the unique sounds of latin america
Fortunately for DXers, many Latin American stations on mediumwave often provide a unique opportunity to positively identify a station without having to hear an actual station ID.
This is thanks to some unique and consistent branding and or audible imaging that stations will use that can often cut through the static much easier than a vocal ID.
The use of jingles, chimes, bells, synthesizers in station imaging all can help a DXer positively ID a station (in some cases) even without hearing anything else!
So, we have gathered for you a collection of some of the more common “unique sounds” of Latin American MW stations in the hopes it can help you get a new one “in the log!”
Clips are organized, below, first by country and then by frequency or station network.
colombia
780 | HJFV "Radio Viva Pasto" | Pasto, colombia - Part 1 (TOH)
WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE?
This is part 1 for Radio Viva Pasto, with their Top-of-the-hour (TOH) sequence. They have a jingle that is sung at top-of-hour “Radio Viva!” that is unmistakable. They also have an instrumental version of that jingle that plays throughout the hour, that we will review in part 2.
780 | HJFV "Radio Viva Pasto" | Pasto, colombia - Part 2 (jingle)
WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE?
This is part 2 for Radio Viva Pasto. In part 1, we heard the top-of-hour jingle that is used. For part 2, we now get to hear the 4-note melody that is used throughout the hour, sometimes between songs. In some ways, this little melody is actually the easiest way to identify Radio Viva Pasto. They are the only station using this jingle melody, and the instrumentation used sticks out very well, especially with a large station like WBBM clearing the way on this frequency.
810 | HJCY "caracol radio" | bogota, colombia
WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE?
While many stations will have a distinct ‘fanfare’ sounder in their IDs (especially news stations) at the top-of-the-hour, the one for Caracol Radio in Colombia is used throughout the hour. The voice talent used here and how “Caracol Radio” is pronounced is very easy to identify once you get used to it and the instrumental zest after the ID sticks out very well on a crowded frequency. Colombia has multiple “Caracol Radio” outlets on multiple frequencies that also use this same imaging, but 810 is by far one of the easiest to hear by a large number of DXers.
cuba
840 | CMHW "DOBLEVE" | SANTA CLARA, cuba
WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE?
In recent DXing sessions, this station seems to be playing more music than they previously did. LIkewise, their unique identifier heard in this clip seems to be played less often, or at best, later than usual. Historically this has been played right at the top-of-the-hour, but lately seems to be 1-5+ minutes after the TOH if at all. The melody we are listening for comes at the :19 second mark of the clip. It has a synthesizer-sounding melody with a minor key played once, followed by a voice ID and then followed by another minor key melody.
"Radio ARTEMISA" | cuba (see below for frequencies)
WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE?
As with most Cuban radio networks, Radio Artemisa has a unique jingle/melody that is tied to it during identification. In this case, it is a brief flute melody that is weaved throughout the ID. As heard in this clip, some Cuban stations are prone to a ‘wobble” in their modulation that can also make them stand out a bit amongst other stations. Radio Artemisa has known outlets on 770, 1000, 1020 and 1320 kHz.
"Radio BAYAMO" | cuba (see below for frequencies)
WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE?
One of Cuba’s “Cadena Provincial” networks, Radio Bayamo has a unique TOH ID and one of the few networks that actually announces a call letter ID. The ID jingle has a marimba/xylophone and flutes underneath the voice ID. But it is what comes after this ID that makes Bayamo stand out so clearly for DXers. As heard in this clip, a melody played by bells (almost as if church bells) plays after the main ID jingle. I have confirmed this to be used for a while now, based on other DXer aircheck uploads to YouTube. Bayamo has known network outlets on 1140, 1150, 1160 and 1620.
"Radio Progreso" | cuba (see below for frequencies)
WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE?
Radio Progreso “La Cadena Nacional” is one of the national networks of Cuba and broadcasts a variety of programming. Commonly, you can hear them broadcasting music including music from the United States/UK (a lot of oldies).
But what makes Progreso outlets stand out amongst the static is their “La Onda de la Alegria” song. Most often, you can hear this around the top of the hour timeframe, somewhere from about :58 through :05-ish. However, I have heard this song used at the bottom of the hour or at different times in the hour as well. Once you hear it, you will recognize it instantly if you come across it on one of the many Progreso outlets. I even heard the Progreso outlet on 1230 kHz – a U.S. graveyarder – thanks to this song.
Radio Progreso known/reported outlets include: 630, 640, 650, 660, 690, 720, 730, 750, 760, 800, 810, 820, 850, 880, 890, 900, 920, 940, 1230, 1260, 1550, and on shortwave at 4765 kHz
"Radio ENCICLOPEDIA" | cuba (see below for frequencies)
WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE?
Well, for starters, there are three stations in North America on this frequency and Radio Enciclopedia is the most widely heard of the three (one of the others you can hear in this clip!) Their programming consists of instrumentals, largely from movie soundtracks or instrumental versions of popular songs (lots of The Beatles in there). Their TOH ID includes a nice melody on guitar, as heard in this clip. There is an additional outlet for Radio Enciclopedia on 1310 kHz.
"Radio reloj" | Cuba (see below for frequencies)
WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE?
This is the original “unique” sound from Latin America and one of the most widely heard radio stations in the world. Radio Reloj (Clock Radio) broadcasts on multiple frequencies and claims to be the first 24-hour news media outlet in the world. Content includes presenters reading news (noticias) in short 1-minute segments. Some segments will run longer than a minute and the presenter will break it up at the top-of-the-minute by saying “continuar” to indicate the story will continue in the next minute.
You will often also hear the presenter say “Rrrrradio Reloj” before the next story is read. Under the presenters, the sound of a ticking clock counting off seconds can be heard. At the top of the minute, a long tone is heard followed by the letters “RR” in morse code. Most of the time, the RR immediately follows the time tone, but it can be much longer, as heard in this clip.
It is this tone and morse code ID that make Radio Reloj one of the easiest and most widespread stations that can be heard from Latin America.
On Sundays, Radio Reloj does not use the “RR” morse code, instead using a chime sound after the minute marker tone.
Though this clip is from 570 kHz, Radio Reloj is reported to/has known outlets on 570, 610, 790, 820, 830, 850, 860, 870, 930, 950, 960, 980, and 1210 kHz – though this can change without notice.
"Radio reloj" | cuba (sunday variant)
WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE?
This is the original “unique” sound from Latin America and one of the most widely heard radio stations in the world. Radio Reloj (Clock Radio) broadcasts on multiple frequencies and claims to be the first 24-hour news media outlet in the world. Content includes presenters reading news (noticias) in short 1-minute segments. Some segments will run longer than a minute and the presenter will break it up at the top-of-the-minute by saying “continuar” to indicate the story will continue in the next minute.
You will often also hear the presenter say “Rrrrradio Reloj” before the next story is read. Under the presenters, the sound of a ticking clock counting off seconds can be heard. At the top of the minute, a long tone is heard followed by the letters “RR” in morse code. Most of the time, the RR immediately follows the time tone, but it can be much longer.
It is this tone and morse code ID that make Radio Reloj one of the easiest and most widespread stations that can be heard from Latin America.
As heard in this clip, on Sundays, Radio Reloj does not use the “RR” morse code, instead using a chime sound after the minute marker tone.
Though this is for 870 kHz, Radio Reloj is reported to/has known outlets on 570, 610, 790, 820, 830, 850, 860, 870, 930, 950, 960, 980, and 1210 kHz – though this can change without notice.
haiti
840 | 4VEH | cAP-HAITIEN, hAITI
WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE?
Only once in my time as a DXer have I heard actual voices and music from 4VEH in Haiti and it was a night the propagation was just right and WHAS in Louisville, Kentucky was off-air. Every other time I have heard 4VEH, it was their 5-note top-of-the-hour jingle that cut through the noise and static. Completely unique to this one station, almost exactly at the :00 mark of the top-of-the-hour, you can hear this jingle cut through. It is the same melody as the Christmas carol “Dashing through the snow” so makes it very easy to both recognize and remember.
honduras
550 | HRXT "abc radio" | tegucigalpa, honduras
WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE?
When they do their top-of-the-hour IDs, you will hear quite a few “Ahhh bay say radio” IDs vocally. But it is what comes after those IDs that stands out for this station. There is a sung jingle followed by a 3-note chime and synthesizer stinger that is often heard by DXers when no other content from the station is heard. Even when conditions are not good and I am not hearing this station from Mandeville (right across the Gulf of Mexico from them) that 3-note chime and stinger can still often be heard down in the mud.
mexico
660 | XECPR "Radio Chan Santa Cruz" | Felipe carrillo, qr, mexico
WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE?
Radio Chan Santa Cruz is most known amongst DXers for their use of birds and other “nature” sounds in their imaging – especially around the top-of-the hour, as heard at the beginning of this clip along with flute music. They also often use echo in their spoken vocals (especially during IDs) as heard in this clip. Another commonly noted aspect of this station is that they will often also mention another station, Radio Chetumal (860 kHz). This is also heard in this clip. Finally, in this clip you will hear a quick bit of tones (around the 2:02 mark) that stand out very well. Altogether, there is a lot happening here that can be easily heard by DXers through the static!
770 | XEANT "La voz de las huastecas" | tANCANHUITZ DE LOS sANTOS, SLP, mexico
WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE?
WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE?: XEANT, “La Voz de las Huastecas” is one of Mexico’s indigenous stations, preserving the languages and culture of Mexico’s indigenous communities. In general their programming is very unique and can stand out very well on a frequency.
It is their sign-ons and sign-offs though that provide the best opportunity to capture one of these stations. The sign-on/sign-off times can vary, but are usually around 7p/7a or 6p/6a in most cases.
They can be noteworthy for their use of unique instrumentation including marimbas, violins, and other indigenous instruments during these periods (as heard in this clip).
Their sign-offs can also be very long, as heard in this clip, and will often be given in Spanish as well as the indigenous languages covered by the station.
They will also often play a unique version of the Mexican National Anthem both/either at sign-on/sign-off.
For more information and for the livestreams on the indigenous stations of Mexico, visit: https://ecos.inpi.gob.mx/emisoras/
1060 | XECPAE "Radio educacion" | mexico city, df, mexico
WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE?
The content you will find on Radio Educacion is definitely a bit different than your typical station from Mexico. You will hear more classical, traditional Mexican music and salsa here. But what really makes them stand out for DXers is the top-of-the-hour sequence as heard in this clip. You will first hear an acoustic guitar followed by the call letter ID by a female. After the guitar and ID, this is followed by a quick 8-note melody that sounds like a synthesizer of some sort. That last part especially sticks out very well to make an easy target for DXers.
san andres y providencia (colombia)
910 | HJMY "RCN" | San Andres y Providencia (no time pips)
WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE?
While technically part of Colombia, this island, the largest amongst an archipelago off the coast of Colombia, actually counts as a separate country amongst DXers (per the IRCA Country list and the ARRL DXCC list). Other than that, the rest of what you will hear on this station is standard RCN branding. That branding though is what makes them unique, as the RCN jingle (a 5-note melody first heard around the :06 mark in this clip) is used frequently (in several different variations, speeds, instrumentation) especially at top-of-hour. Not heard in this clip, they also frequently (though not every hour) will use time pips to mark the top-of-the-hour. They use “5+1” pips with 5 short pips and 1 long one. Their vocal IDs are the “air-ay say ennay radio” that is heard and are repeated often at top-of-hour and throughout the hour as well.
910 | HJMY "RCN" | San Andres y Providencia (with time pips)
WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE?
While technically part of Colombia, this island, the largest amongst an archipelago off the coast of Colombia, actually counts as a separate country amongst DXers (per the IRCA Country list and the ARRL DXCC list). Other than that, the rest of what you will hear on this station is standard RCN branding. That branding though is what makes them unique, as the RCN jingle (a 5-note melody first heard around the :10 mark in this clip) is used frequently (in several different variations, speeds, instrumentation) especially at top-of-hour. As heard in this clip, they also frequently (though not every hour) will use time pips to mark the top-of-the-hour. They use “5+1” pips with 5 short pips and 1 long one. Their vocal IDs are the “air-ay say ennay radio” that is heard and are repeated often at top-of-hour and throughout the hour as well.
venezuela
910 | yvrq | caracas, venezuela
WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE?
Another station that I have only heard bits and pieces of their audio, the main thing that sticks out for “RQ” is what I can only describe as their ‘doorbell” sound that is played. I have heard it at top-of-the-hour, but am not sure if it plays outside of that timeframe. Any time that I have heard it, there is first a 3-note bell in a descending melody, followed by a 2-note bell.
dx central's latin american video series
In this three part video series, we explore the top 10 countries in Latin America that you can try to hear TONIGHT on MW. With audio examples and walkthroughs, this companion to Loyd’s article for the July 2022 edition of The Spectrum Monitor. You can pick up a copy of that issue here. You can find the YouTube playlist with all of the clips played in these videos on this playlist.