Hi Craig. The Navy runs a rebroadcast of the Armed Forces Network on SW frequencies intended primarily for ships in the Indian Ocean without good satellite receiving facilities. It is sort of a hybrid SWBC/utility operation, but they do QSL OK. Here is a link for more info.
http://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/radio/shortwave/ I heard AFN Diego Garcia on the 4 mHz frequency in the afternoon here thanks to tip from J.D. Stephens. Not great reception but enough to send a reception report. If you want to try for a QSL, the main office in Southern California sends out a nice card. You can send an e-mail reception report and the QSL usually arrives in less than 2 weeks. No return postage required. Here is the e-mail address for QSLs: [EMAIL PROTECTED] They were just building the DG facility when I was in the Navy (1969-73). It was VERY arduous duty then. Anyone who volunteered for a 1 year assignment got their guaranteed choice of orders when they left, plus 30 days of basket leave. I'm sure it's no resort still, but hopefully it's better now than in the early 70s. They used to say, "There's a woman behind every tree - you just can't find any trees." Good luck to your son and please thank him for his service to our nation for me. 73s, Jim -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Craig Healy Sent: Friday, December 22, 2006 3:45 PM To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America Subject: Re: [IRCA] Department of bizarre QSLs Partial data letter from AFN Diego Garcia with beautiful 8 x 10 photo of island, signed by IC2 Bennett. Date on letter is Jan 23, 2006, postmark on envelope is the same. Almost a year to arrive!!! The envelope, letter and photo were all in good shape, so I don't think they were just stuffed in a corner somewhere. Still, pretty weird if you ask me. -=-=-=- What did you hear from there? My son was stationed on DG for a year and a half. The only radio he knew about was a 50w thing. He didn't say anything about utes, but I'd be very surprised if they verified anyhow. He might be going back. I hope to supply him with a radio and some incentive to use it and report. He did say that Australian stations were good around sunset. I was hoping to figure a way to get a remote receiver there, but.. Surface mail can take a *very* long time. I sent him a computer monitor while he was there. Took literally months. Craig Healy Providence, RI _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list [email protected] http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: [email protected] _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list [email protected] http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: [email protected]
