MADEIRA
Further to item from December 10th, 2010:
I finally managed to find someone at PEF who was able to provide more information and correct some earlier data which is isn't entirely accurate, viz.:
The 1530 kHz outlet, from the Encruzilhadas site (32º 40' 19.63" N 16º 56' 53.96" W, check
http://www.mwlist.org/mwlist_quick_and_easy.php?area=1&kHz=1530 - the data I
provided has already been inserted in this page), St.º António, a parish that belongs to the Funchal municipality, is using not just 1 kW but 2 kW as I had been informed.
The old antenna consists of a simple monopole which has seen better days, and no more refurbishing will be carried out until the new site is inaugurated... unless perhaps conditions urgently demand it and PEF wants to keep MW running.
As soon as the final preparations at the new 1530 kHz site of Poise are ready, the rather old 10 kW GATES tx will then most certainly be kept at just half its power level due to costs.
In terms of use, the Poiso site is brand new, it never worked except for some brief antenna tests using the defunct Santana 1017 kHz 1 kW tx silenced back in early July last, but works actually started some 6-7 years ago (!) after the Funchal municipality granted the station the use of the land for a stipulated period of time.
The antenna was erected, say, some 4 years ago or more, and consists of a 50 Ohm fed, folded monopole like the one used by Antena 1 Madeira at Pico das Eiras (defunct) 531 kHz 10 kW, Porto Santo island.
In terms of MW, Poiso is bad, and so is neighbouring Pico do Areeiro 603 kHz 10 kW (Antena 1 Madeira) for they're both too high for covering a region which is at a lower level. That may be good for VHF-FM while certainly not for MW. On top of that, it seems certain places, particularly on high ground, have been stormed by extremely strong winds, occasional floods, and snow also plagues those areas. In the case of Poiso, access is carried out by 4x4, not normal vehicles.
Funchal in particular, where most of the population live, but also the southern coast of Madeira is best served by MW antennae that are located at a lower latitute, like the old PEF site and the Antena 1 Madeira 1332 kHz 1 kW (Sr.ª do Monte), and also where the defunct Estação Rádio da Madeira 1485 kHz 1 kW was installed.
To conclude this, a final word on PEF Santana 1017. It seems after all, that this unlisted fq, I mean absent in official lists like the one at www.anacom.pt, was experimental during its entire life, with ANACOM's blessing of course. The antenna used there till early this past Summer consisted of a T or inv. L type so I was also told, so pretty much like ordinary NDB rigs. It was nevertheless putting a fair signal in the continent during daytime despite QRM from Spanish stations on adjacent channels; during the evening, one ought better forget about trying to get their signal.
Well, I hope to be able to visit all that some day.
Carlos Goncalves (22/12-2010)
MADEIRA
PEF Funchal 1530 kHz is no longer 10 kW, but 1 kW.
History:
Increasing QRM on nearby homes, postponed repair of their 10 kW tx which will move to Poiso, Chão dos Balcões, when ready.
PEF Santana 1017 kHz 1 kW was terminated back in July'10.
History:
The Santana fq was dropped, this tx will be the backup unit at the new site at Poiso (see above).
Carlos Goncalves (10/12-2010)
MADEIRA
Here is the situation of PEF-Posto Emissor do Funchal www.pef.pt as obs'ed. & reported to me by PEF the other day:
1017 kHz Santana 1 kW
This site, at Chão da Felpa (São Jorge, near Santana, NE Madeira), was switched off end July last, and the tx was taken to the new site of Poiso, Chão dos Balcões, near Pico do Areeiro. Audio from Funchal do Santana was via a dedicated telephone line from PR www.portugaltelecom.pt, and the stn claimed it was expensive. So this Santana tx would then be used temporarily at Poiso, possibly on 1530 kHz, not 1017, and would remain there as a stand by unit after the 10 kW for 1530 kHz is made operational... some day.
However, PEF's plans were abruptly changed when the forest fires devasting areas of Madeira in July reached Chão dos Balcões and affected parts of the new PEF tower as well as power lines for other stns, like RTP & one or two local stns at Pico do Areeiro.
So PEF is currently audible just via 1530 kHz 1 kW (reserve tx, to be scrapped), St.º António, west of Funchal, and is still (!) awaiting repair of its main, 10 kW unit, to be moved to Poiso when in condition.
One of the reasons why PEF is running just 1 kW on 1530 is to reduce interference in the neighbouring households - at least that's what they claim -, but this is so for almost three years now! The other motive is the fault on its main tx which should have been made ready ages ago... so without speculating too much about the whole issue, I would say this huge delay is funds related, a detail PEF, like many other priv. stns, are not keen in disclosing.
What PEF does not hide from the public, however, is that it got a severe blow from the [commercial] competition posed years ago when local stns were allowed to operate on the islands, so no wonder the [costly] MW operation faces hurdles.
The Santana tx on 1017 was able to provide daytime reception up here on mainland despite adj. QRM from Spain, and after nulling co-ch. QRM from the same country; night time reception was a nightmare - as far as I am concerned, no signal.
The Funchal tx on 1530 is still able to reach mainland during daytime, but is typical worse than the formerly parallel 1017 via Santana: its modulation was slightly weaker; during night time, it's a regular catch despite QRM from CVA & STP (VoA relay), and most, if not all, evening prgrs consist of R.Renascença relays.
Carlos Goncalves, Portugal (18/9-2010)
MADEIRA
1017 Posto Emissor do Funchal, Santana 1 kW (Madeira's NE) has been silent for a few weeks' time.
Carlos Goncalves POR (31/7-2010)
MADEIRA
RTP "Antena 1 Madeira" - this is current status of their txs:
1332 Senhora do Monte is the only (!) active tx for the moment.
603 Pico do Areeiro (Madeira island) awaits a new monopole to replace the one that collapsed back in FEB '10, i.e. if the RTP administration doesn't choose to shut this channel too. I suppose a decision won't be known in many months as the cost of such an antenna may easily surpass that of a 10 kW tx.
1125 Ponta do Pargo broke down, so it awaits replacement of a damaged part.
From the set of MF txs used by the RTP Antena 1 Madeira, only one is solid
state.
PEF-Posto Emissor do Funchal, Funchal: They are still active:
Funchal 1530, nominal 10 kW, Santana 1017, 1 kW.
The planned move to Chão dos Balcões (this is not far from RTP's Pico do Areeiro site) has not materialised so far, so 1530 is still at reduced power so as to avoid QRM on neighbouring households. Acc. to the stn, no new tx will be installed on the new site where a new tower has already been installed; they'll be moving the old valve tx instead... On a quiet receiving place, both 1530 & 1017 are audible during daytime, particularly the latter despite adj. QRM (de E), but 1530 is putting a terribly weak signal that's clogged by noise albeit audible at night time when it must fight QRM de CVA & STP (VoA).
Carlos Goncalves (13/4-2010)
MADEIRA
Back in Jan'09, the folded monopole used for 531 kHz 10 kW at Pico das Eiras, Porto Santo island, was destroyed in a storm. Being a tower of this type, it meant it could be used as a mast for the VHF-FM antennae too, and it was indeed the case. A new tower for these antennae was erected soon after that. This RTP-radio facility is located west of the this island.
I have just been informed that the RTP administration decided not to reactivate the MW outlet since full coverage is being accomplished by VHF-FM.
Now it remains to be seen whether the Pico do Areeiro tx 603 kHz 10 kW, Madeira island, has the same fate. The tower collapsed two days prior to the recent sad events in Madeira when floods and mud slides destroyed property and killed some 40 people. Pico do Areeiro is located north of the capital, Funchal.
73, Carlos Goncalves, Lisboa (12/3-2010)
MADEIRA
531 RDP Madeira, Porto Santo island, off since Jan'09 due to a collapsed tower (probably a monopole), is said to resume operation towards the end of the year. I would not be surprised, if RTP decides to shut down this MW outlet. It puts a daytime signal over here on mainland despite co-ch. with Spain; during nighttime, conditions are a lot more adverse.
1531 Posto Emissor do Funchal, Funchal, was scheduled to move to their new site at Chão dos Balcões back in May of 2008; their new tower is already in place for many months together with the new building, but it seems there are plenty of other things that aren't. While that, they're still using the old site in Funchal but at reduced power (and most certainly reduced modulation too) so as to reduce interference around the many homes built around the site. PEF's other site, on the north coast of Madeira, is active and
typically provides a better signal that of 1530 albeit interferred by adj. chs.
Carlos Goncalves, Portugal (5/6-2009)
MADEIRA
Fallingrain shows Santo Antonio:
32 38 60 N 16 55 60 W
http://www.fallingrain.com/world/PO/10/Santo_Antonio.html
Masts seen at 32°38'53.63"N 16°55'52.98"W
Surprisingly a lot of Forcas Armadas Garnicao visible midst on the tourist village Funchal,
at 32°38'31.96"N 16°56'18.50"W, 32°39'6.21"N 16°56'19.18"W.
Chão dos Balcões - dos balcones ?
73 de Wolfgang Büschel, Germany (11/12-2007)
MADEIRA
These are the new data on PEF-Posto Emissor do Funchal, Madeira island.
Encruzilhadas (de Santo António) is the actual place where the present MF tower located, and nearby Barreira is the VHF tower site. Both are just a few km NW of Funchal.
PEF was forced to move out of the existing MF site because of dwellers' complaints against interference. It seems that Encruzilhadas de Stº António, which I was unable to find in GoogleEarth, is becoming too much crowded with houses, thence the decision of the municipal authority.
The first consequence of that was the power reduction: abt. 1 kW which explains why PEF 1530 kHz is so pale for many months now.
The neighbouring Barreira VHF site also will move to the new MF site, where the 60 m high tower (already in place together with the building) will be used for the VHF-FM antennae too. So most probably the MF tower will be grounded and the radiating system consisting of a cage.
Despite announcing the new MF & VHF site at Chão dos Balcões is expected to start still this year, it's believed the feasible date is on the occasion of PEF's 60th anniversary, in May'08.
Best regards, Carlos Gonçalves (11/12-2007)
MADEIRA
PEF-Posto Emissor do Funchal, 1530 kHz 10 kW Funchal & 1017 kHz 1 kW Santana, www.pef.pt, has built a new site at Chão dos Balcões, near Poiso, for 1530 kHz that includes a 60 m high MF tower. Click the "A Rádio" button on the page
(http://www.pef.pt/index.php?h_op=historial)
For many months now, 1530 kHz puts a very pale signal with a weak audio too while the weaker Santana tx exhibits a fair to moderate signal albeit plagued with adjacent QRM from Spain.
Best regards, Carlos Gonçalves, Lisbon (9/12-2007)
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MOROCCO
Correction to my report yesterday on Medi 1 Morocco, should have been 171khz.
David James (13/12-2008)
MOROCCO
Medi 1 Morocco 177khz strong signal day and night 85 miles west of London. Have they got a new tx?
David James, UK (12/12-2008)
MOROCCO
Needless to say this not DX, just an observation on how RTM outlets are behaving:
711.06 Laâyoune (?- see ID), regional programme, 0946-..., 13 May, Arabic, Arab songs, talks, Dakhla ID, songs; 55454 but still weak audio. Now Laâyoune, formerly El-Aiún, is "in front" of the Canaries whereas Dakhla (formerly Villa Cisneros I suppose), is well into the south, so quite different places.
1079.8 Tangiers ?, regional programme, 0905-..., 12 May, Arabic, Arab songs, news 1200, prayer 1410; 55555 whereas terribly after darkness, but then this one must be no other than a harmonic of 539.95 which was a detail I overlooked in a previous report about this case.
1187.9 Casablanca, "C" programme, 1014-..., 13 May, Berber, talks, interviews; 55454, engline-like QRN in the carrier.
1637.8 Rabat, "A" programme, 1010-..., 13 May, Arabic, Arab songs: 35353, harmonic of 818.9, still with bad audio though not as bad as during an April observation.
And as far as other MRC stations are concerned, maybe my home-made 4 element VHF-FM cubical quad antenna can help in the future since rough tests at just 3 m above ground on Sat. 12th inst. provided reception of several MRC stns, viz. "A", "B" & "C" networks, Médi 1, not to mention stations in CNR & MDR.
Carlos Gonçalves (14/5-2007)
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