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The inside story:
DXing and Broadcasting
in China
by Danny
Wu
I am glad to be able to introduce
the situation of DXers in China to you through DXing.info.
Up to now there have been no DX clubs in China,
but the Internet has become a vital meeting point
for Chinese DXers. I want to point out that there
are many hams in China, but this article does not
include the introduction of their DX activities.
After
over twenty years of economic reform, China's broadcasting
facilities have improved greatly. One apparent evidence
is that almost every city has its FM radio stations.
For example, in Fuzhou, capital of Fujian Province,
also the place where I live, I know there are a
lot of FM radio stations. Besides FM local programs,
most cities also have transmitters relaying the
programs of China National Radio (CNR).
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| Fujian PBS confirming reception
of their transmission on 882 kHz (QSL to Mika
Mäkeläinen) |
In some Chinese cities, the audience
of FM programs are mainly drivers and young students.
The former get information about traffic conditions,
while the latter obtain up to date information on
entertainment. Therefore, traffic and music channels
are always popular.
Radio programs are very commercialized.
During the evening prime time, various ads replace
political preaching. Radio stations often broadcast
vulgar ads like treatment for sexually transmitted
diseases to gain more profit, which tends to make
many listeners disgusted.
Countryside counts
on AM
 Medium
wave is the main broadcasting band for radio stations
in the provinces. Compared with FM, there are less
commercials on MW.
Certain foreign missionaries
use MW stations to preach Christianity to the Chinese
people. What is worth mentioning is that these religious
radio stations don't seem to be on the government's
list of interfered stations.
 Nevertheless,
the medium wave programs sent by Voice of America
(VOA) are not so lucky. In the city I live in, I
can easily receive medium wave broadcasts from Taiwan,
for there is only a strait between Fujian Province
and Taiwan. In some higher places of Fuzhou, you
can even listen to Taipei's FM programs steadily.
Shortwave is the
door to the world
Shortwave radios are most popular
in China. It is a cheaper tool to know about foreign
countries. Students use it to learn English. In
universities, senior students are required to comprehend
the English narration broadcast by VOA or BBC.
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| Confirmation of reception
received by Mika Mäkeläinen from Baicheng
PBS on 1323 kHz |
Since labor force is inexpensive,
many famous international radio manufacturers have
made China as their production base, including Grundig,
Philips, Sony and Sangean. Some models of Grundig
are even designed by Chinese engineers. Because
the number of DXers is small, the receivers on the
domestic market are usually sold to common consumers.
It is difficult to purchase high quality receivers
in China.
The price of a Sony ICF-SW7600GR
amounts to the monthly salary of a high school teacher.
Tecsun HAM-2000 (a Chinese type Grundig Satellit-800)
costs a month's income of an average Chinese family.
Except for a few top DXers, the majority of radio
buffs can only use cheap portable radios to receive
signals. The equipment is in shortage. What is worse,
it is hard to buy some reference books such as WRTH.
In order to get news about foreign DX, they have
to surf on line.
DXers' Internet
revolution
Internet is a vital tool for
China's DXers. Some web sites are their haunts,
for instance Mr. Wang Lei's Radio
Fans and the famous Radio
Forum. They are Chinese-language websites like
mine.
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| Tough to understand? |
China's provincial radio stations
seldom provide QSL cards. An important factor is
that few people know what they are. China's DXers
can only send reception reports to foreign stations,
requesting their confirmation. Because of language
problems and lack of guidance, most DXers have to
write letters to stations offering Chinese service.
Chinese government frequently
interferes foreign broadcasts to China, and checks
printed mail, so the contacts with foreign stations
don't always go smoothly.
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| ... well, here's the translation. |
Due to such obstacles, DX activities
in China are not fully developed. A large number
of people don't know what foreign DXers are doing.
In my opinion, they are eager to get information
and to get help in technical issues from you.
Finally, I would like to say
that I am not a real DXer. However, I am fond of
searching for weak signals from distant areas with
a portable receiver in my leisure time. Quite a
few DXers own tabletop receivers and they themselves
erect outdoor antennas.
In 1990, when I was still a
junior high school student, I was curious about
foreign broadcasting stations. In the spring of
2002, I visited Mr. Wang Lei's website. It is reputable
among Chinese DXers. There I get plenty of knowledge
in broadcasting and DX as well as make friends with
many DXers. We often discuss issues in the forum.
Occasionally, we have friendly arguments. Without
the help of Mr. Xiaoli Qiao we would not have known
about DXing.info. It is he who introduced DXing.info
in the forum to us.
Another expert who is widely
respected is Mr. Miller Liu from Taiwan. He is experienced
in DXing. Benefiting from the Internet, we are able
to keep in touch with DXers in other countries.
I am afraid that I can't tell you the exact number
of DXers in China, for we have not had any special
clubs up to now. Meanwhile, more and more short
wave listeners are becoming DXers. Yet obviously,
there are very few female fans in this field.
Nobody interferes my hobby.
Most Chinese know how to respect other people's
interests. I encounter some friends sharing my hobby
even in the local place. Although we do differ in
age and identity, it doesn't prevent us from getting
pleasure from the electric waves, because common
interest is the bridge of friendship.
Fortunately, great changes
are taking place in China. Perhaps in the near future,
you may learn more reports about China's DX activities.
published on June
28th 2002
  
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