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2.7. Are there Mongolian radio broadcasts?




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This article is from the Mongolia FAQ, by Oliver Corff with numerous contributions by others.

2.7. Are there Mongolian radio broadcasts?

The question has two possible basic meanings. First of all, we can ask
whether there are radio broadcasts in Mongolia. Then we can ask
whether there are Mongolian language radio broadcasts abroad. Both
questions can be answered positively.

Mongolia has a domestic radio service, both wireless and wire, as well
as television. Besides the domestic radio service, there is also an
international shortwave service.

The radio in Ulaanbaatar is mainly based on a wire-distributed system
with loudspeakers in virtually every urban househould. In some areas
there is only one channel available while other areas feature two
channels which are propagated with long waves and detected with very
simple sets: two channel buttons (with the more sophisticated sets;
the simple ones do without), volume control, that's it. If one does
not want to listen, one pulls the plug; otherwise it's Plug and Play.

These radio sets, called `boxes' (xaïrcag in Mongolian) are available
in the department store but where ever you go you would inevitably run
into the soft background of these ever-present voices, especially at
offices, workplaces etc. The movie ``Argamshaa'' has a scene where an
empty apartment is shown with just the radio being switched on.

Recently, at least one independent FM radio station took up operation.

Mongolian television is a complex story: the state-run television can
mainly be received in Ulaanbaatar, but in recent years many satellite
channels mushroomed. It is now possible to watch MTV. Besides these
new stations, Mongolian television has also diversified: There is now
Ulaanbaatar City Television which even broadcasts on Monday when the
state-run television station habitually has its day off. More details
on television schedules and broadcast history can be found in an
article by John W. Williams, Mass Media in Post-Revolution Mongolia
(in Infosystem Mongolei).

International broadcasts on short wave by Radio Ulaanbaatar can be
heard daily in English and Mongolian. The frequencies given here are
last winter's schedule but appearantly there are not many changes so
these can be tried:

          Time (UTC)             Frequencies    Direction
          ______________________________________________________________
           0300-0330         9960, 12000kHz     Asia
           0910-0940         9960, 12000kHz     Asia
           1445-1515         7530, 9950kHz      Asia
           1930-2000         4080, 7530kHz      Europe and Asia

A more detailed list which is probably not up-to-date gives
information on the languages used by Radio Ulaanbaatar, schedule
effective from September 24, 1995 to March 26, 1996 (Do not feel
shocked to see the year 1996 there. The frequencies do not seem to
change over the years.)

   Language     Target Area      Weekday   Time UTC    Frequencies, kHz

   Mongolian    East Asia        Daily     1020-1050    12085,9960,990
                Siberia          Daily     1250-1320    9950,7350,990
   English      Australia        Daily     0910-0940    12000,9960
                South Asia       Daily     1445-1515    9950,7530
                Europe           Daily     1930-2000    7530,4080
                North America    Daily     0300-0330    12000,9960
   Russian      Far East         12.45.7   0945-1015    12085,9960
                Siberia          .23.567   1410-1440    9950,7530
                Europe           1.32.67   1700-1730    7530,4080
   Japanese     East Asia        Daily     1120-1150    12085,9960
                                 ......7   1200-1230    12085
   Chinese      East Asia        Daily     1050-1120    12085,9960,990
                Asia             Daily     1330-1400    9950,7530,990

Address: Radio Ulaanbaatar, CPO Box 365, Ulaanbaatar 13, Mongolia

The reception is usually fairly weak (as reported repeatedly and
backed up by own experience).

 

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