Sadly Australia’s international broadcast service ‘Radio Australia’ left the shortwave bands in 2017. It was launched on the 20th day of December 1939 and had broadcast for nearly 80 years. The decision to scrap Radio Australia’s shortwave broadcasts attracted criticism from various circles including cattle station owners, indigenous ranger groups, and fishermen. It was argued that the decision was made without any community consultation and would deprive people in remote areas of vital emergency warnings.

Although Radio Australia is gone, there are a number of Australian shortwave broadcasters who can be heard on the shortwave bands. Here are the ones that I am aware of.

Bay Islands – 5045 kHz.

This station broadcasts from MacLeay Island in Queensland.

4KZ – 5055 kHz

Radio 4KZ is a shortwave relay of an Innisfail, Queensland, medium-wave station with the same call sign, and is part of the NQ Radio network. Located in Innisfail since 1967, Radio 4KZ covers the lush tropical coast of Far North Queensland from Townsville in the south to Cairns city in the north. It plays a variety of music. 

Shortwave Australia – 4835 kHz & 2310 kHz.

Shortwave Australia is a not-for-profit short-wave station broadcasting on 4835 kHz and 2310 kHz. More information can be found on their Facebook page at…..

https://www.facebook.com/p/Shortwave-Australia-100087235748332/

Unique Radio – 5035 kHz & 3210 kHz.

Unique Radio Australia is a non-commercial shortwave radio station that broadcasts on 5035 kHz and 3210 kHz. More information can be found on their website at…..

https://www.uniqueradio.biz/

Radio 567 – 4970 kHz.

Radio 567 is part of the X Radio Network (XRN) and broadcasts from Wee Waa, New South Wales. According to the XRN Facebook site the power is 100 watts and the antenna is an inverted L.

If you know of any other Australian broadcasters on the shortwave bands, I would love to hear from you.

References.

1. 4KZ, 2021, <https://www.4kz.com.au/>, viewed 15th August 2023.
2. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Australia>, viewed 15th August 2023.

Here are my latest FT8 awards.

Thank you to all of the FT8 operators and thank you to the various FT8 Award Managers.

QSL card received from the Voice of Greece for my reception of their station on 9420 kHz on 22nd March 2022.

In the past few days, I have received a couple of nice eQSL cards from Ersoy 3C3CA of Equatorial Guinea in Africa.

I received this certificate in my email inbox today.

It is issued by the French Flora Fauna (FFF) program, for having worked fifty (50) different FFF reference areas.

Thanks to all of the French activators and thanks to Fabien F4HRR the Awards Manager.

The electrician has been to install the wiring. The insulation has been added, and two ceiling panels have been installed.

At about 1208 UTC on 10th August 2023, I tuned in to 3UW-33 Guangzhou VOLMET, CHINA, transmitting on 3458 kHz.

Guangzhou is the capital and largest city of Guangdong province in southern China. It is located about 120 km north-northwest of Hong Kong.

Above:- Map showing the location of Guangzhou China. Map c/o Google Maps

Guangzhou VOLMET is located at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Its power output is 6 kW. Guangzhou shares the frequency with Beijing VOLMET.

Below is a short video of my reception. There were severe static crashes on the band.

References.

1. DX Info Centre, 2023, <https://dxinfocentre.com/volmet-wx.htm>, viewed 11th August 2023.
2. MWList for scanners, 2023, <http://www.mwlist.org/scanner.php?mode=1&area=2&MHz=3>, viewed 11th August 2023.
3. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guangzhou>, viewed 11th August 2023.

At about 1204 UTC on 10th August 2023, I tuned in to Guangzhou VOLMET, CHINA, transmitting on 5673 kHz.

Below is a short video showing my reception.

References.

1. DX Info Centre, 2023, <https://dxinfocentre.com/volmet-wx.htm>, viewed 11th August 2023.

At about 0620 UTC on 10th August 2023, I tuned in to Gander VOLMET, CANADA, transmitting on 10051 kHz.

Gander is located in Newfoundland in eastern Canada.

Above:- Map showing the location of Gander. Map c/o Google Maps.

Below is a short video showing my reception of Gander VOLMET.

References.

1. DX Info Centre, 2023, <https://dxinfocentre.com/volmet-wx.htm>, viewed 11th August 2023.

At about 0611 UTC on the 10th day of August 2023, I tuned in to Shannon VOLMET, IRELAND transmitting on 13264 kHz.

Shannon is located in Country Clare, Ireland, and is named after the river near which it stands.

Above:- Map showing the location of Shannon in Ireland. Map c/o Google Maps.

Below is a short video showing my reception of Shannon VOLMET.

References.

1. DX Info Centre, 2023, <https://dxinfocentre.com/volmet-wx.htm>, viewed 11th August 2023.
2. Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shannon,_County_Clare>, viewed 11th August 2023.