Listening to Ladino over Shortwave Radio

Note: This page is somewhat technical. FASSAC provides the information for those interested in learning more about the subject, but we cannot provide technical assistance for tuning or make recommendation on purchasing radio equipment. Please contact the radio stations and vendors who provide the program (as listed) below.

Persons around the world can listen to news and entertainment originating from Israel and Spain by use of a Short Wave Radio receiver. A good Shortwave radio-receiver is necessary, but you need not acquire an expensive one. While a digital display model will help you scan the frequencies, cross-referencing them with a list to identify stations with ease, it is not essential. A good analog model will usually serve the purpose. Technically speaking, there is no receiver that can be considered "a powerful one". A good set is one that has: Higher Sensitivity (the ability to receive weaker signals better). Good Selectivity (the ability to separate interfering signals better). A few good brand-names of SW receivers are: Sony, Grundig, Sangean and Realistic (Radio Shack). Prices range anywhere from $50.00 (USD) to $200.00 (USD).

You can find them at major retail stores and Radio Shack. The antenna that comes with the receiver will usually suffice to catch stronger signals and nearby stations, but a Longwire Antenna that can be easily attached to the whip, or a Half-Wave Dipole, are needed to catch weaker signals. Here are some more links to learn more about the hobby of, and equipment needed to listen to Short Wave Radio: http://home.xnet.com/~cmaddox/shortwave.html

Figure 1. A typical example of a modern Shortwave radio receiver

Part 1.0 (ISRAEL)

A daily half-hour English broadcast of Israel Radio (in Hebrew) can be heard daily at 19:00 UTC (3:00 pm EDT) on 7465, 9435, 11605, 15615, and 15640. On the East coast of North America, 11605 seems to be the best frequency. There are also two other English broadcasts, which are more difficult to hear on the East coast. One is a half-hour broadcast at 14:00 UTC (10:00 am EDT), supposedly on 12077 and 15615. 12077 does not come in very well; 15615 is strong, but carrying a Hebrew broadcast. The other is a 15-minute broadcast at 04:00 UTC (12 midnight EDT), on 7465, 9435, and 17545. Unfortunately, 7465 also has Norwegian Radio on it, 9435 is noisy, and 17545 is too high to be heard after dark (and is aimed at Australia). There is a 15-minute Ladino broadcast, but on a frequency that is probably too low to be heard well in North America at that time of day. The time is 16:45 UTC (12:45 pm EDT). Though this might sound discouraging, reports have come in from people outside of the Mediterranean area, who have heard the broadcasts clearly.

Below are two different tables of frequencies. Note the geographic locations of the Primary Target (listener [You]). Attempt to listen on all of the various frequencies during the listed times.

From March 31 to October 6, 2002

Spanish & Ladino

Saturday only

(Hei)

1500-1525

17425

16

Europe + N. America

15640

19

Europe + N. America

17565

16

Spain + Latin America

Ladino

(REQA)

1645-1700

15640

19

Mediterranean

For correspondence regarding reception problems of Kol Israel broadcasts, please write to: Raphael Kochanowski Director of Liaison & Coordinator IBA - Kol Israel Radio POB 1082 Jerusalem 91010 Israel E-mail: raphaelk@iba.org.il

This above program is sponsored on the air by Kol-Israel

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Part 1.1 (SPAIN)*

Ladino (not modern Spanish) is played over the airwaves in Spain occasionally on the following frequencies:

*The sponsor of this program is unknown, and if anyone has more information, please let us know.

 

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