Tag Archives: Paul Walker

UPDATE: Radio Nacional da Amzonias Shortwave Service

by Paul Walker
News Director/Operations Assistant,
Wolf Creek Radio Broadcasting of Laramie, WY

As many know, Radio Nacional da Amazonias has been operating on a much reduced schedule for several months now. The shortwave service owned by the government broadcaster, Empresa Brasil de Comunicação is using transmitters that are about 50 years so and several technical breakdowns along with high energy costs have resulted in the reduced operating schedule.

What was 7 days a week 0750 to 0200UTC for both 6180 kHz (100 kW, 344 deg az) and 11780kHz (100kW, 312 deg az) has been (since July 1st 2026) 0745 to 2000UTC for 11780kHz and 2000 to 0200UTC for 6180kHz on weekdays with only 11780 on weekends 0900 to 2000UTC with 6180 off air weekends.

I contacted the Ombudsmans Office at the broadcaster regarding the current reduced schedule for Radio Nacional da Amazonias on Shortwave, mainly expressing concern for them losing access to many North American listeners with the reduced schedule and why getting back to normal is important. I also proposed a partial restoration of the full schedule. When you contact the Ombudsman’s Office, even as a non Brazilian, the 1988 Constitution details you are owed a reply. And I got one today… here’s what they said:

Dear Listener,

The Ombudsman’s Office appreciates your feedback and interest in the programming of Rádio Nacional.

Regarding your message, the Executive Management of Radio Stations thanks you for your message, your attention, and especially for the detailed account of the reception of Rádio Nacional da Amazônia on Shortwave in the United States. We also appreciate your comments on the programming and the importance of the service for listeners who follow the station from different parts of the world.

Regarding the reduction in broadcast hours on Shortwave, we inform you that the schedule will remain as currently practiced until the end of 2026. The expectation is that, in 2027, broadcasts will return to their usual times, as requested.

We also appreciate the observations and suggestions presented regarding the 11.780 kHz frequency and the shared reception records. They contribute to the station better understanding the experience of its listeners, including those who follow Rádio Nacional da Amazônia outside of Brazil.

So that does appear to be some good news! 6180 is pretty good in the eastern USA, but with its much more northerly beam, it’s not as good in the western US, but still pretty decent. 11780 signs off before it gets good in the western US.

And you’ve also got a CGTN (CRI) broadcast on 11780 from 00:00 to 01:00UTC, and 6180 from 00 to 05 UTC, both from sites in China, and those broadcasts do some damage to the Nacional Amazonias services in the western US. I’ve sent an email to CGTN asking if they’d consider moving those broadcasts to another frequency… but that’s another story for another time, I guess

By the way, you too can email the Ombudsman’s office, and I encourage you to do so: [email protected], and let them know how much you enjoy the services, as I have told them… between the lively futbol broadcasts, music, and the lively show with Mauricio Rabelo “Eu de Cá, Você de Lá” (Me here, you there), with listener interaction…the Amazonias Shortwave service is fun to listen to even if you don’t understand Portuguese.

FEBC Philippines plans to close March 2027

Radio Nacional da Amazônia Announces Temporary Shortwave Schedule Changes

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Walker, who shares the following:

The shortwave transmitter site NW of Brasilia, operated by the national public broadcaster Empresa Brasil de Comunicacao for the Radio Nacional de Amazonia service, has had to make a change to its SW operating schedule.

According to EBC release (information shared among the DX community): “Due to technical problems and energy costs, the Radio Nacional de Amazonias service will have reduced operating hours through at least the end of the year”

11780kHz will operate weekdays from 0745UTC to 2000UTC and 6180kHz will operate weekdays from 2000 to 0300UTC.

On weekends, 11780kHz will operate from 0900UTC to 1800UTC, while the 6180kHz frequency will remain off-air.

Problems And Temporary Changes At The Shortwave Transmitter Park Near Brasilia

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The 11780khz antenna beaming at 312 degrees

(compiled, posted and edited by Paul Walker, KSKO-FM McGrath Alaska Program Director and Avid SWL’er)

UPDATE: On November 13th, I was told that 11780khz is operating with 50,000 watts transmitter power output instead of it’s usual 100,000 Watts. It was also shared with me that new tubes are in the process of being ordered and they hope to be back to normal about in about a week from the date of this update. This story was originally published November 9th.

Over the last few years, many of us who enjoy listening to Radio Nacional da Amazônia have noticed the 11780 kHz signal coming and going. It’s had several breakdowns, mostly because the transmitter is about 50 years old now. They’ve been running it at 100 kW instead of the full 250 kW, but even then, it’s been showing its age.

The weekend of November 8th, 11780 kHz was off again. But this time, 6180 kHz was sounding unusually good up here in Alaska — stronger and clearer than I’ve heard it in a while. That one usually beams at 239 degrees toward South America, so it really caught my attention.

Curious about what was going on, I reached out to Manoel Caetano, Radio Engineering Manager at Empresa Brasil de Comunicação, which runs Radio Nacional. Here’s what he told me:

“We had a problem with the logic unit of the 11780 transmitter, but that’s been resolved. However, we’re still having issues with the 4CX5000 tubes, so 11780 is running at reduced power until we get replacements. Also, 6180 kHz has been switched to the 11780 kHz 312° antenna because of the COP30 event taking place in Belém, Brazil.”

Always interesting to get a peek behind the curtain like that. It’s good to know the folks at EBC are keeping these classic shortwave services going, even if it means juggling transmitters and antennas from time to time. Thank you to Manoel for answering my questions and providing the picture.

Paul Notes: Vesti FM on Shortwave

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Walker, who shares this brief note:

Russian state-owned Vesti FM is on 13730 kHz as of May 19th, 2025 at 1910 UTC.

While I try to stay current on news and schedules, especially regarding new stations and shows, I don’t recall seeing any news about this transmission anywhere.

“KSKO’s One Man, Full-Time Operation Connects Interior Alaska”

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Check out this excellent article about our SWLing Post community member and avid DXer, Paul Walker:

KSKO’s One Man, Full-Time Operation Connects Interior Alaska (Alliance of Rural Public Media)

Paul Walker, the self-professed “Alaska Radio Nerd” is the sole full-time employee of a station that provides news, music, and emergency services across a wide swath of central Alaska.

When Paul Walker flips his phone camera around to give a virtual tour of KSKO and its compact studio in McGrath, Alaska, the screen fills with a maze of wires, weathered equipment, and the unmistakable charm of a place well-loved. “This is our rack of equipment,” Walker says with a mix of pride and humor. “It’s a result of managers like me knowing enough to get something done — we add on rather than take away.” As the station’s program director and only full-time employee, Walker navigates this labyrinth daily, ensuring that the voices and needs of interior Alaska’s remote communities are broadcast across the airwaves.

KSKO isn’t just any radio station. Alongside the McGrath studio, a collection of seven repeater stations and two partner stations broadcast widely — across stretches up to 150 miles in some directions, reaching villages across the center of Alaska where the population sometimes doesn’t even hit triple digits. Walker estimates that they serve around 1,200 people, so in a land where the internet is spotty and cell service is a luxury, radio remains a vital lifeline. “The cornerstone of KSKO’s local programming is weather forecasting and what we call ‘messages,’” Walker explains. These messages act as a community bulletin board, sharing everything from emergency alerts to mother moose sightings in town. [Continue reading…]

Video: Danilo Nonato’s Tour of Rádio Nacional

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Walker, who shares the following video via Danilo Nonato. Please note that this video is in Portuguese. If needed, simply turn on Closed Captioning and have YouTube auto-translate the video into your language of choice. Enjoy: