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.
