Rádio Nacional Da Amazônia QSL Card Received

On May 22, 2015, I received a QSL card by registered mail from Rádio Nacional Da Amazônia in Brasilia verifying my monitoring report & audio file of their broadcast sent to them in early January 2015. The QSL verifies my reception of their transmission as heard from Mandarmani during ADXL DXpedition on 26^th Dec, 2014 on 11780 kHz at 20:00 Hrs UTC RX Tecsun PL660, 90m long-wire antenna. Listen to my audio recording-

This is the second time that EBC (Empresa Brasil de Comunicação) - the Brazilian government-owned corporation that manages the government's radio and television stations, has verified my reception report. In June 2014 I had my first Reception Verification from Rádio Nacional Da Amazônia However, back then I had to remain satisfied with just email verification as because, EBC didn't had any QSLs in stock! After several follow-ups their reply was quite intriguing “We are unable to give you a date, but a public bidding process has been initiated to select a firm to print the cards.” (Translated from Portuguese)

As it seems now, my second attempt to QSL Rádio Nacional Da Amazônia didn’t go astray. Early in March 2015, I was seeing New EBC QSLs popping up in multiple Facebook groups and some personal blogs of DXers (especially from Japan and Latin America). After a good look I concluded that EBC is issuing the new cards only to fresh reports (those logged from B14 season onwards), Hence, although I was pretty sure that my earlier report (of Jan 2014) would not fetch me QSL card, I certainly kept my fingers crossed for my reception report of 26^th Dec, 2014. Here are snaps taken just after opening the envelope from EBC.

Till next time, 73 from Kolkata, India.

Super Rádio Deus É Amor Logged & Verified from India

Super Rádio Deus É Amor transmitting from Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil with just 10 Kilowatt was logged on Dec 26, 2014 around 20:00 Hrs UTC from Mandarmani, West Bengal, India. Programming was in Portuguese. A male preacher was heard delivering sermon/ prayer to a house full of audience (probably one of the gospel discourses of the Pentecostal Church). The station was heard between 19:56-20:23 UTC with SIO 342-222 after which signal became almost inaudible due to heavy noise. RX used: Tecsun PL 660 Antenna: Longwire (90 mts). Here's the video of my reception:

Reception report was sent via email to IPDA in January and electronic verification was received from IPDA on that same day v/s Marcos Ribeiro (IPDA)

The English translation reads - " Good day, Thank you for listening to the signal of our radio station Super Rádio Deus É Amor (Curitiba/PR) here in Brazil." 

This was one of my farthest logs ever! The distance between the station and my QTH was a staggering 15,617 Kms and that too it transmitted its signal with just 10 KW. All in all, a fantastic DXing experience and a memory to cherish for years.

Here's a little information on the radio station and its background - 

Super Rádio Deus É Amor (God is Love) is a gospel radio station run by the IPDA ministry founded by legendary missionary David Martins Miranda. IPDA (Igreja Pentecostal Deus É Amor) was founded way back in 1962 and is well known in South American countries. IPDA's radio broadcasts are predominantly heard in local FM & AM (MW) channels in Brazil and all other South American countries, most Central American nations as well as in the USA and Canada, in both MW,SW,FM broadcast formats as well as online (worldwide) in Portuguese, Spanish, French and English. 

For details visit their website: http://www.ipda.com.br

Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/igrejadeuseamor

73 & 88

Logs from ADXL DXpedition Dec 2014

The Asian DX League (ADXL) DXpedition at Mandarmani during the Christmas weekend was highly successful for me and our team. I missed one of our core member's absence this time, yet the team spirit was high! To me this time the DXped offered some great learning experiences. 

Reception wise, Mandarmani (our ADXL DXped location) continued to prove it's superiority (Tajpur should come as a close second) as per my personal observation, now that I have toured and DXed at almost every major tourist spot along the West Bengal coastline & in some spots in the neighbouring Odisha coastline. Moreover, our beverage (90x2 & 120 x1 m insulated longwire) worked as expected and we're able to log stations from North and South America with S4-5 as well as from most other continents. 

Among the most notable DX catches I must mention my log(s) of Super Rádio Deus é Amor from Curitiba, Brazil (15,617 Kms away), Radio Nacional da Amazônia from Brasilia, Brazil (15,299 Kms away). Radio Madagasikara (Madagascar), Radio Fana (Ethiopia), WEWN (USA) and many more. 

Here are my detailed logs from the DXpedition - 

Reception Verification from Rádio Nacional Da Amazônia

During my stint at the Mandarmani 2014 DXpedition organized by our very own Asian DX League core members in the month of January, I was fortunate to log Rádio Nacional da Amazônia transmitting from Brasilia, Brazil. It was undoubtedly the farthest log in our DXpedition trip this year. I can still remember the sports commentary by OM of an ongoing football match in (fast paced) Portuguese. I can still reminisce how we roared in unison “Brazil Brazil” breaking the silence of the night once we heard the station ID. You can have a look at our DXpedition blog post here – Asian DX League DXpedition 2014.

After returning from the DX trip I sent my reception report to EBC (Empresa Brasil de Comunicação). The first communication didn’t result in any reply, the second communication (in Feb) however resulted in a reply on March 12, confirming the reception and a note of thanks and promising a QSL is on the way! Here’s the reply (copied from email)

“Em resposta à sua manifestação, a Empresa Brasil de Comunicação EBC informa: Sr. Rajdeep Das, bom dia. A Coordenação da Rádio, em resposta a mensagem, informa que A Empresa Brasil de Comunicação está desenvolvendo um projeto para emissão de cartão QSL. Em breve, o cartão estará pronto e faremos o envio. Aproveitamos a oportunidade para agradecer por escutar nossa emissora. Atenciosamente, Jamily Lima Ouvidoria da EBC”

(Translated from Portuguese it reads)

“In response to its manifestation, Brazil Communication Company - EBC informs:Mr. Rajdeep Das, good day. Coordination of Radio, in response to message reports that Brazil's Communication Company is developing a project to issue QSL card. In brief, the card is ready and will make the shipment. We take this opportunity to thank you for listening to our station. Sincerely, Jamily Lima Ombudsman EBC”

Surprisingly another reply was received within 24 hours of my thank you mail to the above. It reads – “Mr Rajdeep, good morning. We will forward your message also the coordinator of Radio to expedite the process of making the card. Sincerely, Jamily Lima Ombudsman EBC”

However, even after waiting for close to 3 months there was no sunshine! I wrote to Ms. Jamily Lima yet again last week and this time she replied with the following –

“In response to its manifestation, Brazil Communication Company - EBC informs:Mr. Rajdeep, Thanks for the contact. Take the opportunity to thank you for listening to our transmission. We are unable to give you a date, but a public bidding process has been initiated to select a firm to print the cards. Jamily Lima Ombudsman EBC”

Thus in a nutshell, my dream of getting a verified QSL card/ eQSL from the station is yet to materialize, still even if I'm not that fortunate, the communication above sufficiently proves and validates my reception report. Also I believe as a result of my continued persuasion for their QSL card and not an eQSL they might just print a batch of card soon and post one of those mementos back to me and to a few fellow DXers who may have written to them and in the waiting much like me!

73’s