LATIN
AMERICA SURVEY
A Special Publication of the Electronic DX PressJanuary 2004
Compiled and edited by Rob Wagner VK3BVW, Ringwood North, Victoria, Australia
CONTENTS
- The Season 2003 Report
- The Monitoring Log
- DX Target: Radio Mallku
- QSLs from the Latins
|
SEASON 2003
REPORT
This survey records observations
made during the winter months of May through July in Victoria and New South
Wales. A few additional
observations in the months of April and August to October have also been
included. This list includes
domestic Latin American broadcasters both in the Tropical Bands and in the
International Shortwave Bands.
Although we focused mainly on stations whose prime target audience is
local (within country borders), several stations with International Services
have also been included.
Although many Latin American broadcasters
have deserted the shortwave tropical bands during the last 15 years, perferring
to expand their services on the FM bands, there are still quite a number of
stations to hear and enjoy. It is
expected that this trend of moving away from shortwave will continue by the
Latin broadcasters, so my advice is to hear them while you can. In another 5 to 10 years, they could all
have disappeared.
SIGNAL PROPAGATION
Although the sunspot count was still very high at times
throughout 2003, the tropical low frequency bands stood up well with good
propagation providing some exciting listening, particularly during out winter
months.
Most signals arrive in Eastern Australia
via a darkness path across the Pacific Ocean. This short path from Central and South
America can be noted in our late afternoons from around 0530 UTC(3.30 pm) throughout the evening to around 1200 UTC (10.00 pm). This corresponds with early morning times at the transmitter sites and is generally the easiest time period to hear the Latins2100 to
2300 UTC (7.00am to 9.00 am local) via the long path. These signals travel across the darkness path over the Atlantic Ocean, Europe and Asia
However, nearing the two equinoxes (March and September) there is another path over the Antarctic. At these times, there is just enough daylight and darkness over the South Pole to allow shortwave signals to
propagate between Australia and eastern South America. Brazilian stations can often be hear at their best during these times, particularly on the 49 and 31 metre bands.
OTHER ASPECTS OF LISTENING TO LATIN AMERICA
Most of the stations listed here are operating with much
lower transmitter power than the big international broadcasters. Powers of 500 watts to 10 kilowatts are
typical, and designed to reach their local listeners or neighbouring
countries. Many of them are
commercial broadcasters, so you will hear recorded advertisements just like you
do on the mediumwave band here at home.
Rarely will you hear English
transmissions. Spanish is the
national language for most countries in the region, with the exception of Brazil
where Portuguese is the national tongue.
However, you will also hear local Indian languages such as Quechua,
Aymara and Shar.
Spanish and Portuguese are "romance
languages" with Latin roots and this usually makes it easy to identify each
station and gauge what is being spoken about. Careful listening will identify many
words that are similar to English.
Occasional listening to SBS Radio will help attune your ears to Spanish
in preparation for monitoring the Latin broadcasters.
EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
Often it isn't so much the type of receiver that is important
for successful reception of these station.
In many cases, the major requirement is finding a location where
electrical man-made interference is down to a minimum. It's most difficult in many suburban
locations to hear anything when competing with powerlines, televisions, cable
modems, electrical appliances, etc, etc.
This is why I spent a number of winter nights out in the bush not far
from Melbourne. On those occasions,
some spectacular successes were achieved such as the Mexican station on 2390 kHz
or Guyana on 3291.1 kHz! But it IS
possible to DX the Latins from home - just be patient, check the bands regularly
each day, and you will be rewarded.
Receivers with good sensitivity and selectivity are
helpful. The receivers used in
compiling this list included Sangean portables, Panasonic DR49, FRG100, and
Kenwood R2000. Antennas used by the
contributors included dipoles, a T2FD antenna and long wires. Facilities such as Digital Speech
Processing (DSP), notch filters, variable bandwidths, and listening in single
sideband are all additional methods of coping with the barrage of electrical and
atmospheric interferences that make life difficult.
CONTRIBUTORS
My thanks to Bob Padula and Mike Stevenson for their
contributions to this survey. Their
enthusiasm throughout the Latin season was also appreciated. During the winter months, we were
trialing the Internet chat program MIRC.
This resulted in a number of online meetings during our evenings, making
real-time comparisons of reception from our three listening posts. Most interesting and lots of fun!
My thanks to Richard D'Angelo for contributing his excellent
article on the Bolivian broadcaster, Radio Mallku. This is a station which we did not hear
in Australia last DX season.
However, I invited Rich to contribute this because it gives a wonderful
insight into your typical Latin broadcaster and the environment within which it
operates.
FEEDBACK
As we approach the 2004 Winter DX Season, I hope that this
EDXP Special Report will encourage you to explore this fascinating aspect of the
DX hobby. It will be a useful guide
for what we may hear in the coming months.
If you enjoyed reading this document, or have suggestions for its
improvement, I'd love to hear from you.
Send comments to me by email to: shortwave_radio@yahoo.com.au
Rob Wagner
Survey Coordinator
THE MONITORING LOG2003
AUSTRALIAN WINTER DX SEASON
|
Freq.
|
Country
|
On
|
Off
|
Station
|
Notes
|
|
2390
|
Mexico
|
*1200
|
1230
|
R.
Huayacocotla, Veracruz
|
Good level but fades quickly
after s/on as the Mexican sun rises in the morning sky! (Rob)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3220
|
Ecuador
|
0850
|
1100
|
HCJB
|
Quechua under R. Morobe, //
with 6080
|
|
3255
|
Brazil
|
1050
|
1120
|
R,
Educadora Seis de Agosto, Xapuri
|
|
|
3279.6
|
Ecuador
|
0850
|
1200
|
La
Voz del Napo, Tena
|
Quechua before 0900, then
Spanish
|
|
3291.1
|
Guyana
|
0950
|
1010
|
Guyana
Broad. Corp.
|
One of the highlights of the
season! Faded in for 20 min
one night then gone. English
service. (Rob)
|
|
3300
|
Guatemala
|
1030
|
1215
|
R.
Cultural, Guatemala City
|
Reported recently as off-air
due to electricity costs and few listeners (Oct '03)
|
|
3310
|
Bolivia
|
1000
|
1130
|
R.
Mosoj Chaski, Cochabamba
|
|
|
3375
|
UNID
|
1000
|
|
UNID
|
Mixed with PNG.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4746.9
|
Peru
|
0905
|
1220
|
R.
Huanta 2000, Huanta, Ayacucho
|
|
|
4765
|
Brazil
|
0800
|
1030
|
R.
Rural, Santarem, Para
|
|
|
4775
|
Peru
|
0910
|
1215
|
R.
Tarma, Junin
|
|
|
4780
|
Guatemala
|
1040
|
1220
|
R.
Cultural Coatan, San Sebastian Coatan
|
|
|
4781.4
|
Ecuador
|
1000
|
|
R.
Oriental, Tena, Napo
|
|
|
4785
|
Brazil
|
0910
|
1100
|
R.
Caiari, Porto Velho
|
|
|
4790
|
Peru
|
0940
|
1145
|
R.
Atlantida, Iquitos
|
|
|
4799.8
|
Guatemala
|
1040
|
1215
|
R.
Buenas Nuevas, San Sebastian
|
|
|
4805
|
Brazil
|
*0945
|
1100
|
R.
Difusora do Amazonas, Manaus
|
|
|
4815
|
Ecuador
|
0950
|
1145
|
R.
El Bien Pastor, Saraguro
|
|
|
4824.4
|
Peru
|
0950
|
1210
|
La
Voz de la Selva. Iquitos
|
|
|
4825
|
Brazil
|
0945
|
1030
|
R.
Cancao Nova, Sao Paulo
|
|
|
4826.2
|
Peru
|
0910
|
1200
|
R.
Sicuani, Cusco
|
Varies to 4826.5
kHz
|
|
4835.5
|
Peru
|
1000+
|
|
R.
Maranon, Jaen, Cajamarca
|
Presumed - no positive
ID
|
|
4845.2
|
Brazil
|
0815
|
1100
|
R.
Cultura Ondas Tropicais, Manaus
|
a.k.a. R Cultura do Amazonas,
varies to 4845.5 kHz, sometimes s/on at 1000
|
|
4856.2
|
Peru
|
0950
|
1130
|
R.
La Hora, Cusco
|
Varies to 4856.5 kHz
|
|
4865
|
Bolivia
|
1030
|
1130
|
R.
Centenario, Santa Cruz
|
IDs as 'Radio Nueva' and 'La
Nueva'.
|
|
4865
|
UNID
|
0945
|
|
UNID
|
Weak level, perhaps one of the
3 Brazilians listed here!
|
|
4876.7
|
Bolivia
|
0945
|
1145
|
R.
La Cruz del Sur, La Paz
|
Varies 4876.7-4877
kHz
|
|
4885
|
Brazil
|
0720
|
1100
|
R.
Clube do Para, Belem
|
|
|
4886.6
|
Peru
|
1115
|
1200
|
R.
Virgen del Carmen, Huancavelica
|
|
|
4890
|
Peru
|
0545
|
1045
|
R.
Macedonia, Arequipa
|
Sometimes dominating over NBC
Port Moresby after 0800. ID
as 'Aqui Macedonia....'.
|
|
4895
|
Brazil
|
1015
|
|
UNID
|
Not sure which Brazilian -
perhaps
R. Bare, Manaus?
|
|
4905
|
Peru
|
1040
|
1145
|
R.
La Oroya, La Oroya, Junin
|
|
|
4915
|
Brazil
|
0633
|
0930
|
R.
CBN & R. Difusora
|
Both stations at equal level,
v. hard to tell apart, both slightly off freq.!!
|
|
4919
|
Ecuador
|
0700
|
1200
|
R.
Quito, Quito
|
|
|
4925
|
Brazil
|
1015
|
1115
|
UNID
|
In Portuguese, no positive ID
obtained
|
|
4929.93
|
Bolivia
|
1015
|
1115
|
R.
San Miguel, Riberalta
|
Reported end of July on
4734.8kHz. Has since moved
again to 4902-4905v (Sept '03)
|
|
4939.6
|
Venezuela
|
0900
|
1115
|
R.
Amazonas, Puerto Ayacucho
|
Presumed - no positive
ID
|
|
4950.15
|
Peru
|
1030
|
1100
|
R.
Madre de Dios, Puerto Maldonado
|
|
|
4955
|
Peru
|
1015
|
1220
|
R.
Cultural Amanta, Huanta
|
|
|
4960
|
Ecuador
|
0900
|
1230+
|
R.
Federacion, Sucra
|
Varies to 4959.85
kHz
|
|
4960
|
Dominican
Rep.
|
1005
|
|
R.
Cima, Santo Domingo
|
With het, probably from
Ecuador
|
|
4965
|
Peru
|
0930
|
1215
|
R.
Santa Monica, Cusco
|
|
|
4974.75
|
Peru
|
0645
|
1145
|
R.
Del Pacifico, Lima
|
Varies from 4974.74 to 4974.85
kHz
|
|
4985
|
Brazil
|
0645
|
1030
|
R.
Brasil Central, Goiania
|
Noted as high as 4985.5
kHz
|
|
4985
|
Brazil
|
2030
|
2200
|
R.
Brasil Central, Goiania
|
Via long path
|
|
4992.5
|
Peru
|
1000
|
1100
|
R.
Ancash, Huaraz
|
|
|
4995.6
|
Peru
|
1000
|
1050
|
R
Andina, Huancayo
|
|
|
5006
|
UNID
|
0934
|
|
UNID
|
Weak signal noted at this
time.
|
|
5009.6
|
Peru
|
1010
|
1110
|
R.
Altura, Cerro de Pasco
|
Presumed - no positive
ID
|
|
5009.6
|
Dominican
Rep.
|
*1030
|
1200
|
R.
Cristal
|
|
|
5020
|
Peru
|
1015
|
1140
|
R.
Horizonte, Chachapoyas, Amazonas
|
Under Solomon Islands, creating
low het due to slightly off frequency
|
|
5025
|
Cuba
|
0610
|
1210
|
R.
Rebelde, Bauta
|
Over VL8K Katherine till 0830
s/off of ABC. Later, hets
with R. Quillabamba.
|
|
5025
|
Peru
|
1015
|
1145
|
R.
Quillabamba, Cusco
|
Hets with R.
Rebelde
|
|
5029.4
|
Costa
Rica
|
0545
|
1200
|
University
Network via Cahuita
|
|
|
5035.1
|
Brazil
|
0900
|
1040
|
R.
Aparecida, Sao Paulo
|
|
|
5054.6
|
Costa
Rica
|
0715
|
0830
|
TIFC
Faro del Caribe, San Jose
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5952.5
|
Bolivia
|
0900
|
1115
|
R.
Pio XII, Siglo Veinte, Potosi
|
ID as Radio Pio Doce. Varies
5952.5 - 5953.5 kHz
|
|
5990
|
Brazil
|
0815
|
0945
|
R.
Senado
|
|
|
5990
|
Brazil
|
2100
|
2245+
|
R.
Senado
|
Via long path
|
|
6009.8
|
Colombia
|
0700
|
1030
|
La
Voz de tu Conciencia
|
|
|
6010
|
Mexico
|
0730
|
1000+
|
R.
Mil, Mexico City
|
Still audible under HCJB's
German s/on at 0930, to past 1000.
|
|
6020.25
|
Peru
|
0500
|
1045
|
R.
Victoria, Lima
|
Under RA-Shep from
0900
|
|
6042.6
|
Peru
|
0715
|
0930
|
R.
Melodia, Arequipa
|
|
|
6060
|
Ecuador
|
*1100
|
|
HCJB
|
Regional service
|
|
6060
|
Brazil
|
0615
|
900
|
R.
Tupi, Curitiba
|
Portuguese
|
|
6060
|
Argentina
|
2330
|
0100
|
R.
Nacional/RAE
|
|
|
6070
|
Chile
|
2315
|
1000
|
Voz
Cristiana, Santiago
|
Noted throughout the day, via
long & short paths
|
|
6080
|
Ecuador
|
*0830
|
1145
|
HCJB
|
Quechua service
|
|
6105
|
Brazil
|
0610
|
0830
|
R.
Cancao Nova, Sao Paulo
|
|
|
6105.5
|
Bolivia
|
1030
|
1130
|
R.
Panamericana, La Paz
|
|
|
6114.9
|
Peru
|
0500
|
0930
|
R.
Union, Lima
|
Mixed with R. Tampa,
Japan
|
|
6134.84
|
Bolivia
|
0900
|
1100
|
R.
Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz de la Sierra
|
|
|
6135
|
Brazil
|
0930
|
1015+
|
R.
Aparecida, Sao Paulo
|
Mixed with R. Santa Cruz
co-channel.
|
|
6135
|
Brazil
|
2100
|
2200
|
R.
Aparecida, Sao Paulo
|
Via long path
|
|
6160
|
Brazil
|
0700
|
0930
|
R,
Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre
|
|
|
6173.8
|
Peru
|
1020
|
1150
|
R.
Tawantinsuyo, Cusco
|
|
|
6180
|
Brazil
|
0800
|
1030
|
R.
Nacional da Amazonia, Brasilia
|
|
|
6180
|
Brazil
|
2015
|
0000
|
R.
Nacional da Amazonia, Brasilia
|
Via long path
|
|
6185
|
Mexico
|
0540
|
1100
|
R.
Educacion, Mexico City
|
Mixed with China from
0945
|
|
6188
|
Peru
|
1020
|
1150
|
R.
Oriente, Yurimaguas
|
|
|
6193.5
|
Peru
|
0940
|
1115
|
R.
Cusco
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9530
|
Brazil
|
2100
|
2300
|
R.
Nova Visao, Santa Maria
|
Via long path
|
|
9565
|
Brazil
|
2030
|
0200
|
R.
Tupi, Curitiba
|
Via long path
|
|
9630
|
Brazil
|
2015
|
0200
|
R.
Aparecida, Sao Paulo
|
Via long path
|
|
9635
|
Chile
|
2100
|
2200
|
Voz
Cristiana, Santiago
|
Via long path
|
|
9645.9
|
Brazil
|
2030
|
0200
|
R.
Bandeirantes
|
Via long path
|
|
9675
|
Brazil
|
2030
|
2130
|
R.
Cancao Nova, Sao Paulo
|
Via long path
|
|
9695
|
Brazil
|
2130
|
2300
|
R.
Rio Mar, Manaus
|
Via long path
|
|
9720
|
Peru
|
0530
|
|
R.
Victoria, Lima
|
|
|
9725
|
Costa
Rica
|
0600
|
0715
|
Carribean
Beacon/University Network, Cahuita
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11710
|
Argentina
|
0100
|
0400
|
R.
Nacional/RAE
|
Via long & short
paths
|
|
11725
|
Brazil
|
2100
|
2200
|
R.
Novas de Paz, Curitiba
|
Via long path
|
|
11745
|
Chile
|
0100
|
0300
|
Voz
Cristiana, Santiago
|
|
|
11765
|
Brazil
|
2100
|
2200
|
R.
Tupi, Curitiba
|
Via long path
|
|
11815
|
Brazil
|
1945
|
2100
|
R.
Brasil Central, Goiania
|
Via long path
|
|
11815
|
Costa
Rica
|
0100
|
0400
|
R.
Exterior Espana, via Cariari de Pococi
|
DX TARGET: RADIO MALLKU
The Voice of the Campesinos
(Peasants)
By Richard A. D’Angelo, Wyomissing, PA, USA
South America offers many opportunities
for shortwave listeners to experience and enjoy local culture and tradition
through the domestic shortwave broadcasting operations from these
countries. That is one of the more
fascinating side benefits of being a shortwave listener. A special part of this listening
endeavor is hearing small regional tropical band stations, commercial or
religious in nature, broadcasting programs to the campesinos. Radio Mallku is one of those special
stations serving the Andes region in Bolivia. This DX Target will focus on Bolivia,
the region surrounding the station, and Radio Mallku.
BOLIVIA
Bolivia, named after independence
fighter Simon Bolivar, broke away from Spanish rule in 1825. A vast majority of its subsequent
history has consisted of a series of almost 200 coups and counter-coups.
Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in the 1980s, but leaders
have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and drug
production. Current goals include
attracting foreign investment, strengthening the educational system, continuing
the privatization program, and waging an anticorruption campaign.
Bolivia is a landlocked country
located in Central South America that borders Argentina, Brazil, Chile,
Paraguay, and Peru. It shares
control of Lago Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805
meters or 12,500 feet), with Peru. The seat of government is La Paz while Sucre
is the legal capital and seat of the judiciary. Its climate varies with altitude from
humid and tropical to cold and semiarid.
The terrain features the rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau
(Altiplano), hills, and the lowland plains of the Amazon Basin. Major minerals and economic resources
are tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead,
gold, timber and hydropower.
The country’s population of 8.5 million
inhabitants consists 30% of Quéchua, 30% of mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian
ancestry), 25% of Aymara, and 15% white.
Bolivia has three official languages, Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara. All of these languages can be heard on
various shortwave broadcasting stations in the country at one time or
other.
Bolivia, long one of the poorest and least
developed Latin American countries, is trying to make progress through the
development of a market-oriented economy.
Successes include the signing of a free trade agreement with Mexico and
becoming an associate member of the Southern Cone Common Market, as well as the
privatization of the state airline, telephone company, railroad, electric power
company, and oil company. Growth
slowed in 1999, in part due to tight government budget policies, which limited
appropriations for anti-poverty programs, and the fallout from the Asian
financial crisis. In 2000, major
civil disturbances in April, September and October, held down overall
growth. Bolivia's economy failed to
grow in 2001 due to a global and domestic slowdown of activity. Although growth is slowly picking up
again, the fiscal deficit and debt burden will continue to remain high. The
clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the international demand for
tropical timber are contributing to deforestation in the country. Soil erosion from overgrazing and poor
cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture) along with industrial
pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation all contribute to
Bolivia’s serious environmental problems.
THE STATION
Radio Mallku is located in Uyuni in the
southern region of Bolivia near the borders of Chile and Argentina. The city of Uyuni itself is an important
railroad crossing, but otherwise the area is a neglected backyard of Bolivia
where people are poor and the climate is hostile. One of the most popular tourist places
in Bolivia is the Salar of Uyuni, a 9,000 square kilometers (4,680 square miles)
salt desert at an altitude of 3,650 meters (11,970 feet). It’s the largest salt flat in the
world. It was once part of a
prehistoric salt lake that covered most of southwestern Bolivia. Armed with only picks and shovels, the
local campesinos harvest salt from this ancient lake filled with an estimated 10
billion tons of fine salt. Situated
in a semi-arid climate, the Salar has an average annual rainfall of about 10
inches. During the rainy season,
from December to March, the Salar may be covered with salt water to depths of 25
centimeters, however during the dry season, the salt water evaporates.
The Uyuni region is made up of hospitable
people living in a relatively cold climate of the highland region of Altiplano
Sud. Until the privatization of the
railroad in 1994, Uyuni was an important regional transportation center. The region is one of the poorest in all
Bolivia. Consequently, many people
have migrated to nearby Argentina and Chile in search of better work and living
conditions.
Mallku is an indigenous word
that means cóndor. The station was
founded in late 1996 under the name of Radio Andes, but was only legalized when
it received a license on 29 September 1999 after changing to its present
name. Some shortwave listeners
believe that the illegality of the operation from 1996 though 1999 was a major
reason for the lack verifications during this period.
Radio Andes was established and
operated by Federacion Regional Única de Trabajadores Campesinos del Altiplano
Sud (“FRUTCAS”), which has members in five provinces in the Department of
Potosí. Aside from the mountain
range, “Andes” referred to the
initials of the five provinces in the area: Antonio Quijarro, Nor Lipez, Daniel Campos, Enrique Baldiviezo and Sud Lipez. However, the radio authorities in La Paz
wouldn't allow the station to operate under the name Radio Andes, because it
closely resembled the name of another station, Radio Los Andes, a Tarija radio
station, located in Mérida, Venezuela and operating on medium wave, 1040 kHz,
and shortwave, 6010 kHz. The name
changed in late 1999 to the current Radio Mallku.
The station is a labor union
operation and orients its programming accordingly. Freddy Mamani M., who is in his early
20’s, is responsible for the station’s programming. Radio Mallku targets the interests of
the campesinos in the southwest of the Departamento de Potosí. Education and health programs in Spanish
and Quéchua dominate the program line up.
Radio Mallku also carries “Mensajes” (messages to/from family and
friends) similar to many other rural Latin American stations. Music programs fill out the programming
structure.
The station is a small operation
with only two people employed full time with freelance and volunteers helping
out. The station broadcasts just
five hours of programming each day, commencing at 1000 UTC with national
music. The morning schedule runs
through 1200 UTC. The station
returns in the evening at 2100 UTC with music and information programming until
sign off around midnight UTC. Radio
Mallku operates on 4,796 kHz with 1,000 watts. Naturally, being a Latin station means
that precise sign on and sign off times do not exist. Think of these time periods as a guiding principle.
The station sporadically replies
to Spanish language reception reports with adequate return postage (US$2.00)
with a nice letter from E. Freddy Mamani M., Responsible de Programación. The station can be reached at:
Radio Emisora “Mallku”
La Voz de Los Trabajadores Campesinos de Altiplano Sud
Casilla 16, Uyuni, Potosí, Bolivia
Bolivia offers shortwave
listeners an opportunity to hear an exotic Latin country. Radio Mallku would make a good addition
to the target list of any serious Latin American shortwave enthusiast. As always, remember to send in those
exotic Radio Mallku station logs and those rare and interesting Radio Mallku
verifications to EDXP-HF forum.
Good luck with this DX Target.
A FEW THOUGHTS ON QSLING THE LATINS
By Rob Wagner
It is important to be mindful that the vast majority of LA stations heard on the
shortwave bands are not targeting international audiences. They do not have the same agenda as our
regular international broadcasters.
The stations are using shortwave because, for the most part, it allows
them to reach a greater audience in their own country than they could do using
MW or FM frequencies. Indeed, many
stations also have MW/FM outlets as well as their SW frequencies. This situation is changing. We are finding some countries that had
many stations operating on shortwave, say 20 years ago, have very few
broadcasters in the bands now, preferring to be totally committed to their MW
and FM facilities. An example of
this can be found in Venezuela.
We need to
understand that most LA stations do not employ English speaking staff. Hence, the necessity to write to those
stations in the language of the country being heard.
Having said that, however, there are
more English speakers in Latin America today than there were twenty years
ago. So, a few stations may have
someone who could translate a letter and reception report that you send to them.
The
question is, will they bother going to the trouble of translating a letter in
English from a foreign listener?
Most aren't really interested in acknowledging listeners in other
countries, who just happen to pick up their domestically intended
broadcasts. If they do take the
time to reply, it is a courtesy that the station's management is extending to
you, the foreign listener (DXer). I
guess this is why QSL cards and letters from Latin stations are highly prized by
the DX fraternity.
Broadcasts
from a Brazilian station will generally be in Portuguese. Your reception report
should contain an outline of the station's identification announcement, some
description of the program content and times in local time zones, not UTC. A good Portuguese dictionary is also
useful.
The same
goes for Spanish reception reports to most other countries in Latin
America. Here are some resources
that will provide assistance in preparing reports in Spanish and
Portuguese:
1.
Ariel Crocco in
Argentina has a useful little web site, which has samples of reception reports
in Spanish and Portuguese. Click
on:
http://arieldx.tripod.com/english/manualdx/variantes/dxlatino.htm
2.
The Hard-Core DX
web site has the same sort of thing.
This site is a bit of a "dog's breakfast" in the way it is laid out……
it's difficult to find things. But
I have dug out the following link for you:
http://www.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx/dxlab/latinam4.html
3.
Our own Bob
Padula has written an excellent report guide for Spanish reception reports. Although originally printed under the
banner of another organization and now currently out-of-print, Bob owns the
copyright and may be able to assist in providing you with a copy.
4.
The Internet is
helpful here with various language translation engines. One I use quite a bit is called
FreeTranslation. It caters
for a number of languages, including Portuguese and Spanish. Simply type in your English sentence and
press the button. Hey Presto!…..
instant translation. However,
beware because some of the results will contain inaccuracies. The automated
translator can sometimes come out with some funny, twisted sentences. Nevertheless, it's most helpful for
compiling descriptive comments on the program content you may be listening
to. Click on:
http://www.freetranslation.com/
5.
Information on
QSLing of LA stations can be sourced from the excellent research by EDXP member
Craig Tyson and his colleagues in the Addresses Plus section of the Passport to
World Band Radio. Here, you will
find descriptions of QSL policies, names of station officials to write to,
addresses and postage information.
It's an indispensable reference work.
6.
The World Radio
TV Handbook is another source for addresses of LA stations.
An indication of
which stations in Latin America are good verifiers can be obtained from a
valuable Internet reference source called The QSL Information Pages For
BC-DXers. Handy information
from other DXers:
http://www.schoechi.de/qip.html
Regarding
postage for Latin stations, some DXers include a US$1 to help encourage the
stations to reply. Others don't
bother to do that at all, instead opting to include some postcards of their
local district, or photos of themselves.
One thing though, most of the stations don't accept, or indeed understand
the use of International Reply Coupons (IRCs). So you usually waste your money
including those with your letters.
|
The QSL
success rate can be somewhat lower than for International stations. They may have very well received your
letter but don't bother to reply because they are just not interested in a DX
report. Some stations are
well-known as "non-verifiers".
That's why a response from a small LA station is a prized possession
indeed! |
Good luck as you go about the tricky task of QSLing stations of Latin America.
Rob
Wagner
Note: This article is Copyright and may not be further reproduced or quoted without the permission of the author short_wave@yahoo.com.au
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