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"Wavescan" is a weekly program for long distance radio hobbyists produced by Dr. Adrian M. Peterson, Coordinator of International Relations for Adventist World Radio. AWR carries the program over many of its stations (including shortwave). Adrian Peterson is a highly regarded DXer and radio historian, and often includes features on radio history in his program. We are reproducing those features below, with Dr. Peterson's permission and assistance.


Wavescan N576, March 8, 2020

The Happiest Place on Earth: Vanuatu in the South Pacific Back on Shortwave

In recent years, we have observed an unfortunate trend regarding shortwave broadcasting around the world, and for various reasons, many shortwave stations have reduced, and even closed, their international shortwave services. One of the main reasons for the reduction in shortwave broadcasting, though certainly not the only reason, has been a reduction in the availability of sufficient funding.

Radio Singapore International is no longer on the air on shortwave; the BBC closed its shortwave relay station in the Seychelles Islands, as did also the Gospel station FEBA Seychelles. Deutsche Welle closed their shortwave relay stations at Kigali in Rwanda, Africa, and at Trincomalee in Sri Lanka. CBC in Canada has closed its international shortwave station, Radio Canada International, at Sackville, New Brunswick. The much-loved Radio Netherlands closed its relay station on the island of Bonaire in the Caribbean; they closed their relay station in Madagascar and sold it to a consortium of former employees; and they also closed down their main transmitter site in Lopik in Holland in 2014.

The ABC in Australia closed its three outback home service shortwave stations in the Northern Territory; and Radio Australia closed its two remaining shortwave stations at Shepparton in Victoria and at Brandon in Queensland. The Voice of America closed its shortwave station in Sri Lanka, and All India Radio has closed many of its home service shortwave stations scattered throughout the sub-continent.

However, in spite of all of these closures, and many others that we have not mentioned, in some parts of the world the major international shortwave broadcasting bands are still chock full of stations that are vying for satisfactory coverage into their desired world areas. Interestingly, many of those organizations that have closed their own shortwave stations are still on the air, though now with leased time over still-available relay stations.

For example, FEBA Radio, no longer with its own shortwave station, now broadcasts its own programming via a relay from other shortwave stations, including a 300 kW transmitter at Gavar in Armenia. The Japanese shortwave relay station in Sri Lanka is no longer on the air, though some of their programming is now on relay via another 300 kW transmitter, this one located at Moosbrunn in Austria. Radio Deutsche Welle no longer operates its own shortwave stations, but some of its programming is still broadcast via the high powered shortwave transmitter at Issoudun in France.

Then, for example, Vatican Radio announced the closure of its shortwave station at Santa Maria di Galeria, but the station still remains on the air. Back six years ago, REE Radio Exterior Espana closed its international shortwave service, and then reopened its shortwave service again two months later. A little over a year ago, Super Typhoon badly damaged the two VOA stations on the islands of Guam and Saipan. However, both extensively damaged stations have since been repaired, and again they are back on the air once more.

In recent time, powerful new shortwave stations have been installed in the United States and these are located at Monticello in Maine (WBCQ 500 kW) and at Bethel in Pennsylvania (WMLK 300 kW still under construction). We should also add that WINB in Red Lion, also in Pennsylvania, recently installed three DRM-capable shortwave transmitters.

Over in Zambia, Africa, in 2016, Voice of Hope reactivated the two silent shortwave transmitters at 100 kW each, which until 2012 had been operated by Christian Voice; and likewise at Kununurra in the north of Western Australia, Reach Beyond is active with three transmitters at 100 kW. We should also mention 4KZ at Innisfail in northern Queensland, with its two new transmitters at 1 kW each for regional shortwave coverage.

At the time when the ABC closed its international shortwave station located near Shepparton in Victoria, there was a loud outcry from listeners and government organizations throughout the islands of the Pacific who felt that they needed the voice of Radio Australia on shortwave, for news and information, particularly in times of weather and other emergencies. Radio New Zealand International also criticized Radio Australia, stating that it was an unfortunate move on their part.

Currently there is still agitation in Australia for the reintroduction of an international shortwave service that can provide news and information for the Pacific Islands in times of emergency, in addition to Radio New Zealand International. However, an additional factor is now involved, due to a Chinese trade and military buildup in the South Pacific; Australia needs a strong international voice in the South Pacific to counter the Chinese incursions, it is stated.

Currently, one of the small independent Pacific Island nations is in the process of upgrading their mediumwave and shortwave radio broadcasting service. Since December, a new shortwave transmitter at Port Vila in Vanuatu has been noted in the South Pacific and in California with test broadcasts on 3945 kHz and 5040 kHz. Vanuatu, it is claimed in the travel brochure, is the Happiest Place on Earth. I wonder what would Disney World say about that!

More about the radio scene in Vanuatu in coming editions of Wavescan.

Audio insert: Radio Vanuatu recording: Tropical Cyclone warning last December.