SW7600GR
EF-SWL (End-fed):
9455/5875: https://youtu.be/sWgsojljqH4
9455: https://youtu.be/fJzBpiR1fS0
5875: https://youtu.be/HI4ZeNgVSQs
LOOPSTICK + Amplifier
5875: https://youtu.be/YCXdHqU2VyA
9455: https://youtu.be/mASlWRpvt5s
B) Tecsun PL310-ET
EF-SWL (End-fed)
5875: https://youtu.be/jDDu8yQ3CZc
9455: https://youtu.be/T7PsFFYMgb4
LOOPSTICK without amplifier:
9455: https://youtu.be/pctXFX4OUGA
5875: https://youtu.be/IVgezv9TE
TELESCOPIC
5875 https://youtu.be/9K6zxF0jKWo
9455: https://youtu.be/kR9NIjljSKk
Rodrigo de Araujo
Belo Horizonte
Brazil
PY4004SWL
www.ondasderadio.com.br
SWL: José Roberto da Silva Cunha
Location: Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Notes:
Geographical coordinates:
18 58´45´´ S
41 57´ 30´´ W
Grid locator: GH91ad
RX SONY ICF 2010
ANTENNA LONGWIRE 11 METERS
IN MY BLOG jrdxman.blogspot.com
With the inclusion of Antarctica, this is the first year we’ve been sent reports from all continents! Amazing!
Once again, many thanks to all of you who submitted your recordings of the BBC Midwinter Broadcast!
We’ll be sharing this post with both the British Antarctic Survey and the BBC World Service. And to all of you, from the SWLing Post: Happy (Belated) Midwinter! Happy Summer/Winter Solstice!
Please consider supporting us via Patreon or our Coffee Fund!
Your support makes articles like this one possible. Thank you!
The GE 7-2990A (left) and Panasonic RF-B65 (right)
This has been a very crazy and radio-active weekend!
It started with a busy Friday that was capped off with the BBC Midwinter Broadcast and then continued into Saturday with a Parks On The Air activation and Field Day at Mount Mitchell State Park.
In short: it’s been a lot of fun!
I’ll plan to give a short report of Field Day later–it was one to remember–but first let’s talk about the 2019 BBC Midwinter Broadcast to Antarctica…
The Midwinter Broadcast has never been an easy catch here in North America–after all, the BBC aim their signals to Antarctica–but I always manage to receive the program with only a portable and I’m almost always travelling on the day of the broadcast.
This year, I was actually at home and could have used one of my SDRs at home to snag the broadcast, but it’s become a bit of a tradition to listen in the field, so that’s what I did.
Knowing how difficult it would be to receive the broadcast–especially given the poor propagation–I reached for one of my “Holy Grail” portables: the Panasonic RF-B65.
The Panny RF-B65 is a portable DX hound!
I never take only one radio to the field, though, so I decided it was time to give the hefty GE 7-2990A a little outdoor time on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The GE 7-2990A
I’ve only had the GE 7-2990A for a few months. It came from the estate of my dear friend Michael Pool (The Professor) who passed away earlier this year.
This particular radio has quite an amazing history–remind me to share the story someday–but I’ll always cherish the 7-2990A because it was one of Michael’s favorites.
I knew the GE was one of Michael’s favorite mediumwave receivers, but I wasn’t sure how well it would perform on the shortwaves. Turns out, it’s quite an amazing HF receiver!
Out of the the three Midwinter Broadcast frequencies (5875, 7360, and 9455 kHz), I could receive the 7,360 kHz signal from Ascension Island best.
Here’s a short (informal) comparison video:
Click here to view on YouTube.
I was quite surprised with the 7-2990A’s ability to pluck this weak signal from the ether. Although the video doesn’t do it justice, the GE’s excellent audio fidelity made listening more enjoyable compared with the much smaller RF-B65.
Click here to view on YouTube.
And, yes, that’s my faithful brown and white listening companion, Hazel, in the background. In truth, she was less interested in the broadcast and more interested in finding squirrels!
Halley VI Research Station on the Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica (Source: British Antarctic Survey)
I’ve already received about twenty emails from SWLing Post readers with audio and video recordings of the Midwinter Broadcast. Thank you!
If you would like to submit your recording, and you haven’t yet, please do so by email (thomas *at* swling.com) so I don’t overlook it. Remember to link to your video so that I can easily embed it on the upcoming post. Please don’t send me duplicate emails as it makes the sorting process more difficult.
I’ll try to find recordings linked via Twitter and Facebook, but it’s much more difficult to sort those in comments and know for sure that I’ve discovered them all.
Please note that, due to my schedule, it will likely be two weeks before the final post is published. I appreciate your patience and understanding!
Please consider supporting us via Patreon or our Coffee Fund!
Your support makes articles like this one possible. Thank you!
Halley VI: The British Antarctic Survey’s new base (Source: British Antarctic Survey)
On Thursday, 21 June 2018, the BBC World Service officially transmitted the 2018 BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast–an international radio broadcast intended for a small group of scientists, technicians, and support staff who work for the British Antarctic Survey.
This is one of my favorite annual broadcasts, and I endeavor to listen every year. Once again, the SWLing Post called upon readers to make a short recording of the broadcast from their locale.
Below are the entries, roughly organized by continent and country/region. We had a total of 28 recordings submitted this year–simply amazing! If I’ve somehow missed including your entry, please contact me; I’ll amend this post.
So, without further ado….
SWL: Gerald LANDL (OE5TET)
Location: Eidenberg, Austria
Notes:
Preperations with my 6y old son – highly professional with clip board, frequency setting on equipment, adjusting the antenna tuner. setting the alarm clock and preparing cups for warm drinks.
Wonderful broadcast with heaps of feelings and good music – I reckon the crew in Antarctica enjoyed it.
I used to listen with my dad to Norddeich Radio – also broadcast for crews and sailors out on sea.
2018-06-21 2130 UTC antarctic midwinter broadcast 2018 of BBC
from QTH
Longitude : 14.23225 E (14° 13? 56” E)
Latitude : 48.44367 N (48° 26? 37” N)
QTH locator : JN78CK
5.985 – Woofferton – via FT 991 + HiGain 640 vertical
7.360 – Ascension – via FT 817 + MLA-M magnetic loop
9.890 – Woofferton – via FT 2000 + Diamond W8010 – multi band trap
enjoyed the slight time delay between Woofferton and Ascension – broadcast (echo you hear)
looking forward to record the whole broadcast from Ascension via FT2000
OE5TET – Gerald & SWLing ZALhoch2
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Philippe Autret
Location: Brest, France
Notes:
This is my recording, from Brest, France:
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Ralf Bender
Location: Germany
Notes:
Full reception of the 2018 BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast on my little YT-Channel.
Received with a AFEDRI SDR with HDSDR and a Wellbrook ALA1530LN. Nice signal on all frequencies at my QTH (JO40BT) in Germany.
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Gabriele Barbi
Location: Ferrara di Monte Baldo
Notes: Received in Ferrara of Monte Baldo (Verona) 850 msl, with Sangean 909 receiver and 30 meter row antenna, good signal on all 3 frequencies 5985 7360 9890 hours of reception (Italian) 23.55 today 21062018. Good Radio 🙂
Note that the audio file of the 3 frequencies is divided by the beep signal respectively from the beginning to the end of the file 5985 7360 9890:
SWL: Grabriele Sommas
Location: Roccapiemonte, Italy
Notes: Hi Thomas, like every year attached I send you the youtube link of the broadcast BBC MIDWINTER 2018 with the hope of seeing it published also this year on swling. Receiver is an SDRplay RSP2 and Antenna a Wellbrook ALA 1530.
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Davide Borroni
Location: Origgio (VA) Italy
Notes:
I am Davide Borroni from Origgio (VA) Italy. On 21 June 2018 at 2130.-2200 UTC on 5985 kHz AM, i listened BBC Winter Radio with SINPO 54444
I use my Hallicrafters SX 42, Siemens E 401, Collins HF 2050 and Teletron TE 712S receivers with a magnetic loop antenna.
73s
Davide Borroni
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Giuseppe Morlè (IZ0GZW)
Location: Formia, Italy
Notes:
I’m Giuseppe Morlè, iz0gzw, from Formia, central Italy, on the Tyrrhenian Sea.
I send you 2 videos about the Antartic Midwinter 2018 to be included on the Swling Post.
You can see how you listened to from my house on my 3 receivers the transmission and as the only Tecsun pl660 with its antenna on my balcony.
Thanks for everything and I always wish you excellent listening.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Renato Feuli (IK0OZK)
Location: Marta, Italy
Notes:
Hi Thomas.
I send You my reception report to BBC Midwinter 21.06.2018, UTC Time 21.30-20.00
Frequency 5.895-9.890 to Wofferton, 7.360 to Ascension, not signal on 6.035 to Dhabayya.
Nice Signal to Wofferton +20/30 db and S 9 to Ascension.
My Reception Setup:
RX: JRC NRD 545 DSP, JRC NRD 91, Watkins & Johnson 8718-9, SDR Elad FDM S2. Antenna loop Wellbrook ALA 1530 Lf, QTH Marta Italy JN52XM
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
My Blog Articles: https://ik0ozk-radio.blogspot.com/2018/06/bbc-midwinter-2018.html
SWL: Adrian Micallef
Location: Malta
Notes:
Listenined yesterday (21 June 2018) at 21.30 UTC from Malta 5985 kHz SINPO 53553 using a Tecsun PL-660 and a longwire antenna 27 metres.
Wonderful programme and good job.
SWL: Tudor Vedeanu
Location: Romania
Notes:
Receiver location: Romania. I used an Airspy HF+ SDR and a Wellbrook ALA100LN antenna (20m delta loop).
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Mark Hirst
Location: Basingstoke, England
Notes:
QRM levels at my QTH were noticeably higher this year than last, continuing a years long trend in my area.
Woofferton is only 100 miles from Basingstoke in Hampshire, and while it doesn’t lie in the direction of the transmission, the signal was strong and steady, overwhelming almost all of the interference.
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Gareth Buxton (M6VOV)
Location: Belper, England
Notes:
This is my recording. Fair reception on 7360khz. I was out in the garden using a Tecsun PL 880 connected to a homemade active loop antenna. My location is Belper, Derbyshire, UK
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Paul Capewell
Location: London, England
Notes:
Three 1-minute clips of the BBC World Service Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast on 5985kHz, 7360kHz, and 9890kHz, recorded on a Tecsun PL-380 in north west London at 2230 (2130 UTC) on 21 June 2018.
5985kHz (start)
7360kHz (about 01m20s)
9890kHz (about 02m30s)
Click here to listen via SoundCloud.
SWL: Steven
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Notes:
All three signals were good at my location in Ayrshire, Scotland.
The best of the two Wooferton signals was 5985 AM.
Here is a youtube video of my reception of the signal from Ascension Island on 7360 AM.
Rx = Trio R-1000
Ant = End fed Wire, 20 meters long and ATU.
Thank you.
HAPPY MIDWINTER !
73
Steven
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Cap Tux
Location: Scotland
Notes:
BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast 5985kHz Woofferton 2130-2200UTC 21/06/2018. Captured in Scotland using SDRuno/RSP2 and homebrew passive Mag Loop.
SWL: Adi
Location: Israel
Notes:
In Israel only 9890 was loud and clear on my SRW-710 (V-115)
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Rawad Hamwi
Location: Turaif – Northern Borders Province – Saudi Arabia
Notes:
Date/Time: 21/6/2018 @ 21:30 UTC | 22/6/2018 @ 00:30 Arabian Standard Time (UTC+3)
Frequency: 9890 kHz
Receiver: Sony ICF-SW7600GR / Sony ICF-SW11
Antenna: 30 LM Longwire Antenna
Location: Turaif – Northern Borders Province – Saudi Arabia
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Richard Langley
Location: Hanwell, New Brunswick
Notes:
I obtained decent recordings of the BAS broadcast both here in NB on 7360 kHz using a Tecsun PL-880 receiver with a Tecsun AN-03L 7-metre wire antenna strung to a nearby tree and using the U. Twente SDR receiver on 5985 kHz. Attached are two two-minute clips, one from the start of each recording. Also attached [above] is a photo of the “listening post” at the back of my yard. Note the mosquito spray!
You can hear my full half-hour recordings, with more details on reception, on the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive: https://shortwavearchive.com/archive/bbc-world-service-annual-antarctic-midwinter-broadcast-june-21-2018
SWL: Ivan Cholakov
Location: New York and Florida
Notes:
This year’s Midwinter Antarctic broadcast from the BBC was a special opportunity for me. I thought I would share the story because it has something to say about the state of technology in today’s world of radio. On the day of the broadcast, June 21, 2018 I was on a business trip to New York City. I had brought with me three very useful and very portable items: an SDRPlay receiver, a W6LVP portable amplified loop and an Eton Satellit shortwave radio.
I was able to receive the broadcast in the following order:
I created a youtube video with the four modes of reception above. it is amazing how connected the world has become!
Click here to view via YouTube.
SWL: Becky Shepherd
Location: NE Ohio
Notes:
I was able to get 2 different videos of the BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast. One video is of the broadcast coming through an KiwiSDR channel and another is a recording of BBC through my Tecsun PL-380.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Stan Horzepa (WA1LOU)
Location: Wolcott, Connecticut
Notes:
Here in Wolcott, Connecticut, USA, I heard the full 30 minute broadcast
on all three channels using my ICOM IC-R8600 and an 80-meter inverted
Vee antenna. 9890 was very good, 7360 was good, while 5985 was poor.
(The broadcast reminded me of The Beatles Fan Club Christmas recordings.)
SWL: Bill Hemphill (WD9EQD)
Location: Smithville, NJ
Notes:
I got good copy on 9890 here in Smithville, NJ (5 miles north of Atlantic City).
Readable copy on 7360 and almost readable copy on 5850.
Used a combination of Tecsun Radios: PL-310et, PL-880, and S-8800.
Used the telescoping antenna and a long wire antenna strung up in the house.
Was surprised at how good the copy was on 9890.
Following are video’s of my receptions:
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Thomas Witherspoon (K4SWL)
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Notes:
I managed to listen to a bit of the broadcast myself in the parking lot of the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. I only brought my C. Crane CC Skywave SSB along. The signal was quite weak, but I did log the 9,890 kHz broadcast from Woofferton, UK. Pretty impressive considering the modest portable receiver and the fact the broadcast’s target was Antarctica! Pure shortwave magic.
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Brett Saylor (W3SWL)
Location: Pennsylvania
Notes:
[H]ere’s my recording, made from the University of Twente webSDR from the 7360 kHz Ascension transmitter…
https://soundcloud.com/bds2psu/bbc-antarctic-midwinter-broadcast
My recording of 9890 kHz in Pennsylvania was much weaker.
SWL: DanH
Location: Northern California
Notes:
Just awful reception here in Northern California suburbia near three in the afternoon. I can just make out “Jingle Bells.” BBC Woofferton has been coming in well here from 04:00 – 06:00 UTC on 9915 kHz on some nights.
Click here to view via YouTube.
SWL: Luis Valderas
Location: San Antonio, Chile
Notes:
Date of recording: 6/21/2018
Starting time: 2130
Frequency: 7360
Receiver and antenna: JRC NRD 515 T 10 m
Click here to listen via SoundCloud.
SWL:Claudio Galaz
Location: Ovalle, Chile
Notes:
From Ovalle, Dipole Antenna and Tecsun PL 660.
SWL: Chris Mackerell
Location: Marahau, Tasman Bay, New Zealand
Notes:
The start of the broadcast on 7360 kHz heard here in Marahau, Tasman Bay, New Zealand. Elad FDM-DUOr receiver & Wellbrook loop antenna.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Once again, many thanks to all of you who submitted your recordings of the BBC Midwinter Broadcast!
We’ll be sharing this post with both the British Antarctic Survey and the BBC World Service. And to all of you, from the SWLing Post: Happy (Belated) Midwinter! Happy Summer/Winter Solstice!
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!
After successful listener events from years past, I’m calling on all SWLing Post readers and shortwave radio listeners to make a short recording (say, 30-60 seconds) of the BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast today and share it here at the Post (frequencies and time below).
Halley VI: The British Antarctic Survey’s new base (Source: British Antarctic Survey)
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.
Audio should be in the MP3 format and videos either hosted on YouTube or Vimeo so that I can easily embed them without having to convert and upload myself.
If you submit your recording to me, I will post it here on the SWLing Post–and insure that the British Antarctic Survey receives the post, too. The recordings will be arranged by geographic location.
This year, there have been few details about the broadcast announced in advance–I’ve seen no test broadcast announcements as in years past–so my fingers are crossed that it’ll take place on the air, on schedule.
Please note that the broadcast begins at 2130 UTC on (Thursday) June 21, 2018. The following frequencies were provided by Mauno Ritola who sourced them from a German SWL list serve:
From ASCENSION
7360 kHz
From DHABAYYA
6035 kHz
From WOOFFERTON
7230 and possibly 5985 kHzUPDATE via Richard Langley:
Updated frequency list from BBCWS Audience Relations via World of Radio list:
5985 Woofferton 184°
7360 Ascension 207°
9890 Woofferton 182°
I’m sure there will be live reports in the SWLing Post chat room during the broadcast. Please sign in and share your report as well!
I hope I’ll be able to receive the broadcast this year–I’m traveling again, but will have a receiver in tow. Worse case, I’ll snag the broadcast from a WebSDR in Europe (which is a pretty easy catch).
The Midwinter broadcast is one of my favorite programs of the year. I suppose, in part, this is because it happens on June 21–the Summer/Winter solstice–which also happens to be my birthday! Woo hoo!
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!
After successful listener events from years past, I’m calling on all SWLing Post readers and shortwave radio listeners to make a short recording (say, 30-60 seconds) of the BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast today and share it here at the Post (frequencies and time below).
Halley VI: The British Antarctic Survey’s new base (Source: British Antarctic Survey)
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.
Audio should be in the MP3 format and videos either hosted on YouTube or Vimeo so that I can easily embed them without having to convert and upload myself.
If you submit your recording to me, I will post it here on the SWLing Post–and insure that the British Antarctic Survey receives the post, too. The recordings will be arranged by geographic location.
This year, there have been few details about the broadcast announced in advance–I’ve seen no test broadcast announcements as in years past–so my fingers are crossed that it’ll take place on the air, on schedule.
Please note that the broadcast begins at 2130 UTC on (Thursday) June 21, 2018. The following frequencies were provided by Mauno Ritola who sourced them from a German SWL list serve:
From ASCENSION
7360 kHz
From DHABAYYA
6035 kHz
From WOOFFERTON
7230 and possibly 5985 kHz
I’m sure there will be live reports in the SWLing Post chat room during the broadcast. Please sign in and share your report as well!
I hope I’ll be able to receive the broadcast this year–I’m traveling again, but will have a receiver in tow. Worse case, I’ll snag the broadcast from a WebSDR in Europe (which is a pretty easy catch).
Listening for the Midwinter test transmissions last week with the Elecraft KX2.
The Midwinter broadcast is one of my favorite programs of the year. I suppose, in part, this is because it happens on June 21–the Summer/Winter solstice–which also happens to be my birthday! Woo hoo!
Halley VI: The British Antarctic Survey’s new base (Source: British Antarctic Survey)
On Wednesday, 21 June 2017, the BBC World Service officially transmitted the 2017 BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast–an international radio broadcast intended for a small group of scientists, technicians, and support staff who work for the British Antarctic Survey.
This is one of my favorite annual broadcasts, and I endeavor to listen every year. Once again, the SWLing Post called upon readers to make a short recording of the broadcast from their locale.
Below are the entries, roughly organized by continent and country/region, including reader’s photos if provided. If I’ve somehow missed including your entry, please contact me; I’ll amend this post.
So, without further ado….
SWL: Willy, OZ4ZT
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Notes: Here is a short recording of BBC AMB on 5985kHz. It was recorded using the IC 7300’s internal record function. Antenna used was a dipole for 7MHz.
SWL: Philippe
Location: Brest, France
Notes: Very strong on 5985 kHz. Weaker on 7360 kHz.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Klaus Boecker (DD2DR)
SWL: Klaus Boecker
Location: JN49AC in Germany
Notes: Attached please find the link to my reception Video of the 2017 Midwinter broadcast. and a photo. Just failed the first seconds, because I’ve muted my headphones and was wondering why I couldn’t hear anything. Hihi.
For the reception, I used my good, old Kenwood R1000 and my homebrewed mag-loop.
Recorded via soundcard and processed with Audacity. The Video later on is done with the NCH VideoPad Software.
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Tony Roper
Location: Ruhpolding, Germany
Notes: 2017 BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast being received on my Tecsun PL-660 whilst in Ruhpolding, Germany. Antenna was just the supplied wire hanging vertically from the window. Wasn’t expecting much due to the surrounding hills but was pleased to pick up the Ascension transmitter.
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Daniele Forleo
Location: Puglia, Italy
Notes: This is my recording of the midwinter Antarctic broadcast, recorded in Puglia (Southern Italy) with Tecsun PL-660 with Its whip antenna.
Marc Vittorini’s Icom-IC71E
SWL: Marc Vittorini
Location: Turin, Italy
Notes: Even this year I had the pleasure of listening the BBC ANTARCTIC MIDWINTER BROADCAST TRANSMISSION and I send you the listening report.
My name: Marc Vittorini
Loc: Favria (Turin) – Italy – JN35UH
Rx: Icom IC-R71E
Ant: Midland Skylab
Freq: 5985 kHz
Time: 2330-2400 utc
Signal: 9+20 with fading
I attach the recording of the first minute of the transmission received and also pictures of my receiver (during reception) and my antenna.
Unfortunately the first 20 seconds of recording are disturbed by noise due to an error in connection between receiver and recorder.
Alessio Proietti’s JRC NRD-345
SWL: Alessio Proietti
Location: Rome, Italy
Notes: Receiver: JRC NRD 345.
Antenna: 30 Mt Longwire
Frequency: 5985 KHz AM very strong signal s9+30 perfect reception!
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Giuseppe Morlè iz0gzw
Location: Formia, Italy
Notes: I used the Tecsun PL-660 with its telescopic antenna and only on Dhabbayya frequency 6035 I had a bit of difficulty. I’m on my home balcony in Formia, Center Italy, Tyrrenian sea.
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Grabriele Sommas
Location: Roccapiemonte, Italy
Notes: Below is a video of my MIDWINTER reception–I listened to the 5,985 and 7,360 frequencies. Included are photos of my shack and antennas:
SWL: Andrea Coloru (IW3IAB)
Location: Italy (locator JN55XI)
Notes: I used an AOR 1500 with a long wire antenna (about 40 meters). My QTH locator is JN55XI and best frequency was 5985 kHz. There was light overlap by an RTTY station but reception was loud and clear. Other frequencies were bad, too much fading or unreadable.
Davide Borroni at his listening post.
SWL: Davide Borroni
Location: Saronno, Italy
Notes: I listened BBC Midwinter with SINPO 34333 on 6035 kHz AM Thanks for show !
I use my Hallicrafters receiver R45 ARR7 and Siemens E401 , magnetic loop antenna:
Davide with his Siemens E401 magnetic loop antenna.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Enrico Ciulla’s Tecsun PL-300wt
SWL: Enrico CIULLA
Location: Poggio Rusco, Italy
Notes:
I was curious to listen this transmission and Wednesday I tried to receive it with a little Tecsun PL-300wt and its antenna. My QTH is impossible for electric noise (I live in a flat on a bank with alarm, neon, and so on) but I listened the transmission on 6035 khz SINPO 24131 (quite inaudible), on 7360 kHz SINPO 34232 so I’ve listen on 5985 kHz SINPO 44333 (in record attached with ID), I’ve listen transmission from 21:30 to 21:50.
SWL: Renato IK0OZK
Location: Marta, Italy
Notes: Signal Report: S 9+10 to Woofferton at 5.985 Khz and Ascension on 7.360 Khz, S 5-7 to Dhabayya on 6.035 kHz. QTH: Marta VT Italy Grid: jn52xm
Reception setup: Receiver JRC NRD 545 Dsp, JRC NRD 91, Watkins & Johnson 8718-9, Elad FDM S-2. Antenna: Wellbrook Loop ALA 1530 Lf.
Ascension recording:
Receiver: JRC 545 DSP UTC 21.30
Click here to view on YouTube.
Receiver: WJ 8718-9 UTC 21.48
Click here to view on YouTube.
Dhabayya
Receiver: JRC NRD 91 UTC 21.47
Click here to view on YouTube.
Woofferton
Receiver Elad FDM S-2 UTC 21.33
Click here to view on YouTube.
Link to post on my radio-blog:
http://ik0ozk-radio.blogspot.it/2017/06/antartic-midwinter-transmission-2017.html
Reception not possible on 7.230 !! Very big interference from China Radio International.
SWL: Adrian
Location: Malta
Notes:
Listened from Malta to the BBC tests, of the four frequencies two were good.
7360 kHz SINPO 54554-53553 and 5985 kHz SINPO 54554.
The other two SINPO 33333 using a Degen DE1103 with a longwire antenna 27 meters long at 23.30-23.45 CET .
Sending also photo and recording .
Greetings from Malta.
SWL: Leen
Location: Netherlands
Notes: Recorded using a JRC NRD-535D and Wellbrook 1530 mag loop antenna
SWL: Pavel Ivanov
Location: Belgorod City, Russia
Notes: Reception area: Belgorod city, Russia. Receiver: Tecsun PL-680. Antenna: long wire – 12 met.
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Cap Tux
Location: Scotland
Notes: BBC World Service Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast 2017. Cerys Matthews (Catatonia) presents music requests and special messages to the staff at the British Antarctic Survey, broadcasting in English, June 21 2017, 2130-2200 GMT on 5985 kHz (transmitter power of 300kW, transmitter location: Woofferton, UK).
Recorded with an SDRPlay RSP2 using SDRuno and a homebrew passive Mag Loop.
SWL: Ayrshire, Scotland
Location: Scotland
Notes:
Tonight I rushed home from work in time to hear the broadcast. Signals were good at my QTH in Scotland, even though we had thunder storms to the East of Scotland.
I made several (shaky) videos on my smart phone. As you will see from the videos, my receivers are more of the classic/old type, but reception was good with my home made antennas.
Details of my receivers, antennas and location are on the youtube videos.
I have posted one of reception from Wooferton on 5985 kHz Am, and one of
reception from Ascension on 7360 kHz AM.
I also heard Dhabayya with a good readable signal, but the first two were the best signals best with me.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view on YouTube.
Mark Hirst’s Yaesu FRG-7700
SWL: Mark Hirst
Location: Basingstoke, England
Notes: Please find enclosed a short extract from yesterday’s broadcast, plus a picture of the radio used just before the programme started. Again it was so interesting to hear a broadcast aimed to such a small audience with heartfelt messages from their friends and family.
Rawad Hamwi’s Sony ICF-SW7600GR
SWL: Rawad Hamwi
Location: Turaif – Northern Borders Province – Saudi Arabia
Notes:
[Wednesday] I tried listening to the BBC Antarctica Midwinter Broadcast (for the first time) from northern Saudi Arabia and really I enjoy it so much! All the 3 frequencies were loud and clear but the most audible one was 5985 kHz
I filmed the entire 30 min broadcast and the video is uploaded on YouTube
Click here to view on YouTube.
Here are some details I included in the video description
Date/Time: 21/6/2017@21:30 UTC | 22/6/2017@00:30 Arabia Standard Time (UTC+3)
Frequencies: 7360 kHz – 6035 kHz – 5985 kHz
Receiver: Sony ICF 7600GR
Antenna: 30 LM Longwire Antenna
Location: Turaif – Northern Borders Province – Saudi Arabia
SWL: Richard Langley
Location: New Brunswick
Notes:
I had good luck with recording the BAS broadcast both here and using the U. Twente receiver. Attached are two two-minute clips, one from the start of each recording. Also attached [above] is a photo of the “listening post” at the back of my yard.
Via U Twente WebSDR:
Click here to download the MP3.
Home recording with PL-880:
Click here to download the MP3.
You can hear my full half-hour recordings on the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive.
Listening to the 2017 BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast from the back of my vehicle in Saint-Anne-de-Beaupré, Québec, Canada.
SWL: Thomas Witherspoon (K4SWL/VE2)
Location: Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Québec
Notes:
I made a field recording of the Midwinter broadcast from an access point along the north shore of the St-Lawrence river. I used two receivers:
The Sony ICF-SW100 which I hooked up to my portable PK Loop mag loop antenna.
The Elecraft KX2 which I hooked up to a NASA PA 30 multi-band compact wire antenna that I suspended in a tree.
None of the frequencies used for the Midwinter broadcast were ideal for my location and time of day (after all, these broadcasts target Antarctica!) but last year I did successfully receive the 41 meter band broadcast.
The KX2/NASA PA 30 provided the best reception results, but sadly the recording turned out quite poor due to an incorrect setting on my Zoom H2N digital recorder.
Fortunately, I did make the following video of my Sony ICF-SW100 in action:
Click here to view on YouTube.
Read my full Midwinter report from the field by clicking here.
SWL: Paul Walker
Location: Erie, Pennsylvania
Notes: Tecsun PL-880, DX Engineering HF preamp and Doxytronics tuneable loop
Click here to view on YouTube.
Ed McCorry’s listening post.
SWL: Ed McCorry (KI4QDE)
Location: North Carolina
Notes: Attached are 2 audio clips of the broadcast. Both on 7360 from Ascension.
I could not hear anything on the other frequencies.
SWL: Nace Magner
Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky
Notes: I listened to the signal on 7360 kHz from the back porch of my home in Bowling Green, KY. I used a 35′ end-fed external antenna located about 20′ up in a tree. I received a similar quality signal using the external antenna with a Kaito 1103 radio. I also received the signal on the Kaito using only its whip, although the signal was substantially weaker.
Thank you for your excellent work on the SWLing Post.
Click here to view on YouTube.
SWL: Jon Pott
Location: Michigan
Notes: My first attempt at catching the Midwinter broadcast; I wasn’t expecting to pick up anything at all, but the Ascension Island location came through well enough that I could positively identify it when I compared to BBC’s recorded broadcast.
Recording of my reception (the beginning of the recording corresponds approximately to the 4:00 mark in the BBC recording below).
Location was western Michigan in the U.S.
42°46’40” N
86°03’48” W
Elevation: Approx. 212m ASL
Click here to listen via Clyp.
SWL: David Iurescia (LW4DAF)
Location: Argentina
Notes: I’m sending you the first seconds of the BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast, using a Yaesu FT 840 and a half wave dipole, 30 Km south from Buenos Aires.
It is on 7360 Khz. It had good signal, but too much noise here.
Rothera Research Station, Adelaide Island, Antarctica (Image Source: British Antarctic Survey)
Once again, many thanks to all of you who submitted your recordings of the BBC Midwinter Broadcast!
We’ll be sharing this post with both the British Antarctic Survey and the BBC World Service. And to all of you, from the SWLing Post: Happy Midwinter! Happy Summer/Winter Solstice!