dxguides.info

Pacific on Shortwave

Guide to shortwave
broadcasting in the Pacific
October 2024 (A24)

Pacific on Shortwave
Compiled and edited by Tony Rogers.
DX Guides: www.dxguides.info

Email: dxguides@gmail.com

Updated: 1 October 2024
The latest edition of this guide is always available at www.dxguides.info
Whilst there may be errors and omissions, the strong point of the guides is the ability to correct andupdate quickly. Please do not hesitate to let me know if you see something that doesn't look right. Thanks!
Descriptions used in this guide may have been taken from radio station websites and/or Wikipedia.

Australia
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is Australia's national broadcaster. The ABC now provides radio,
television, online, and mobile services throughout metropolitan and regional Australia and overseas through ABC
Australia and Radio Australia. However, all domestic and external broadcasting on shortwave has been discontinued
ABC Radio Australia - Wantok programme
Although Radio Australia's shortwave service has been discontinued, the ABC Wantok programme is broadcast on
shortwave by RNZ Pacific three times a day, Monday to Friday. The Wantok programme is 30 minutes of news andcurrent affairs broadcast in Papua New Guinea Tok Pisin, Solomon Islands Pijin and Vanuatu Bislama pidgin languages:
Time/UTC Days
Relayed by
kHz
Transmitter site kW Target area
0800-0830 Mon-Fri
RNZ Pacific13690 Rangitaiki, NZ
50
Pacific
1228-1300 Mon-Fri
RNZ Pacific13690 Rangitaiki, NZ
50
Pacific
2210-2240 Mon-Thu RNZ Pacific15720 Rangitaiki, NZ
50
Pacific________________________________________________________________________________________________
Domestic HF Licences
Changes were made to Australia's Broadcasting Act in December 2000 to permit Christian Voice International to begin
using the Radio Australia shortwave transmitters in Darwin, and to allow HCJB Australia to build a new facility at
Kununurra in Western Australia. If a broadcaster wants to target a domestic audience within Australia, all they need do isapply to the Australian Communications Authority for a Domestic HF Licence (DHFL). It costs a few hundred dollars andthe lower range frequency allocations are specifically exempt from ITU Regulations.
The frequencies available are anywhere in the range 2300-26100 for broadcasting 'within Australia and its territories' andthe following frequency blocks are only available for the DHFL broadcasters: 2300-2495, 3200-3400, 3950-4000, 47504995 and 5005-5060 kHz. The power of these stations is typically 1 kW.
Shortwave Australia
Shortwave Australia is an operation run by David Stuart in Victoria. They have a Facebook page athttps://www.facebook.com/p/Shortwave-Australia-100087235748332/ (with thanks to Peter Parker for this information).
Frequencies: 2310 and 4835 kHz (low power)
Station X
Station X is operated by Peter Tate in Wee Waa, New South Wales. The current antenna on 4970 is an inverted-L with
100w out. However, Peter is constantly doing antenna design experiments to get out the best signal and has an active
page on Facebook with further information: https://www.facebook.com/groups/123554367678571
Frequencies: 2325 and 4970 kHz (low power)
Symban World RadioSWR is based in Sydney, New South Wales, and established in 1997 to serve the Greek community of the city. It
operates on MW 1692 kHz and FM, and irregularly on SW 2368.5 kHz. The transmitter site is Leppington, Sydney, NSW
Frequency: 2368.5 kHz (0.5 kW)
Unique Radio Australia
Unique Radio Australia is located in Moree NSW and has been operating since 2016. Owner Tim Gaynor has abackground in community radio and his station provides a variety of programming not neccessarily heard on mainstream
media. More at https://www.uniqueradio.biz, where URA also streams via the website. Tim points out that the correctname of his station is "Unique Radio Australia", so as not to confuse with the "Unique Radio" online station in London UK.
As of 10 April 2024, Tim advises that "Unique Radio Australia is currently off air till further notice" (usual frequency is5035 kHz with 3210 kHz as an alternative)2Bay Islands RadioBay Islands Radio broadcasts from a low-power shortwave transmitter at Russell Island, Queensland.
Frequency: 505 kHz (low power)
Rob Wagner comments "The schedule is pretty loose and is missing on some nights. The correct location is Russell
Island (not nearby Macleay Island), about 35 km southeast of Brisbane City. As confirmed recently by one of theoperators, Shannon Shuttleworth. The website doesn’t get much love. For more current updates, see Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Bayislandsradiofm88." (RW, August 2023)
Radio 4KZ
Radio 4KZ no longer operates on shortwave. Located in Innisfail since 1967, Radio 4KZ covers the tropical coast of Far
North Queensland on 531 kHz and FM. Its SW transmitter was launched on 20 December 2017 to serve the remote areasof north Queensland on 5055 kHz. However, enquiries by Ron Howard in March 2024 as to its absence on shortwave,
brought a reply from Craig Seager who said "5055 has apparently been off for six months, and removed from the 4KZ site.
Al Kirton (formerly at the helm of 4KZ for 38 years, but now semi-retired) tells me that he will eventually be back on air as
4DX (oldies format), but needs to buy some land first to accommodate it. Future plans include 2485 kHz local evenings
with 2 kW"International broadcasting on shortwave
Reach Beyond Australia
Since 2003, Reach Beyond (formerly HCJB) has been broadcasting on shortwave to Asia.
Transmitter site: Kununurra, in the Kimberley in far North Western Australia
Time/UTC Days
LanguagekHz
kW Target (as per RBA)
0930-0945 Tue-Thu
Korean9580
100 Korea
0930-1000 Fri-Mon
Korean9580
100 Korea
0945-1000 Tue-Thu
English9580
100 Korea
1100-1130 Sat/Sun
Japanese15460
100 Japan
1130-1145 Daily
Rohingya11905
100 Myanmar
1145-1200 Daily
Burmese11905
100 Myanmar
1200-1215 Tue-Thu/Sat
Dzongka
12010
100 Bhutan
1200-1215 Mon-Fri
Kannada15460
100 India (South)
1200-1215 Sat/Sun
Tamil
15460
100 India (South)
1200-1230 Daily
Matu
11875
100 Myanmar
1200-1230 Mon/Fri/Sun
Dzongka
12010
100 Bhutan
1215-1230 Tue-Thu/Sat
Tsangla12010
100 Bhutan
1215-1230 Tue/Thu/Fri
Hindi
15460
100 India (South)
1215-1230 Sat/Sun
Rohingya15460
100 India (South)
1215-1245 Mon/Wed
Hindi
15460
100 India (South)
1230-1245 Tue/Thu/Sat
Hindi
15460
100 India (South)
1230-1245 Fri
Punjabi15460
100 India (South)
1230-1300 Tue
English11900
100 India (North)1230-1300 Wed
Hindi
11900
100 India (North)1230-1300 Thu
Tamil
11900
100 India (North)1230-1300 Sun
English15460
100 India (South)
1245-1300 Mon/Wed/Sat Telugu
15460
100 India (South)
1245-1300 Tue
Kurux
15460
100 India (South)
1245-1300 Thu
Bengali
15460
100 India (South)
1245-1300 Fri
Gujarati
15460
100 India (South)
1245-1300 Fri-Mon
Hindi
11900
100 India (North)1300-1315 Daily
Tamil
15460
100 India (South)
1300-1330 Daily
Hindi
11900
100 India (North)1315-1330 Mon/Wed-Fri
English15460
100 India (South)
1315-1330 Tue/Sat/Sun
Tamil
15460
100 India (South)
1330-1345 Daily
English/Hindi
15460
100 India (South)
1330-1345 Mon
Punjabi
11900
100 India (North)1330-1345 Tue
Kurux
11900
100 India (North)1330-1345 Wed
Bhojpuri
11900
100 India (North)1330-1345 Thu
Himachali
11900
100 India (North)1330-1345 Fri
Nepali
11900
100 India (North)1330-1345 Sat/Sun
Chattisgarhi
11900
100 India (North)1345-1400 Daily
English15460
100 India (South)
1345-1400 Mon/Fri/Sun
Oriya
11900
100 India (North)1345-1400 Tue
Telugu11900
100 India (North)1345-1400 Wed
Hindi
11900
100 India (North)1345-1400 Thu
Marathi
11900
100 India (North)1345-1400 Sat
Punjabi
11900
100 India (North)1400-1415 Mon-Fri
Nepali
11870
100 India (North)1400-1415 Sat/Sun
Tibetan
11870
100 India (North)3

1415-1430
1415-1430
1415-1430
1415-1430
1415-1430
1415-1430
1500-1530
2230-2300

Mon/Sat
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sun
Daily
Daily

Urdu
BhojpuriPunjabi
NepaliBengali
Gujarati
BurmeseJapanese

11870
11870
11870
11870
11870
11870
11825
17650

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

India (North)India (North)India (North)India (North)India (North)India (North)
MyanmarJapan

Hobart Radio International
Hobart Radio International (The Voice of Tasmania) is a shortwave community service relayed across the globe via
shortwave and FM in New Zealand. They describe themselves as "the voice for Tasmania, and will always be developing
and different. Crossing the borders since 2004, telling the unknown and investigating on what's important".
Time/UTC Days Language kHz
Transmitter sitekW Target
0800-0830 Wed English
5850 WRMI Okeechobee FL 100 North America
2230-2300 Sun
English9955 WRMI Okeechobee FL 100 South America
2330-0000 Sun
English
7570 WRMI Okeechobee FL 100 North America

GuamInternational broadcasting on shortwave
KSDA - AWR Asia/Pacific
KSDA is the AWR Asia/Pacific relay station based on Guam, which started shortwave broadcasting in 1987.
Transmitter site: Facpi Point, Agat
Time/UTC Days
LanguagekHz
kW Target area
1000-1100 Daily
Chinese15450 100 East Asia
17710 100 East Asia
1100-1130 Daily
Hakka
15210 100 East Asia
1100-1200 Daily
Chinese11855 100 East Asia
1130-1200 Daily
Shan
15610 100 South-East Asia
1200-1230 Fri/Sat
Chinese15710 100 East Asia
1200-1230 Sun-Thu
Min Nan
15710 100 East Asia
1230-1300 Daily
Meitei
15430 100 South Asia
1230-1300 Sat-Thu
Cantonese
15710 100 East Asia
1230-1300 Fri
Chinese15710 100 East Asia
1300-1330 Daily
Khmer
15550 100 South-East Asia
1300-1330 Sat/Sun
Uighur15600 100 East Asia
1300-1330 Daily
Kachin12055 100 South-East Asia
1300-1330 Mon-Fri
Chinese15600 100 East Asia
1330-1400 Daily
Kokborok
15255 100 South Asia
1400-1430 Daily
Asho Chin
15430 100 South-East Asia
1400-1430 Daily
Chinese15440 100 East Asia
1400-1500 Daily
Chinese12105 100 East Asia
1500-1530 Daily
Kannada15215 100 South Asia
1530-1600 Sat-Wed
English12060 100 Tibet & environs
1530-1600 Thu/Fri
Tibetan12060 100 Tibet & environs
1530-1600 Daily
Oriya
15215 100 South Asia
1530-1600 Daily
Gujarati
15710 100 South Asia
1600-1630 Daily
Telugu15670 100 South Asia
1630-1730 Daily
Korean9455 100 East Asia
1630-1700 Mon/Wed/Fri
Pashto15360 100 Afghanistan
1630-1700 Tue/Thu/Sat/Sun Sindhi
15360 100 South Asia
1800-1900 Daily
Korean9900 100 East Asia
1830-1930 Daily
Korean15530 100 East Asia
2000-2100 Daily
Korean9900 100 East Asia
2100-2200 Daily
Chinese11750 100 East Asia
2200-2300 Daily
Chinese15625 100 East Asia
KTWR - Trans World RadioKTWR is the TWR relay station based on Guam, which began broadcasting on shortwave in September 1977.
Transmitter site: Merizo.
Time/UTC Days
LanguagekHz
kW Target area
1015 -1030 Sun
Balinese
11965 100 South-East Asia
1030 -1100 Sat/Sun
Indonesian
11965 100 South-East Asia
1045 -1100 Mon-Sat
Mongolian
15310 200 East Asia
1100 -1115 Sun
English11965 100 South-East Asia
1115-1130 Sat
Malay
11965 100 South-East Asia

4

1100 -1115
1100-1130
1100 -1130
1100-1200
1115 -1145
1130 -1145
1145-1150
1145 -1200
1150 -1200
1200-1215
1200-1215
1200-1215
1200-1230
1215 -1230
1215-1245
1215 -1245
1230 -1245
1230-1245
1230 -1315
1245-1300
1245 -1300
1245 -1300
1245-1315
1300-1301
1300-1315
1300-1315
1300 -1335
1300 -1345
1300 -1400
1301 -1308
1315-1345
1335 -1345
1345 -1515
1400-1415
1400-1415
1400-1415
1400-1415
1400-1415
1400-1415
1400-1415
1415 -1445
1445 -1500
1500-1600
1900-2000

Daily
Sun/Mon
Mon-Fri
Tue-Fri
Mon-Fri
Sun
Daily
Sun
Daily
Mon-Fri
Sun
Daily
Sat
Mon-Sat
Sun
Sun
Sun
Mon-Fri
Sat
Daily
Sun
Mon-FriSun
Mon-FriSat
Sun
Mon-FriSun
Sat
Mon-Fri
Mon-Fri
Mon-Fri
Daily
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Mon-Thu
Daily
Mon-Sat
Daily

Mongolian
KoreanEnglishKoreanChineseEnglishChineseChineseHakka
Yunnanese
ChineseChineseBurmeseNosu Yi
ChineseJapanese
Sgaw-Karen
ChineseVietnamese
Hui
Manipuri
EnglishHmong Hjua
EnglishDesiyaBhatriChineseChineseChineseHindi
KoreanCantonese
KoreanBondo
KurukhKui
SanthaliDzonkaBengali
Ho
UighurKazakhKoreanKorean

15310
9910
11965
9910
12160
9910
12160
9910
12160
9910
9910
12160
12040
12160
9910
9975
12040
12160
11550
9910
15400
15400
11550
15400
15400
15400
9975
9975
9975
15400
9320
9975
9320
15400
15400
15400
15400
15400
15400
15400
11590
11590
9900
9320

200
200
100
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
100
200
200
100
100
200
100
200
250
250
100
250
250
250
200
200
200
250
200
200
200
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
250
200

East Asia
East Asia
South-East Asia
East Asia
East Asia
East Asia
East Asia
East Asia
East Asia
East Asia
East Asia
East Asia
South-East Asia
East Asia
East Asia
East Asia
South-East Asia
East Asia
South-East Asia
East Asia
South Asia
South Asia
South-East Asia
South Asia
South Asia
South Asia
East Asia
East Asia
East Asia
South Asia
East Asia
East Asia
East Asia
South Asia
South Asia
South Asia
South Asia
South Asia
South Asia
South Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia
East Asia
East Asia

KTWR Digital schedule for A24
Transmitter site: Merizo - DRM operating at 50 or 90 kW.
DayTime (UTC) Frequency kW Coverage Area
Monday1215-1245
9910 kHz90 China
Saturday1100-1130
12120 kHz90 China
Saturday1130-1200
11590 kHz50 Japan
Saturday
1200-1230
11590 kHz50 Japan
Sunday1500-1545
15390 kHz
90 India
Sunday1545-1615
15390 kHz
90 India

Language
ChineseChineseJapanese
EnglishEnglishSouth Indian languages

The schedule for broadcasts in South Indian languages at 1545-1615 is:
1st/3rd Sundays:
Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada
2nd/4th Sundays: Tamil, Telugu and Hindi
5th Sunday:
Tamil
For latest updates see: https://ktwrdrm.blogspot.com/

Federated States of Micronesia
The Cross
The Cross is the radio station of Pacific Missionary Aviation. Their website says that the shortwave service "is currently
down as we are awaiting an engineer and parts". Paul Walker commented to DX Guides on 26 April 2024 that he emailed
the station a while ago and asked about the status since that "parts and engineer" message has been up for a while andgot this response: "The Cross Radio is a local station on the island of Pohnpei. We found it too costly to continue to run
the SW station. Thank you for your understanding". Its assigned frequency was 4755 kHz.

5

New ZealandInternational broadcasts on shortwave
RNZ Pacific
RNZ Pacific (formerly Radio New Zealand International) is a division of Radio New Zealand and the official international
broadcasting station of New Zealand. It broadcasts a variety of news, current affairs and sport. The station's mission
statement requires it to promote and reflect New Zealand in the Pacific and better relations with Pacific countries.
Transmitter site: Rangitaiki, Taupo District, Bay Of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island.
Schedule effective 28 September 2024
Time/UTC Days
mode
kHz
kW Target area (as per RNZ Pacific)
0000-0658 Daily
AM
17675 50
Pacific
0659-1258 Daily
AM
13690 50
Pacific
1059-1258 Mon-Fri AM
13690 50
Solomon Islands, PNG
1259-1650 Daily
AM
7440 50
Pacific
1651-1758 Sat
AM9700 50
Pacific
1651-1858 Sun-Fri AM
9700 50
Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa
DRM
9655 35
Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa
1759-1858 SatAM
11725 35
Pacific
1859-2058 Sun-Fri AM
15720 50
Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa
DRM
13840 35
Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa
1859-2058 SatAM15720 50
Pacific
2059-2258 Daily
AM
15720 50
Pacific
2259-0000 Sun-Fri AM
17675 50
Pacific
Some variations to this schedule has been noted by listeners. It will be updated as necessary.
ABC Radio Australia and BBC programmes rebroadcast by RNZ Pacific
Time/UTC Days
Programme
kHz
0600-0630 Mon-Fri
BBC WS
17675
0800-0830 Mon-Fri
ABC Wantok
13690
1230-1258 Mon-Fri
ABC Wantok
13690
2210-2240 Mon-Thu ABC Wantok
15720
The latest frequency schedule for RNZ Pacific can be checked at www.rnz.co.nz/international/listen
whilst the latest programme schedule can be found at www.rnz.co.nz/international/schedules

Norfolk Island
Radio DX, Norfolk Island
A new licensed broadcast station "Radio DX" tested on 5045 kHz with around 200 Watts during April 2022, and washeard by DXers in NZ, Australia and West Coast USA. The station has a licence authorising up to 1 kW from Australia’s
ACMA. It has been set up by Nick Hacko VK9DX who moved to Norfolk Island ln October 2021. The station operates withoccasional tests only.

Northern Mariana Islands
International broadcasts on shortwave
USAGM Northern Marianas "Robert E Kamosa" Transmitting Station
The USAGM REKTS consisted of two sites located at Saipan and Tinian. It was operational until 28 July 2024, after which
the two sites were closed.

The USAGM Northern Marianas"Robert E Kamosa" Transmitting
Station at Saipan, which closed in July
2024

6

PalauHope RadioThe shortwave station on the island of Palau was founded by George Otis Sr. of Highmark Ministries and later sold to
LeSEA Broadcasting under the late Dr. Lester Sumrall’s ministry. As of September 2020, Joe Perozich became the CEOof the station and established Hope Radio. Hope Radio broadcasts to South East Asia with a mission to preach thegospel in the most populated parts of the world.
Angel 3: website says "Reaching China, Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Mongolia, Japan, Vietnam,
Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, North Korea, South Korea" (also note that website says "Launch TBA!" but thisfrequency is on air)Transmitter site: Medorm, Babeldaob Island.
Time/UTC Days
Language
kHz
kW
Note
0835-0905 Mon
English9930 100
0850-1000 Tue-Fri English
9930 100
Angel 4: website says "Reaching South China, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Indonesia, Philippines, Bhutan, Vietnam,
Cambodia, Thailand, India, Malaysia, and Bangladesh".
Transmitter site: Medorm, Babeldaob Island.
Time/UTC Days
LanguagekHz
kW
0110-0230 Sat
English15680 100
0110-0330 Sun
English15680 100
Angel 5: website says "Reaching East China, Philippines, South Korea, Japan and North Korea"
Transmitter site: Medorm, Babeldaob Island.
Time/UTC Days
Language
kHz
kW
Note
0807-0835 Mon
English9965 100transmitter switches to 9930 kHz at 0835 (see Angel 3 above)
0807-0850 Tue-Fri English
9965 100transmitter switches to 9930 kHz at 0850 (see Angel 3 above)
0810-1205 Sun
English9965 100
0840-1005 Sat
English9965 100Thanks to Andy Lawendel for updates to this schedule.

Papua New Guinea
National Broadcasting Corporation
NBC is Papua New Guinea's state owned broadcaster. Its head office is in Boroko, Port Moresby, and has approximately
20 locations around the country.
NBC Madang
Madang (old German name: Friedrich-Wilhelmshafen) is the capital of Madang Province on the north coast of Papua New
Guinea. It was first settled by the Germans in the 19th century. NBC Madang on 3260 kHz (4 kW) is currently inactive.
NBC Bougainville
Bougainville, officially the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, is an autonomous region in Papua New Guinea. The
largest island is Bougainville Island, while the region also includes Buka Island and a number of outlying islands andatolls. The interim capital is Buka, though it is expected that major government services and buildings will be moved
to Arawa, following reconstruction. NBC Bougainville on 3325 kHz (5 kW) is currently inactive.
Wantok Radio Light
Wantok Radio Light is a radio station operated by Papua New Guinea Christian Broadcasting Network, a non-profit, noncommercial Christian ministry They broadcast on 93.9 FM in Port Moresby, 105.9 FM in other provinces and on
shortwave 7325 kHz (1 kW) throughout PNG and overseas, although the latter has been reported off-air due to atransmitter problem.

Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation
Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) is the official radio broadcaster of Solomon Islands. SIBC is selfdefined as a public service broadcaster "which facilitates educational programs, recording and promotion of local music,
and the unity of diverse cultures in a scattered island nation".
Transmitter Site: Honiara - 10 kW.
Time/UTC Days
Language
kHz
Notes
1900-1200 Daily
Tok Pisin/English
5020
may continue past 1200 with back-to-back music
1200-1900 irregular back-to-back music
5020
no announcements etc during this period
SIBC's other frequency of 9545 kHz has seemingly not been reported since March 2022 when it was heard by Ron
Howard in California with a strong carrier, but no audio at all detected.

7

Vanuatu
Radio Vanuatu
Radio Vanuatu is operated by the state-owned Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation.
Transmitter Site: Emten Lagoon, Efate - 10 kW.
Schedule observed as of 1 October 2024:
Languages: most programmes are in Bislama, with some English and French content as well.
Time/UTC
Days
kHz
Note
1845-1100 Daily
9960
see below
Starting from sign-on at 0545 Vanuatu Time on 1 October 2024 (this would be 1845 UTC on 31 September), Radio
Vanuatu appears to be now using just 9960 kHz throughout its broadcast day to sign-off at 2200 Vanuatu Time (1100
UTC). However, this is based on initial observations and reports from other DXers and there may be other frequencies
used instead at certain times between 1845-1100 UTC that have not yet been noted. Other frequencies to check are
3945, 5040 and 7260 kHz. The schedule above will be updated when it has been confirmed further.
Radio Vanuatu usually begins its daily transmission at approximately 1830 UTC (0530 local time) with 15 minutes or so of
instrumental music, with the National Anthem at around 1845 followed by the opening announcement and the start ofnormal programming.
The Radio Vanuatu Shortwave Report is regularly updated. It consists of a timeline of events as reported by DXers since
January 2022 (and acknowledging in particular those reports posted to the World of Radio IO Group).

Image from VBTC Facebook page8