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What to listen to · Shortwave broadcast
BBC World Service on 15400 kHz: the daytime channel for West Africa
A second BBC World Service frequency in the catalogue, 15400 kHz in the 19 metre band, carrying the English programmes to West Africa in daylight. The hours follow the seasonal schedule.
What you hear
The same English World Service as on 12095 kHz: news on the hour, Focus on Africa, Newshour, sport and the global programmes. The difference is the target. 15400 kHz is scheduled for West Africa, so the stream you hear is the one meant for Lagos, Accra and Freetown, with the African programmes in the afternoon.
Who transmits and why
The story of the World Service, and why it kept shortwave for Africa after dropping it for Europe, is told in the main article. 15400 kHz is one of its frequencies for the West African daytime hours; the relay site carrying it changes with the season's plan.
When and where to listen
15400 kHz is in the 19 metre band, which needs daylight over the whole path, so it works in the morning and afternoon and goes quiet after dark. The hours shift at the end of March and the end of October. From Europe it is heard best through receivers in the south and west of the continent and, when they are online, through receivers in West Africa itself. In winter, when the band opens late and closes early, 12095 kHz is the safer choice.
In ShackDeck
Station catalogue → Shortwave broadcast → BBC World Service 15400. The program finds a public receiver with 15400 kHz, tunes it and sets AM; nothing of your own is required. If the frequency is silent, try the 12095 kHz entry.