From Rob Scobey, Senior Producer for International English
Sunspots and Solar Flares
We reported last month that responses from listeners like you have increased in the past few months. We know that radio reception generally gets better during periods of high sunspot activity. Sunspots cause the sun to eject electrically-charged particles (ions), which travel to Earth at high speeds. These ions tend to help the upper atmosphere (ionosphere) reflect long-distance radio signals back to your radio receiver. This solar cycle continues to improve and we hope that shortwave reception will continue to improve as well.
However, during high sunspot activity, there’s also an increase in solar flares. These flares send unusually high amounts ions from the sun to Earth’s atmosphere. And this overabundance can hinder both communications and electrical transmissions.
But KNLS frequency coordinator Jeff Jaworski tells us that even solar flares, which usually hinder radio signals, can, in some cases, actually help some signals travel farther than normal. As a visual bonus—these flares create the beautiful auroras that are visible in the planet’s polar and sub-polar regions.
As Jeff says, solar flares can interfere with or enhance radio signals. They can also create problems for internet communication. So, if you have both shortwave radio and internet access, you can choose between listening on your radio receiver or your computer. The webcast is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Shortwave broadcast times and frequencies are available on this website.
The KNLS English Hour serves the Pacific Rim seven days a week with great music, current news, and The Good News.
The Pacific Rim
The Pacific Rim is the reason KNLS broadcasts in English. It’s that part of the Eastern Hemisphere that encompasses the English-prevalent countries of the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. Additionally—English is widely spoken in Indonesia. And English is the official language of government and commerce in India.
KNLS is on the air daily from 800 hours UTC (Universal Coordinated Time, also known as Greenwich Mean Time) to 1800 hours UTC. Eastern Standard Time is five hours behind UTC; Central Time is six hours behind. So, if you’re in Dallas, Nashville, or Chicago, you can listen between 4:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. If you’re in Atlanta, Charlotte, or New York, you can listen between 5:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Outside the U.S.—if you’re in Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, or Singapore, you can listen between 5:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. If you’re in New Delhi or Mumbai, there’s an additional half-hour offset. Listening times are between 3:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m.
You can also use this website or the KNLS listener website, www.knls.org to listen to the English Hour if you’re not into shortwave radio.
The KNLS English Hour is the Pacific Rim’s source for music to love, news to know, and a message to live. The KNLS signal stretches throughout the English-speaking world—including the planet’s most populous (1.2 billion people) democracy—India—that has English as its official language.
While we work to provide a geographical balance in the topics we feature, news about the USA is of great interest to many listeners around the world. The English Hour does tell stories about life in the United States and KNLS’ home state of Alaska. Two of the programs are titled The American Highway and Postcard from Alaska. They often include a discussion of “American” principles—principles rooted in Christianity that are universally understood and applied. And our Eye on the World stories often show the interdependence of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
Since our target audience is mostly non-Christians, our content is different from a typical Christian format station in America. While we provide our share of positive, uplifting content, some of our programming also provides an honest look at the dark side of life on Earth. Indeed, some program segments, such as a popular music selection and the 2007 AIR-award-winning report about slave trafficking in India, may raise questions that a thoughtful seeker of the truth will ask. And other segments, such as the Bible or Christian lifestyle lessons, serve to answer those questions.
Music to Love
Music is a universal language. Probably 80 per cent of the world’s pop tunes are sung in English, and are enjoyed by people everywhere, many who are themselves not proficient in English. The KNLS English hour features your favorite songs of the 80’s, 90’s, and today. International pop charts show that your favorite music is also the favorite of people who are culturally diverse—whether in Nairobi, Sydney, Singapore, or Jakarta.
The songs are rock, pop, r&b, and hip-hop, with an occasional selection of country music that crosses over to the pop charts. The KNLS English Hour generally features music by artists from the U.S., the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. (One very popular international artist is from Barbados. Has anyone heard of Rihanna?
In February, KNLS listeners will hear new music from Big Time Rush, Demi Lovato, Gotye featuring Kimba, Jojo, Nickelback, Outasight, and Simple Plan featuring K’Naan. Also—90’s super group The Cranberries is back with a new song titled “Tomorrow.” They sound like—well—the Cranberries!
Once an hour, we take a break from pop music and present Profiles in Christian Music with Gayle Crowe. These include acapella versions of newer songs that have been on Christian Hit Radio charts.
Souder & Friends
It may bring a smile or it may bring a tear. Larry Souder continues his series of fascinating people and interesting places. In February, Larry brings us a classic Souder & Friends with the eighth man to walk—and first person to drive—on the moon. Find out what the late James Irwin considered more important than his journey to Earth’s nearest neighbor.
News to Know
The English hour features reports about topics of current interest. Marcy Bryan reports about entertainment, business, and religious news. Kelly Ann Monahan has the latest developments in medicine, science, and computer technology. Paul Ladd provides special reports about diverse topics, religious and secular. Doug Poling provides commentary on the news from a Christian perspective on Today’s News & the Good News. And Bob Waliszewski of Focus on the Family provide Plugged-in Movie Reviews. Bob rates the latest movies according to family friendliness. This is in addition to Marcy Bryan’s regular movie reviews in her Eye on Entertainment reports and Paul Ladd’s features about faith-based movies. And Fred Osterman reports about the latest news in the world of radio.
Upcoming Reports for February-March 2012:
When celebrities do something right—we like to let you know. Marcy Bryan does just that with Demi Lovato, George Clooney, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Matt Damon, and Will & Jada Smith.
Marcy also reports on the 2012 Grammy Awards and Academy Awards.
Kelly Ann Monahan reports on ways to protect yourself from identity theft and on the boom in online learning.
Doug Poling tells us on Today’s News & the Good News.
The Greek economy is so bad that some parents have abandoned their children. Doug Poling reports on Today’s News & the Good News.
Do you believe in ghosts? Doug also reports some believers in the eastern U.S. are willing to put your money where their mouths are.
How do we set boundaries with bothersome people? Paul Ladd continues his discussion with author Allison Botke on Refiner’s Fire.
*Paul also speaks with Fox News legal analyst Lis Wiehl about her new book.
Steve Bell and George Penk of New Zealand’s Life FM discuss the song “Promises” by Nero on Popology.
Bob Waliszewski reviews Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and Joyful Noise on Plugged-In Movie Review.
The English Express
Dick Brackett, Marcy Bryan, and Paul Ladd join forces to bring KNLS listeners the stories behind some of the idiomatic sayings of the English language. This is for the benefit of listeners who practice English as a second language—as well as the rest of us who claim to know English.
A Message to Live
This is what we’re about and why we’re on the air and on the internet. Our mission is to present the lessons of the Bible, including and emphasizing the Gospel message, in an interesting, non-threatening way.
Ongoing Series
Andy Baker’s Prayer Lesson
Believer’s Hall of Faith with Bill Young
Bible Archaeology, Proofs from the Earth with Bill Humble
Sunspots and Solar Flares
