DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-185, November 27, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com [NOTE: THIS ISSUE IS IN TWO PARTS, CONTINUED AS DXLD 2-186] Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1158: WBCQ: Wed 2300 7415, 17495-CUSB; Mon 0545 on 7415 [ex 0515] WWCR: Thu 2130 15825, Sat 0700, Sun 0330 5070, 0730 3210, Wed 1030 9475 RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600, Mon 0030, 0630, Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445 and/or 15039 WJIE: M-F 1300, daily 0400; Sun 0630, Mon 0700, Tue 0630 or 0700, 7490 ONDEMAND http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html [from Fri] [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1158h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1158h.ram [Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1158.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1158.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1158.html [from Thu] RESOURCES from Nagoya DXers Circle include: B-02 SCHEDULES Here is a file which you may find convenient, many of them obviously from Observer, DXLD and other recognizable sources, but NOT attributed. Also still includes some B-01 and A-02 schedules, in the absence of newer ones, so watch closely for the B-02 icons in red. Also includes lots of live audio links. See FRANCE http://www2.starcat.ne.jp/~ndxc/b02ex.htm HFCC B-02 Also, if you don`t want to use up your own disk space, or keep unzipping it when you need it, NDXC also provides the HFCC B-02 schedule: http://www.geocities.co.jp/Technopolis-Mars/6234/b02all.txt WEBSITE & WEBCAST LINKS The NDXC Webcast page includes lots of links to websites and live streams, including non-SW stations, in country order: http://www2.starcat.ne.jp/~ndxc/link.htm (Glenn Hauser, Nov 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS. INDIA 4760, AIR Port Blair, 1128-1145 Nov 22. SC vocals and Hindi film music; announcements. Almost gone by 1145. This one has been a regular the past two weeks. SINPO 24332 (George Maroti, Chamberlain, Maine DXpedition, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. Article about Admiral Byrd's Antarctic expedition mentions early shortwave: "But that wasn’t the only eventful result of the expedition. According to the issue, uncharted portions of the continent were mapped, the role aircraft played in exploration was made evident, and the power of short-wave radio was better understood. Using his radio in Antarctica, Byrd ``proved that he could maintain almost daily contact with his offices in New York,`` Hofstra said." http://www.winchesterstar.com/TheWinchesterStar/021123/Area_legacy.asp 73 (Kim Elliott, DC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANTIGUA. (presumed), 6078.7 and 6311.2, BBC, 1030 25 Nov, Symmetrical spurs offset 116.2 kHz either side of 6195 fundamental. Garbled audio at fair signal strength (David Hodgson, Nashville, TN USA, harmonics yahoogroup via WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DXLD) Not entirely inconsistent: purely technical items like this I tend to file under the transmitter site. If the item were about BBC programming, as heard via Antigua, it would be under UK [non] (gh, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. -Radio Nacional de Argentina, activa todas las tardes y noches (2100-0400 UT aprox), con la retransmisión de la onda media, en 15345 kHz. Señal aceptable. 73's and good Dxing... (Adán González, Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Nov 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA: ABC STRIKE THREAT -- Some staff at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) have threatened to strike for 24 hours next Tuesday if management do not make a higher pay offer by Friday. The employees want about 12.5 per cent over three years, but management has offered 11 per cent. ABC services were interrupted earlier today as staff held meetings to discuss possible strike action. The ABC's web site was taken offline and news bulletins were suspended. A spokesman for the the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), one of the two unions representing the majority of ABC staff, said that work conditions and a range of other unresolved issues were hampering negotiations (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 27 Nov via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [non]. Radio Australia is now using 15540 from the Kranji relay, 1300-1430 for Mandarin. This replaces 15435, and has been retimed from 1400-1530 (Bob Padula, EDXP Broadcast Monitor Nov 27 via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. Dear Mr. Krist, thank you very much for your reception report. Unfortunately we are not able to say anything final to our situation. The ORF directors were thinking about a possible closing down of Radio Austria International. Our chef-redakteur Mr. Kerbler was told to find a possible solution of a programm consisting mostly regional broadcasts and news in foreign languages. This should be broadcasted about 2 or 3 hours a day. Nonetheless we were given the chance of a Hearing today why Radio Austria International should stay on air in its current form. The voting of the "Stiftungsrat" - a council which is responsible for the ORF programme in general - for the future of Radio Austria International will take place on the 2nd of December. Until than everything is possible. We hope that we could give you at least some little insight in our current situation. With kind regards, ([Barbara Volfing], Radio Austria International Listener's Department, Nov 26, via Kraig Krist, DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. Re DXLD 2-183: The printed Radio Austria International programme folder says the 0000-0030 English broadcast on 9870 and 13730 is on Saturdays and Sundays only. No mention of the 1704-1800 Sunday Sackville broadcast. Rest of the schedule is as in the folder. There is also an English programme My Music with Paul Catty on Sundays 0905-1000 on 6155 and 13730 and 2305-0000 on 5945 and 6155. The programme is also transmitted on 1476 1705-1800 Sundays. Radio Afrika International is given as 2203-2300 on 5945 and 6155 Saturdays and Sundays on the frequency plan, Saturday only on the programme guide. They also broadcast on 1476 2030-2100 and 2115-2200 Monday to Friday, 2030-2200 Saturdays and Sundays (Patrick Travers, UK, World DX Club via Mike Barraclough, UK, DX WORLD OF RADIO 1158, LISTENING DIGEST) ** BARBADOS. T-E FM DX to Brasil: see PROPAGATION at bottom ** BOLIVIA. 5927.02, Rdif. Minería (presumed) 2233-2304 Nov 21. Talk by a man in Spanish, with snippets of John Philip Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever" in between. Echo effect announcement (ID?) at 2237. SINPO 23342 (George Maroti, Chamberlain, Maine DXpedition, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Estimado José, lamentablemente sucede esto con muchas emisoras, sobre todo con las religiosas. Algunas por lo menos te mandan una nota o una QSL. Me paso con Canção Nova, de Brasil que la reporte más de una vez y sólo me envía material religioso in nunguna nota siquiera. Además me anotaron en una suscripción que yo no pedí, de una revista y me la envían todos los meses aunque no me interesa. Una pena, porque Canção llega bien aqui a Europa en los 9675 por la noche. Saludos a todos (Victor. Goncidani? Castor? Italy? Nov 26, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Response to remarks under CYPRUS TURKISH ** BRAZIL. A Rádio Bandeirantes, de São Paulo (SP), possui um centro de documentação e memória. Utilizando este material, a emissora apresenta, nos sábados, às 1300, o programa Memória. Pretende recuperar a história de São Paulo, do Brasil e do mundo. Confira em 6090, 9645 e 11925 kHz. E-mail: memoria@b... [truncated] (Célio Romais, @tividade DX Nov 26 via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. FIRST BULGARIAN INTERNET TV TO BE LAUNCHED ON 27 NOVEMBER | Text of report in English by Bulgarian news agency BTA Sofia, 26 November: Bulgaria's first Internet TV, BGWEB.TV, will announce officially its start November 27. The project has been under way for a year and a half now, said representatives of BG Web which has produced the software and designed BGWEB.TV. The TV has a digital studio and licensed software for running video and sound on the Internet. The address is http://www.bgweb.tv Access is free of charge for all shows except the night ones. There will be special programmes for business and for expatriate Bulgarians. BGWEB.TV will be accessible from any point on the globe. It has had a several months' trial run for viewers in Europe, the United States and Australia. It will have news, comments, a Web forum and updates on corporate sites and personal Web pages. DD/IT/LN/ Source: BTA news agency, Sofia, in English 0810 gmt 26 Nov 02 (via BBCM via WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DXLD) In Bulgarian only? ** BURMA [non]. BURMA: OPPOSITION RADIO EVENING BROADCASTS NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH SATELLITE | Text of report by Burmese opposition radio on 24 November Dear listeners: The Democratic Voice of Burma [DVB] is pleased to announce that the DVB evening programmes could now be received through the satellite TV. The programme is broadcast through Asia Sat II. You can listen to crisp and clear DVB programmes from the satellite TV by choosing any one of the available six European channels and setting the audio bit to 2133, left channel. The DVB evening programmes could now be received by either short-wave radio or satellite TV channel. Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 24 Nov 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** BURUNDI. Per the station direct- "Radio Isanganiro isn't currently broadcasting on shortwave, and doesn't have plans to do so in the near future. We'll be expanding FM coverage in the region, and continuing with web streaming." (via Hans Johnson, Nov 25, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CANADA. 2040.00, CFTR Toronto, ON (harmonic 3 x 680) 1131, Nov 26, news, Toronto traffic report, ID's "CFTR news time...", "Canada's number one all-news radio station, 680..." Fair signal with very good peaks. 2370.00, CFAN Newcastle, New Brunswick (harmonic 3 x 790) 1033-1108, Nov 26, first time heard here, difficult reception with very raspy audio, pop vocals, ads, local weather, 1108 ID, // 790. Fair to poor signal (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry, VT, NRD 535D, V-Beam 140m @180 deg. "VT-DX" http://www.sover.net/~hackmohr/ WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANARY ISLANDS. Full Gospel Las Palmas Church, 6715U khz, 1925-2020 Nov 24 [Sun] religious program in Korean (heard "Amen"!) with songs, RTTY interference but good signal, SIO 233 (Daniele Canonica, Switzerland RX: JRC 535 D ANT: T2FD 25 meters, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, Snail mail reply from FGLPC 6715U. Received a very nice 2 page partial data letter (frequency and power, 100 watts) from the Full Gospel Las Palmas Church, 6715 USB, in 2 weeks for 1 IRC. v/s Mr. Gyusub Chung. E-mail address is listed as cgs88@hanmail.net Nice letterhead and FGLPC logo ink-stamp. Not really a QSL as there is no acknowledgment of reception, more of a "Thank you", but I am still very pleased (Scott R Barbour Jr, NH, Nov 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 4839.86, Heilongjiang PBS 1048-1101* Nov 24. A first for me, and a nice way to end the DXpedition. This has been flirting here in the morning and late afternoons. Alternating talk by YL and OM in Chinese, pop vocals. At ToH, usual Chinese style time pips, and partial ID by OM, followed by brief music. Female then with presumed news. Abruptly off at 1101. 7350 not heard. SINPO 24332 (George Maroti, Chamberlain, Maine DXpedition, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CHINA. Sua Palavra é o nome de um programa que o Departamento de Português da Rádio Internacional da China leva ao ar, aos domingos. Nele, os ouvintes da emissora podem dar o seu recado. No programa do dia 24 de novembro, o entrevistado foi o dexista Paulo Roberto Michelom, de Porto Alegre (RS). Você também pode ser entrevistado. Basta enviar um e-mail para a emissora informando seu número de telefone. Escreva para: cripor@c... [truncated] Eis alguns dos horários em que a Rádio Internacional da China transmite em português: às 2300, em 13650 kHz. É repetido, às 2330, na mesma freqüência. Confira! (Célio Romais, @tividade DX Nov 26 via DXLD) ** CHINA. 4974, 5040, FUJIAN PBS, Irregular active during NOV 2001, NOV 2002. Times varies between 2230-2330, 1000-1100. Duration also varies. Chinese engineer indicates shortwave outlet will not be so important in future (Miller Liu, Taiwan, Nov 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. On 7330 at 1345 Nov 27, animated dialog in English, smacking of advanced language lesson; thought I heard some Chinese words here and there, and 1350 Chinese announcement; some C&W music, 1358 ``Are you tired after a long day`s work...?`` sure sounds like a commercial. 1400 5 + 1 timesignal and ZRGD ID, march theme. Trouble is, distortion was quite heavy, along with background noise and selective fading. Guess what: HFCC B-02 lists only this: 7330 1100 1530 43,44,49,54 VLD 500 228 D RUS BBC GFC 2087 So this is really a Chinese jammer against BBC via Vladivostok to China, which must have been completely buried here. Ironic that when I tuned in, China teaching English was being used to jam BBC broadcasting in Chinese. And this frequency is meant to drive listeners away, not attract them. Since the Chicom jammers are so much stronger over here than their prey, I wonder what kind of antennas are being used. I would guess mostly non-direxional to blanket as much of the Homeland as possible, and high-angle would also be helpful, but that unseems the case with their worldwide annoyance (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. CLANDESTINE. 9945 kHz Falun Dafa R.: Received QSL card from new mailing address! Included pamphlet of Falun Dafa and greeting card. I sent the report to Mr. Chenxi Lou, 2626 W. Ball Rd. Apt J2, Anaheim, CA 92804-5097 and reply came from P. O. Box 93436, City of Industry, CA 91715, U.S.A. (Juichi Yamada, JAPAN, hard-core-dx via WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DXLD) CLANDESTINE From Russia to CHINA: 9925, World Falun Dafa Radio, Date/Time Multi-colored card depicting the words, Truthfulness, Benevolence and Forbearance plus text in Chinese along with a Falun Gong Brochure in 13 days for a report sent to 2626 West Ball Road, Apt. J2, Anaheim, California 92804-5097 USA. But reply came back from this address: P.O. Box 93436, City of Industry, California 91715, USA. SASE was used for the return reply. As well, I received this e-mail prior to the card received. The text reads as follows: I have received your reception report. Thanks for having been monitoring our radio station. Our station was undergoing change of operating team, and we didn't have a QSL card until a few months ago. Thanks for your patience. Our new frequency is: Europe (except North E.): 5925, 2100- 2200 UT; Hong Kong: 9945, 6:00-7:00 am (Beijing, China standard time) [i.e. 2200-2300 UT, it seems --- gh] A QSL card will be mailed to you tomorrow. For a preview of the QSL card, please go to: http://falundafaradio.org/QSL.htm. We will put up a simple English version in the near future. Best regards, Editor editor@falundafaradio.org (via Edward Kusalik, Alberta, CANADA, Nov 26, Cumbre DX via WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 15058.67 (harmonic), Ecos del Atrato (presumed) 2152-2205 Nov 23. Thanks to Henrik Klemetz for some fine detective work on this one. Henrik listened to my audio clips, and was able to discern that I heard a call-in quiz show, that was offering a bottle of aguardiente antioqueño, (which is a Colombian brand of liquor) as a prize. They also sponsored the program. The music I heard was a vallenato according to Henrik. Apparently, what I heard was the third harmonic of 5019v, of Ecos del Atrato. This will require more work, but it may also be Krueger's UNID. SINPO started out as 24332, but was gone by 2203 (George Maroti, DXpedition site in Chamberlain, Maine, Drake R8B with 500 foot longwire oriented 200 , fed by coax and 9:1 minicircuits impedance matching transformer, Cumbre DX via WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. La Voz de tu Conciencia has drifted a bit downwards, and was this night found on around 6010.66 kHz. On November 25-26th. I and DX-fellow Ronny Forslund listen at our shack in Fredriksfors. It wasn`t a great night, but some Peruvians were audible in the 60 mb, but only for less than an our around our Swedish midnight. La Voz de tu Conciencia was heard already 0030 UT with a fair signal on 6010.66. Stronger in the morning (at 0540) and maybe even some Hertz further down (6010.64). Best regards from (Jan Edh, Hudiksvall, Sweden, hard- core-dx via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. 5054.6, Faro del Caribe, recently reactivated but already having transmitter difficulties. Signal is at times distorted or modulation is very low (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Nov, Cumbre DX Nov 25 via DXLD) ** CUBA. ESTIMADO AMIGO GLENN: En el Noticiero de la cadena Univisión y en especial en su afiliada de Miami Canal 23 se informó hoy 27 de Noviembre a las 0400 UT que las autoridades cubanas, están bloqueando la señal de la emisora. El periodista Mario Vallejos del canal 23 informó que como consecuencia de la serie "La Vida Secreta de Castro" trasmitida en las dos semanas anteriores, donde se brindaba información sobre la vida privada de Castro: Esposa, hijos, nietos, etc., las autoridades cubanas han dispuesto el bloqueo de las emisiones de Univisión o en su defecto el "corte" del fluido electrico en la capital Ciudad de la Habana. Las informaciones han sído obtenidas por personas procedentes desde Cuba en viaje familiar y opositores. 73's (Oscar, Miami, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not sure what this means. Canal 23 would be seen only in Cuba by TV- DXers upon occasion. But the signal is being blocked?? How? By jamming or co-channel?? UHF band is already forbidden on Cuban TV sets. Does this refer to some Univisión bureau in Habana, having its electricity cut? I supposed there was no such presence (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CYPRUS [non]. Hola amigos de la lista, desde aquí quiero informaros que hace un mes capté RADIO IBRAHIM y por supuesto les mandé un informe de recepción muy completo sobre su programación. El sábado día 23 recibí respuesta de dicha emisora pero con la sorpresa de que no manda QSL sino un montón de propaganda religiosa y y una carta circular agradeciéndome mi carta (en ningún momento cita informe ni datos de la emisora) ni tampoco mandé carta alguna, simplemente un informe de recepción y una tarjeta de mi ciudad. Por lo cual pongo en conocimiento de los amigos coleccionistas de verificaciones ya sea por carta o por Tarjeta QSL que se abstengan de mandarle ningún informe, ya que ellos solo os responderán con una carta religiosa para su negocio y digo su negocio porque en esa carta solamente se habla sobre religión y también te adjuntan un catálogo para que compres libros religiosos. Si algún colega le interesa esto por supuesto puede mandarle carta o informe y ellos te responderán con su negocio de libros religiosos. Y ya sin nada más y esperando que esta carta os haya ahorrado tiempo y algún dinerillo en sellos se despide de vosotros vuestro colega y amigo de España (JOSE HERNÁNDEZ MADRID, 73´S Y BUENOS DX, Nov 25, Conexión Digital via DXLD) See also BRAZIL He`s put off because instead of QSLing his reception report R. Ibrahim only sent him a ``pile of religious propaganda`` and a catalog for even more of it; save yourself some trouble (gh, DXLD) ** CYPRUS TURKISH [non]. USA 6150, R. Sawa, 2001-2051 Nov 23. This will only add to the confusion of logging R. Bayrak. Middle East style music heard under CRI at tune-in, but later US pop music was played, including a song by No Doubt. Quick ID heard by JB, then more US pops. They were sometimes dominant over CRI (George Maroti, Chamberlain, Maine DXpedition, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Sawa website shows 6150 in use only at 2000-2100, and IBB says site is Kavala, 240 degrees (gh, DXLD) ** ECUADOR [non]. HCJB, Quito, is now using a new relay in Sackville, Canada, for improvement of coverage into North America. This is on 12025, 2100-2230 for Arabic transmissions, and replaces the former relay at Rampisham, UK (Bob Padula, EDXP Broadcast Monitor Nov 27 via DXLD) ?? Makes no sense. Why broadcast Arabic to NAm instead of ME? Or did you mean to North Africa?? (gh, DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 6249.3, R. Nacional *0505-0508 Nov 24. NA in progress at tune-in, then ID by OM. Hi-life music with YL vocals. Thanks Henderson alert. SINPO was 24332 until a ute at 0508 ruined it (George Maroti, Chamberlain, Maine DXpedition, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. CHINESE INSTALLING SHORTWAVE, FM TRANSMITTERS IN BATA | Text of report by Equatorial Guinea radio on 22 November The advance group of Chinese technicians in charge of modernizing Radio Bata arrived in the city on 21 November, led by Mr Hwi Gwan Zei and accompanied by the engineer, San Za Hwan, and an interpreter, Hu San Zei [all names phonetic]. Shortly after their arrival, the group held discussions with the regional delegate for information, culture and tourism, Prudencio Bote Esebole, and explained that they were sent by the Chinese government to install two new transmitters - one shortwave transmitter and a frequency modulation [FM] transmitter, with a capacity of 50 kilohertz and 300 megahertz respectively. [??? An attempt to express kilowatt powers?? -- gh] The project is in keeping with the excellent friendship and coöperation ties existing between the two countries and governments, with special respect to social communication media. The Chinese technicians assured the regional delegate for information, culture and tourism that signals of the shortwave transmitter shall be received far beyond the country's borders. In response, Mr Esebole declared that he was at the disposal of the technicians at all times, as he was anxious to see the successful completion of the project that will enable the continuous broadcasting of programmes. Given the fact that the country is in the middle of the electoral campaign, the repairs will solve a major problem for society. After wishing the group a pleasant stay in the city, the regional delegate for information, culture and tourism offered them a reception at "La Ferme" restaurant in the city. Source: Radio Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, Malabo, in Spanish 0600 gmt 22 Nov 02 (via BBCM via WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DXLD) ** ERITREA [non]. CLANDESTINE from ETHIOPIA to ERITREA 6350, Voice of Peace and Democracy of Eritrea (tentative) 0346 Nov 27 with nice signal and talk by woman. Left the radio for a second without starting a recording and returned at 0349 to open carrier. Whoops, thought I had plenty of time. At 0353 IS and then ID at 0358 for Voice of Tigray Revolution. Checked 5 and 6 MHz range for //'s and found none (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ERITREA [non]. SUDAN REPORTEDLY GRANTS FORMER ERITREA DEFENCE MINISTER BROADCASTING LICENCE | Excerpt from report by Ethiopian weekly newspaper The Reporter on 25 November The leader of the [opposition] Eritrean People's Liberation Front- Democratic Party, EPLF-DP, Mr Mesfin Hagos [also former minister of defence], has arrived in Sudan and met the country's foreign minister, Mustafa Uthman Isam'il... The Sudanese government has granted Mr Mesfin Hagos, a former senior official in the Eritrean defence forces, a licence to broadcast... Source: The Reporter, Addis Ababa, in Amharic 25 Nov 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK? ** ERITREA/ETHIOPIA [nons]. UNITED NATIONS. Radio UNMEE has terminated the transmissions on 13670 1900-2000 and 15235 0430-0530 via Al Dhabiyya. These are now scheduled (retimed) at 0900-1000 on 21715 and 1030-1130 on 21550, from Al Dhabiyya, in English and the languages of Ethiopia and Eritrea. These services are non-daily. The deleted broadcasts were transmitted on Tuesdays and Fridays only, for early morning and late evening reception in East Africa, and the new timings correspond to the midday reception period in the target area (Bob Padula, EDXP Broadcast Monitor Nov 27 via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. 9560.8, R. Ethiopia 1645-1659 Nov 22. OM interviewing YL, then monologue by OM. Ballad with acoustic guitar accompaniment. At 1659, YL gave ID as "External Service of Radio Ethiopia" and their postal address for comments. SINPO 23332 until wiped out by Radio Martí sign on at 1700 on 9656 kHz. This was a foreshadowing for the excellent conditions to Africa this afternoon (George Maroti, Chamberlain, Maine DXpedition, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** FRANCE. One file at the NDXC website (see top), which I don`t recall seeing yet elsewhere is a complete RFI transmission schedule by frequency, evidently extracted from HFCC (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. RADIO FRANCE INTERNATIONALE STAFF ON STRIKE, CHANGES IN PROGRAMMES Radio France Internationale, the French government-owned international radio broadcaster under the management of the Ministry of Culture, announced at 0625 gmt on 26 November that as a result of a strike it could not broadcast its normal programmes, and would be carrying musical programmes instead. At 0630 gmt, the station announced the following after a jingle: "As a result of the strike, RFI is unable to carry its regular programmes. Please bear with us." At 0726 gmt the radio announced: "As a result of the strike, you will not be receiving your call-in current affairs programme at 0810 gmt. This will be brought to you tomorrow." At 0800 gmt, the station carried a news bulletin with the following items: - French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin is visiting Togo to encourage the peace talks on the Ivorian crisis. From there he will travel to Côte d'Ivoire; - Ivorian Transport Minister Marcel Amon Tanoh yesterday resigned from the government, heeding the call on the Rally of Republicans party ministers to resign. The report added that one of Tanoh's relations had been a victim of government human rights violations. Source: Radio France Internationale, Paris, in French 0000 gmt 26 Nov 02 (via BBCM via WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DXLD) RFI LISTENING FIGURES FOR PARIS REGION, WORLDWIDE | Text of press release by Radio France Internationale on 25 November WITH A CUMULATIVE REACH OF 1.8 PER CENT, RFI REINFORCES ITS POSITION IN ÎLE DE FRANCE September-October 2002 - According to the "75000+ Radio in Île de France" survey conducted by Mediametrie: RFI, the top international radio station in Francophone Africa and the third international radio station in the world, is also reinforcing its audience share in Ile de France with a result of a 1.8 per cent cumulative reach for the period September-October 2002. In September- October 2001, the cumulative reach was 1.3 per cent. Over 160,000 listeners tune in to the world service. RFI has been continuing its progress across the Paris region since the opening of its FM station in Paris 11 years ago, thus confirming its dynamic trend. RFI has a marked lead over BFM (1.3 per cent), Africa No.1 (1 per cent) and France Bleue (1 per cent) and is at the same level [as received] as RMC Info (2.1 per cent). A reminder of some of RFI's listening figures worldwide: Bamako (Mali): 41 per cent cumulative reach for previous day (November 2001 - Immar), second radio station (among Francophone population). Kinshasa (DRCongo): 27 per cent cumulative reach for previous day (December 2001 - Immar), first radio station (among Francophone population). Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire): 38 per cent cumulative reach for previous day (June 2001 - HPCI), third radio station (among Francophone population). Yaoundé (Cameroon): 36 per cent cumulative reach for previous day (December 2001 - HPCI), third radio station (among Francophone population). Bucharest (Romania): 2.7 per cent cumulative reach for previous day (February 2001 - Ifop-Gallup), eighth radio station for the city. China: 1,109,000 regular listeners (who tune in at least once a week), more than 80 per cent of whom listen to the programmes in Mandarin. Worldwide, you can find RFI on FM, shortwave and mediumwave, on cable and on WorldSpace, the top digital satellite radio broadcast system. You can also find RFI on http://www.rfi.fr and throughout France on CanalSatellite and on TPS. Press contacts: Anthony Ravera 01 56 40 29 85 - anthony.ravera@rfi.fr Marie Liutkus 01 56 40 47 27 - marie.liutkus@rfi.fr Source: Radio France Internationale press release, Paris, in French 25 Nov 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) Imagine VOA surveying its listenership in Washington DC, and publicizing it! (gh, DXLD) ** FRANCE [non]. RFI has commenced using a new relay at Kranji, Singapore. Intended primary service area is Iran and Afghanistan, using 9790 1600-1630 (Bob Padula, EDXP Broadcast Monitor Nov 27 via DXLD) ** GOA. INDIA. Friends, AIR Panaji noted just now on 11840 instead of 11835. The sked is 0315-0415 Hindi to West Asia. Once they were noted on 11825. For complete schedule of AIR Panaji go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dx_india/files/AIR%20Panaji (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Nov 25, dx_india via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. (Cumbre DX follow up) 4698v, Radio Amistad: Larry Baysinger commenting on a recent report that their FM is off of the air: Very Interesting! IF the 97.6 MHz FM is off the air then both the 4700 kHz. S/W and the 540 kHz. MW will be off as well since they are "repeaters". (via Johnson Nov 25) Had a very interesting conversation with Wayne Berger at TGNA this afternoon. What can I say, shortwave is on the way out in Guatemala. Here are Wayne's comments- I'd estimate that 80% of the country's AM stations have been taken off of the air. If the AM is off, there is no way that shortwave is going to be on. FM is the trend. Radio Cultural, 3300: we took this one off of the air because we haven't received any reports on it for a year. We just couldn't justify the expense of running 10 kW here with no reports. I may put it back on at 500 watts or 1 kW to occupy the frequency. We continue to run 5955 with 1 kW for DXers. We have a website in the works at http://www.radiocultural.com where we plan to stream our audio. Radio Maya, 3324.8 and Radio Buenas Nuevas, 4800 have FM and are putting in repeaters to cover the hard to reach areas. I wouldn't expect them to be on shortwave much longer. Radio Verdad, 4052.4 is struggling; they have tried to get Radio Cultural to purchase time, but I already have the entire country covered on FM. Unión Radio, 5980v: I believe this is strictly on FM now. Radio Nacional, 6180 has been off for years. I put it back on for them a few times, but they really don't have any interest in having it on. (all via Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Nov 25, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. Radio Verdad, 4052.5 kHz confirmed two reports in one month from a follow up. The manager, Édgar Amílcar Madrid, a senior professor at the State University of Guatemala, sent to me a full data QSL card, a long letter, one paper pennant and one radio station calendar home made with PC, and a report about the reports sent to Radio Verdad. They got, so far as 30 October 2002, reports from 37 countries, also from Sicily that is considerd a separate country as for HAM. He writes that when I heard them in Settembre 2001, they were on air with 500 w, instead in February 2002 with 610 w. But now, professor Amílcar Madrid says they are on air since June with only 280 watts, because the tx is broken. They ask also help to find a transistor producer to get a ``power transistor``; not too expensive. Édgar Amílcar Madrid is 60 years old and in the past he liked to listen to short waves. Address: Radio Verdad, 4 Ave. 2-24, zona 1, Apartado n. 5, Chiquimula, Guatemala. Ciao (Giampiero Bernardini, Avvenire, Milano, Italy, Nov 26, dxing.info via DXLD) ** GUYANA. 3291v, GBC off for about a week now (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Nov 27, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** HAITI. Now we have the frequency missing from previous item (gh) Back on November 10th, a station was noted on 1029.90 kHz at 0911 UTC broadcasting religious songs without any announcements until 0943 UTC. There were church bells then a man came on in accented French and IDed the station as "Radio Guinen, 92.9 FM et 1050 AM". [No typo here] He said that they broadcast the Mass at this time every morning. There was a song in Creole then the Mass began. Sorry for the delay in reporting this. I have been reviewing the tapes from the Newfoundland DXpedition, and I just managed to get the ID. Initially, I had alerted some DXers in Florida thinking that it might be from that state. Some DXers heard bits of this and they conjectured that it might be a pirate, but given the ID it appears to be a genuine Haitian far from its nominal frequency (Jean Burnell, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Nov 25, dxing.info via DXLD) ** INDIA. I noticed that following the emission of spurs from AIR on 9950, that transmissions have apparently ceased there and they are now on 9575 at 2100z. I noticed very slight FMing though. Also the audio sounds slightly muddy as if the modulation is over 100%. Wonder where they are broadcasting from? (Robin Harwood, Norwood TAS, Nov 25, swl via DXLD) See also ANDAMAN ISLANDS, GOA, SIKKIM ** INDIA. Here are the official B02 registrations for Regional and External services of AIR for the 49 mb: 5960 2345 0045 Chennai 100 180 Tamil 5965 0515 1030 Jammu 50 0 5985 0415 1145 Ranchi 50 160 5990 0045 0200 Panaji 250 300 Sindhi 6000 0415 1045 Leh 10 130 6020 0200 1230 Simla 50 169 6030 0145 0310 Delhi 50 102 6030 1200 1430 Delhi 50 102 6040 0415 1115 Jeypore 50 27 6045 0115 0230 Delhi 250 154 Nepali 6045 1315 1430 Delhi 250 312 Nepali 6045 1430 1930 Delhi 250 312 Urdu 6065 0415 0945 Kphima 50 15 6085 1200 1830 Delhi 50 154 Internal 6085 0415 1030 Gitega 10 180 6110 0215 1115 Srinagar 50 200 6150 0430 1000 Itanagar 50 30 6155 0000 0430 Delhi 100 154 Urdu 6165 1215 1600 Delhi 50 282 Sindhi/Baluchi 6190 0445 1215 Delhi 50 154 (Bob Padula, EDXP Broadcast Monitor Nov 27 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. Hola Glenn. Saludos desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA. -La Voz de Indonesia ha vuelto a los 15150 kHz, para sus emisiones en español, alemán, francés e inglés, desde las 1730 y hasta las 2100 UT. La estación había abandonado esa frecuencia a finales de septiembre, pero ahora la ha retomado. Escuchada el pasado 23/11, a las 2032 UT, en inglés. E-mail: voi@rri-online.com (Adán González, Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Nov 25, WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. PRESS FREEDOM DETERIORATES WORLDWIDE IN 2002 - MEDIA WATCHDOG The global press freedom situation has deteriorated in the past year, with an alarming number of journalists killed or in prison, the World Association of Newspapers said Monday in its annual review of press freedom worldwide... The full report can be found on the WAN web site at http://wan- press.org/globalreview/ (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. MOLDOVA: Frequency change for Voice of Iran in Persian effective from Nov. 21: 1630-1830 NF 11575 (55555), via KCH 500 kW / 116 deg to ME, ex 17510 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 25 via WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DXLD) Just checked 11575 25 Nov at 1530 and found the same sign on procedure as always before on 17510, so I guess this one remains at Issoudun [FRANCE] (Olle Alm, Sweden, WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. See USA for news of upcoming R. Farda (Tomorrow) ** IRAQ. CLANDESTINE Given all of the continuing focus on a potential invasion of Iraq by the United States, there remains some interest in the DX community in Iraqi clandestine stations. NASWA Executive Director Rich D'Angelo notes that he had a November 20 logging on 7100 kHz of the Voice of Islamic Revolution in Iraq from *0326-0402 UTC. He says that after a sign-on with instrumental music there quickly was an ID followed by march music and other vocal music. The rest of the show consisted of brief talks in Arabic as well as a news broadcast. Rich reports that the parallel frequency of 9535 kHz was fair in a mess of QRM interference. Given Rich's logging, ACE members might want to check out these 41 and 31 meter frequencies for this particular Iraqi clandestine. The CRW summary of this one says that it is operated by the "Shii Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution of Iraq (SCIRI), headed by Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim in support of the Shiite uprising in southern Iraq." CRW says that the station is "also affiliated with the Islamic Da'wah Party and the Islamic Revolutionary Army for the Liberation of Iraq. Also according to CRW and clandestine radio com, the group operating this station "is believed to receive support from Iran. Although approached by US officials, (this) group refuses to receive American aid. Transmitters for the station are allegedly located in Mashad and Sirjan, Iran. As Martin Schoech points out in Clandestine Radio Watch #120, reporter Tom Bowman pointed out in the November 14 edition of the Baltimore Sun that the Pentagon is currently planning "what could be the most widespread and complex psychological operations campaign mounted by the American military since the Vietnam War." This plan is contingent upon an American invasion of Iraq. Targeted radio messages are specifically a part of this plan. So, should the United States invade Iraq, it would be a virtual certainty that there will be new clandestine radio activity associated with it. Thus, it will be an excellent idea to pay close attention to the day to day news during the next several weeks. The article in the Sun said, "Sophisticated broadcasting planes operated by the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania National Guard, together with ground transmitters in Kuwait and elsewhere, would be used to transmit anti-Saddam programming to the Iraqi populace, officials said." These Pennsylvania National Guard planes are well known by the DX community from their past airborne clandestine transmissions in Afghanistan, Grenada, and other locations. During peacetime, some DXers have even visited the base in Harrisburg that houses the aircraft used as transmitters during wartime. We often have mentioned Clandestine Radio Watch in this column. If you're a serious clandestine DXer, this publication is an absolutely essential information resource. You can download the current issue and back issues of this amazing publication at the web site of clandestine radio com, still located at http://www.clandestineradio.com/ on the internet. As daily events unfold, there will be many thousands of people checking out this web site, including all of us who are clandestine DXers (George Zeller, Clandestine Profile, Dec the A*C*E via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. According to an announcement near the end of the 1115 GMT newscast taken from the bet.iba.org.il website, beginning today, the 2000 transmission will continue to be heard on 15640, 11605 and 9435 kHz but 13720 will be discontinued as of Monday in favor of 6280 (Joel Rubin, NY, Nov 25, swprograms via DXLD) 6280 was originally scheduled to start Dec 15 (gh, DXLD) The original schedule had 11605 (NOT 13720) changing to 6280 on December 15. I'm going to see if I can double check what's going on and I'll let you know if there are any updates (Daniel Rosenzweig, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Guys, Can this be right? Usually, 11605 is replaced by 6280 at 05 and 20 (but not 1730). Anyone listen at 20 UT to confirm? (Mark J. Fine / Remington, Virginia, USA, swprograms, all: WORLD OF RADIO 1158, via DXLD) The Bezeq Chief Engineer replied by not commenting about the previously stated frequency change (which I'd take as a confirmation) and said that the 2000 UTC December 15th change will be determined at the end of the month (Daniel Rosenzweig, NY, Nov 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. From http://www.haaretzdaily.com/ By Gideon Alon, Monday, November 25, 2002 The deputy chair of the Central Election Committee (CEC), Meretz lawmaker Zahava Gal-On, has asked the chairman of the committee, Mishael Cheshin, to forbid prime ministerial and Knesset candidates from appearing on pirate radio stations. The request comes after Likud leadership candidate Benjamin Netanyahu gave an interview yesterday on Arutz Sheva, the pirate radio station associated with the settler movement. Gal-On explained that "interviews on pirate radio stations are in breach of the laws relating to election propaganda and are blatantly illegal." Labor Knesset member Eitan Cabel called on attorney general Elyakim Rubinstein to exercise his authority against the pirate stations, "which, unfortunately, are operating almost unopposed by any of the official powers that be." Cabel added that by using pirate stations, candidates standing in their parties' primaries could upset the media balance that exists in the political sphere. Cabel recently proposed a new law that would impose fines of up to NIS 100,000 on the owners of pirate stations, the companies who advertise on the them and public figures or elected officials who grant them interviews. During the 2001 prime ministerial election campaign, Cheshin issued an order preventing election propaganda being broadcast on Arutz Sheva and other pirate stations, after being persuaded that their broadcasts contravened that Elections Law (VIA Mike Terry, DXLD) ** IVORY COAST. REBELS LAUNCH RADIO STATION 'VOIX DU MUTIN' By CRW Staff, with additional reporting by DX Listening Digest [as in DXLD 2- 180] [Nov 20] The rebel Ivory Coast Patriotic Movement (MPCI) has begun broadcasting a radio station called Voix du Mutin (Voice of the Mutiny), according to press reports. Launched sometime in October the station broadcasts for 12 hours from Katiola in MPCI-controlled territory in the northern regions of the country. Programming includes speeches of Soro Guillaume, MPCI Secretary General, and music by such popular musicians as Alpha Blondy, Tiken Djah Facoly and Serge Kassy. Its mission, the Abidjan-based Fraternité-Matin reported on November 8, is to "inform and sensitize" the population to the group's objectives, which include overthrowing the Christian-dominated government. http://www.fratmat.co.ci/story.asp?ID=15055 http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200211080176.html "Les mutins ont ouvert la semaine dernière une radio à Katiola, dénommée. 'La voix du mutin.' Cette radio installé dans un immeuble non loin de l’hôtel Hambol émet de 6 heures du matin à 18 heures. Selon Koné Michel, l’un des jeunes recrutés sur le tas pour l’animation, sa mission reste d’informer et de sensibiliser la région Tagbana et Guimini aux mots d’ordre du MPCI et au sens du combat que mène le mouvement rebelle. Ainsi chaque jour, l’auditoire est royalement servi par un programme essentiellement basé sur le discours du meeting animé par Soro Guillaume et Chérif Ousmane. Le programme compte aussi des séquences musicales où on écoute Alpha Blondy, Tiken Djah Facoly et Serge Kassy. Avec cette radio, la population de Katiola qui n’a plus la possibilité de capter Radio Côte d’Ivoire, ne demande pas mieux." (Clandestine Radio Watch via DXLD) ** JAMAICA. BBC UPSETS JAMAICAN BROADCASTING COMMISSION The BBC has been rapped on the knuckles by the Jamaican Broadcasting Commission just weeks after the launch of a local FM relay of World Service. The Commission has ordered the BBC to apologise to to its Jamaican audience for transmitting 'obscene material', or face further disciplinary action, which could result in the loss of its FM licence. According to the Commission's executive director, Cordel Green, the BBC's Outlook programme on 28 October broadcast clips of a song by local artiste Buju Banton containing indecent colloquialisms used to describe homosexual men, and lyrics that explicitly supported violence against this group. This is in contravention of Regulation 30 of the 1996 Television and Sound Broadcasting Regulations. Anyone found guilty of such an offence is liable to a fine of up to $10,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months". Loss of the licence is also a possible consequence. Although the BBC had contacted the Commission prior to the broadcast to explain that the song was being used as part of a documentary depicting the prejudices and violence faced by homosexual men in Jamaica, Green insists that "it doesn't make the song any less offensive. The transmission of that song in Jamaica was inappropriate." (© Radio Netherlands Media Network Nov 26 via DXLD) ** JAPAN. 3373.5U, NHK: surprised to hear this one at 1235 with a nice signal; checked 3607.5U which was also coming in, albeit a bit weaker. Both with 1300* Nov 25 (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** JAPAN. 100 years of age. One of the very first presenters of Radio Tokyo's German service, which started already in 1937, was Professor Friedrich Greil. He was a professor teaching German language at Tokyo University, as well as presenter on Radio Tokyo and NHK Radio Japan; in past decade once a week at least till about 1993 - that`s 55 years on duty at the NHK broadcasting house in Tokyo! Friedrich Greil was born on Dec 8th, 1902, [in Halberstadt-Harz Germany I guess] and is married with a Japanese for more than 60 years now. He is still living in Japan. On Dec 8th, Friedrich Greil will celebrate his 100th anniversary of birth. Congratulation mail via Deutsche Redaktion of Radio Japan / NHK World: per Fax: +81 - 3 - 34 65-14 37, per eMail: deutsch@intl.nhk.or.jp 73 (Wolfgang DF5SX Bueschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Original Message ----- From: "Thomas Kubaczewski" Sent: Monday, November 25, 2002 10:58 AM Subject: Friedrich Greil 100 Liebe Freunde, 1937 führte Radio Tokio auch deutschsprachige Auslandssendungen ein. Einer der ersten Stimmen war aus dem fernen Japan die von Herrn Prof. Friedrich Greil, die bis weit in die 60er und 70er Jahre hinein über Radio Japan zu hören war. Vielen von uns ist diese Stimme noch immer vertraut. Die Lebensgeschichte dürfte denjenigen Radio-Japan-Hörern bekannt sein, denen Herr Greil in warmherziger Art und Weise das leben in Japan interessant näherbrachte. Am 8. Dezember wird Herr Greil 100 Jahre alt! So, wie ich Frau Kodaira gestern in ihrer Sonntagssendung verstand, wird sie Herrn Greil aus diesem besonderen Anlaß einen Geburtstagsbesuch abstatten. Diejenigen unter uns Hörern, die Herrn Greil Glückwünsche übermitteln möchten, können ihre Grußbotschaften an die deutsche Redaktion von Radio Japan/ NHKworld schicken: per Fax: +81 - 3 - 34 65-14 37, per eMail: deutsch@intl.nhk.or.jp Die deutsche Redaktion von Radio Japan und insbesondere Frau Kodaira würden sich sehr über zahlreiche schriftliche Gedanken an ihn freuen! Beste Grüße, 73, Thomas Kubaczewski, Berlin-Charlottenburg (via Bueschel, DXLD) ** JAPAN [non]. Dear Sirs, The special broadcast in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Japan Short Wave Club (JSWC) will be held as follows: Station: HCJB World Radio from Quito, Ecuador Language: English. Program title: DX Partyline Date, time (UT) and frequencies: 30 November 2002 / 0200 / 12040 (To India) 30 November 2002 / 0700 / 5965 (To Europe) 30 November 2002 / 0700 / 11755, 21455 (USB) (To South Pacific) 30 November 2002 / 2000 / 11895 (To Europe) 1 December 2002 / 0000 / 9745, 21455 (USB) (To Eastern North America) 1 December 2002 / 0300 / 9745, 21455 (USB) (To Western North America) Program host: Allen Graham. Source of information: Allen Graham, HCJB / Homepage of HCJB http://www.hcjb.org/english/ (via Johno Wright, ARDXC via WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. Glenn, the year-long ham operation from North Korea came to an abrupt end Friday evening with a knock on the door. The North Koreans rescinded the operating permission. Here is a letter being distributed today, Wednesday, among ham DXers from the operator of P5/4L4FN: (Bill Smith, W5USM, Nov 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 2002 November 25, From Ed today.... Dear all, Yes, real unfortunate thing happened but, this is the case where and when -- I can do nothing. Believe me, I was trying to keep up the P5 as long as possible and I've managed to run it little bit more than one year but. The end came unexpectedly and now we all have to accept it as final QRT of P5/4L4FN operation. I'm absolutely sure that there is no way back to it due to several reasons, including recent changes in political life of N. Korea. I've been just lucky to have such a chance and happy to make at least small part of ham community as a owners of P5/4L4FN QSL card. But, let`s keep it in mind that life moves further, things are changing, sometimes dramatically and may be some years after, another P5/xxxxx card will see the world. Of course I'm going to keep my rig with me wherever I go and be in touch. For the "final", many thanks to all hams worldwide; you all made my life much easier and better, and my deepest appreciation for all your support. Wish you all -- best of luck in our hobby and have a good "hunting"! My best 73, remain with hope to meet you on a band sometime later, from some other GOOD spot! de Ed ex. P5/4L4FN (From: Houston AMSAT Net, by KK5DO, via Aurélio da Costa, DX mailing list via Bill Smith, DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. North Korea, 4120.62, Voice of National Salvation, 1032 Nov 25. Comments in Korean. Signal was fair but covered by a carrier that needed to be notched out. Also heard on 4450 kHz and 4556.93 kHz (Chuck Bolland, ka4prf, Clewiston, Florida, http://www.orchidcitysoftware.com/ Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. CLANDESTINE from IRAQ to MIDDLE EAST 4026.6, Voice of the Kurdish People Nov 27, 0324 Koran, 0326 ID in Arabic, announcing 4025. Drifty transmitter, having to retune. Couldn't find the // that use to run around 7 MHz. 4140, Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan 0300 with music, then ID's in Arabic and Kurdish at 0307 Nov 27. 4245.2, Voice of Kurdish Toilers 0310 Koran, various fanfares and ID in Arabic at 0313 Nov 27. Announcing 4250 from 5:30 PM to 1 AM and starting again at 6 AM. News in Arabic at 0315 (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN. 4010, Kyrgyz Radio, 2358-0017 Nov 22. Alternating test tones, until the NA was heard at 0001. Talk by YL, brief theme music, then alternating talk by YL and OM. Ham and ute QRM increased at 0017, while piano music was heard. Thanks to Henderson alert. SINPO 12331 (George Maroti, Chamberlain, Maine DXpedition, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** LAOS [non]. Today I got a letter to Hmong Lao Radio returned from the postal service in St. Paul MN 551. They had stamped it: "No such number" and had pointed out the zip code: 55106, which evidently is wrong. Is there anybody out there having an idea about another address to write to? Thanks in advance and 73 from (Björn Fransson on the island of Gotland in Sweden, hard-core-dx via DXLD) US postal codes must be 5 digits (sometimes plus 4 more) (gh, DXLD) ** LEBANON. Hi, just 1727- tuned to 837 kHz mediumwaves, very strong signal for Arab station. Programme includes Recitals from the Holy Kor`an, news in Arabic and Commercials (?). Station identifying as Libanon. This might be the new 1000 kW transmitter which has been taken in use. 73 (Jarmo Patala, Finland, Nov 26, Sony ICF-7600GR + WB ALA-1530, dxing.info via WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DXLD) ** LEBANON [non]. During the first 3 days, and although we are targeting the Middle East in our transmission (region 39), we have received many reception reports from many European countries like: France, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, Austria... We are in need of more reports and if the signal fades in different weather conditions. We look for your reports: FPM Radio Station: Voice of Free Lebanon (Sawt Loubnan Al-Horriyah); Daily broadcast at 16:00 to 17:00 GMT on 11515 khz. Email: radio@tayyar.org Web: http://www.tayyar.org Regards (FPM, Nov 25, hard-core-dx via WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DXLD) Lebanese Patriotic Movement station noted on exactly 11515.0 kHz today, 25 Nov (as opposed to off channel 11515.4 last Friday, 22 Nov - incidentally 22 Nov was Lebanese Independence Day - independence from France that is, 59 years ago). Reception not as brilliant today. Signal strength only fair at tune-in (1620 UT) with moderate fading, plus chattering (utility?) interference noticeable across that part of the band. Deteriorating further by 1700 UT, so difficult to copy at close. Programming I heard was just continuous Arabic songs. (TDP website http://www.airtime.be/schedule.html now lists "Sawt Lubnan Al-Houriya" Daily 1600-1700 on 11515 kHz - but anybody's guess as to the actual transmitter site) (Alan Pennington, BDXC-UK, Caversham, UK, AOR 7030+ / longwire, Nov 25 via WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DXLD) So in test phase could be at least two different sites have been used, since on slightly different frequencies (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DX LISTENING DIGEST) FPM Radio heard at good strength at s/on 1600. Full data email verie back real quick. Is 250 kW and transmitting from Belgium. They say there is no other time or frequency for broadcasting at this time. email address rad-@tayyar.org [truncated] (Ray Crawford, Forestdale, Brisbane, Qld, ARDXC via WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DXLD) !! More disinformation from TDP. Wonder if FPM, like Ezra, actually believe they are transmitted from Belgium. Does is sound like 250 kW to those who can hear it at all? (Glenn Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11515.42, Rally For Lebanon-Free Patriotic Movement "Michel Aoun" stn, poor but sudible, carrier on 1549 Nov 22, on-off tones 1553-1558, 1600 Lebanese NA, prgm of talk and spirited vocal mx. 1625 tune-out due to poor signal, but still going (J. Berg, MA, PPDX-USA Nov 22, 2002 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) Il nome in arabo dell'emittente è Sawt Lubnan Al-Houriya, la frequenza ci ricorda quella usata in Libano dalla High Adventure Ministries il cui trasmettitore è stato distrutto, se non ricordo male, nell'estate del '99. E' comunque una trasmissione gestita dalla belga TDP di Ludo Maes e dovrebbe, col beneficio d'inventario, provenire da un trasmettitore sito o a Samara, in Russia, o a Kichinev in Moldavia (R. Scaglione, Italy, Nov 23, 2002 in DXlandia-ML via CRW via DXLD) Eine neue Station über ein unbekanntes Relay ist FPM Radio. Dahinter steckt die Partei General Aiouns aus dem Libanon. Der Empfang war heute zwischen 16.00 und 17.00 UTC auf 11515 kHz sehr gut (SINPO 55444). Homepage: http://www.tayyar.org (einschl. Infos in Englisch). (R. Sonntag, Germany, Nov 23, 2002 in A-DX via CRW via DXLD) VOICE OF FREEDOM RADIO HEARD WITH TEST BROADCAST A Lebanese radio station identifying itself as Voice of Freedom [sic] has been heard broadcasting in Arabic on 11515 kHz from 1600-1700 gmt since 22 November. The broadcast on 22 November contained the following items: 1. Sign-on with Lebanese national anthem. 2. Message by former Lebanese prime minister Gen Michel Awn. 3. Patriotic songs. 4. Announcement in Arabic saying: "Welcome to the test broadcast of the Voice of Freedom, the radio of the united and independent Lebanon and the voice of the honourable Lebanese resistance". An e-mail address was given for feedback: radio@tayyar.org 5. Patriotic songs. 6. Above announcement repeated. 7. Patriotic songs until end of broadcast. [A report by the Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star web site on 20 November said that a radio station of the France-based Rally for Lebanon, part of the Free Patriotic Movement of former Army Commander Michel Awn, would start broadcasting on 22 November. The report said that the trial broadcast would will include an address by Gen Awn, in exile in France for the past 11 years.] Source: BBC Monitoring research 26 Nov 02 (via WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DXLD) Coming supposedly from IRRS Milano, it's a Pirate station outlet? Smells like the San Marino transmission action few years ago (Wolfgang Bueschel, Nov 26, BC-DX via DXLD) Supposed by whom? ** MEXICO. Checking R. Educación, 6185, UT Mon Nov 25 at 0442, found a mailbag show in progress, reading reception reports in Spanish from US, Cuba, Canada and elsewhere. Signal well over co-channel, DW? Ending at 0458 mentioning `Sintonía` -- DX? Not sure of program name. 0500 Vatican IS heard briefly (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. La ventana ciega --- Claudia Segura ¡AHORA VAN EDUCATIVAS PA` VARIAR! Publicado en Milenio Diario, Martes 26-Nov. Actualización 10:35 Hrs. Son tantos los eventos que suceden en la radio comercial, que de pronto olvidamos que las emisoras públicas también hacen su luchita por salir adelante. Por ahora le voy a platicar de tres novedades de la radio educativa que suenan de lo más gratificante para el cuadrante nacional y, lo mejor, las tres pueden ser seguidas a través de la radio vía internet. Así es que ¡agárrese, que la radio educativa está que echa tiros! CONVENIO ENTRE IMER Y XELA Yo sé que Marcelino Pereyó y Cristina Pacheco han hecho mucho por pedir al gobierno federal que les devuelva las beldades y gracias de la extinta XELA Buena Música, pero lo cierto es que esta emisora que vivió 61 años en el cuadrante del Distrito Federal, era una concesión de los hermanos Fernández de Grupo Imagen. Por ello, lo que se ha logrado vía Opus 94 suena de lo mejor, y más en voz de Santiago Creel, quien anunció con bombo y platillo el jueves pasado, un convenio de colaboración entre el Instituto Mexicano de la Radio y Grupo Imagen. Los programas de la extinta XELA que se van a reactivar en la frecuencia de Opus 94 en enero, serán: ``La hora sinfónica``, ``El compositor de la semana``, ``Los grandes maestros de la música``, ``Discoteca del coleccionista`` y ``Las obras maestras de la música sacra``. Además de que el acervo musical de la Buena Música se ha entregado a las autoridades del IMER para que sea programado y enriquezca el bagaje de Opus. ¡Por favor! Al comité de rescate de la XELA, les pido que no se paren de pestañas contra ``La ventana ciega``, porque lo cierto es que yo no convine en este acuerdo. Lo mío es informarles del acuerdo de colaboración IMER-Imagen y los resultados son responsabilidad, única y exclusivamente, de las autoridades de ambas instituciones. Esto lo digo por cualquier carta que luego me publiquen. Además, queda en el ambiente la nostalgia porque algún otro radiodifusor se aventara a hacer una emisora con música de concierto o de cámara, pero juro que eso sí no está más que en la voluntad de los radiodifusores. ``DEJEMOS DE SER PACIENTES`` PARA VARIAR El día de ayer se celebraron 11 años de una serie médica que sucede como la mayoría, por las mañanas, pero que tiene de peculiar en su haber que siempre nos solicitan que ``Dejemos de ser pacientes``. En lo personal, el programa del Sistema Integral Para la Mujer (SIPAM) me ha dado, además de buenas recomendaciones radiofónicas, muchas maneras de vivir el feminismo, pero sobre todo, desde una mirada de apertura, no de revanchismo contra los hombres. Siempre que escucho ``Dejemos de ser pacientes`` me sorprendo de eso: de que en Radio Educación los lunes a las 11:00 horas se habla de hombres y mujeres íntegros, o mejor dicho, integrados. Hoy es un gustazo decirlo: María Eugenia Pulido como conductora de la serie y Pilar Muries, directora de SIPAM, nos han obsequiado 11 años de radio feminista, ginecológica, social y hasta de orientación vocacional que ha servido y que a los hombres les encanta. ¡Qué bueno! Y va la tercera y no menos importante. ``CÁNTARO DE TIEMPO``: LA MEMORIA DEL TIEMPO ¡...YA ERA HORA! Radio Educación arrancó el lunes 25 de noviembre una serie que es un ``Cántaro de tiempo`` y de historias del mundo donde la UNESCO recopila un trabajo llamado ``Memorias del mundo``. Lo fascinante de este programa de documentales es que nos van a proporcionar tesoros sonoros de todo el mundo, que la UNESCO hoy comparte con Radio Educación (1060 de AM) y que además pueden ser audibles a través de internet en: http://www.radioeducacion.edu.mx Asunto que se antoja no sólo para historiadores y curiosos, sino para quienes nos encante saber de toda la historia mundial. Sé que la radio documental ya no es muy socorrida, pero qué rico que haya esta opción para abrir la ventana sonora universal. Temas de los programas y de las audiotecas de ``Cántaro del tiempo`` serán: Metrópolis de Fritz Lang, la Biblia de Gutemberg, la novena sinfonía de Beethoven, las cartas de Goethe, los archivos de un leprosario de Noruega, las colecciones de la biblioteca del observatorio Kandilli en Turquía, la colección de códices originales mexicanos. De plano, si usted no se antoja de estas maravillas de la radio educativa y de estas tres novedades radiofónicas, pues tal vez hay que seguir escuchando mucho de ``Loco mundo``, ``La taquilla`` y ``Tercer mundo`` ¡y a ser felices todos! (Claudia Segura, Milenio Diario Nov 26 via Héctor García Bojorge, DF, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** MOLDOVA/PRIDNESTROVYE. "R. Pridnestrovye" was on the air today (Wed.), but actually at *1700-1730* (not 1800-1830 !!!). English. M announced that next time will be next Wednesday. Russian announcement which I've heard on Fri (1800-1830 999 kHz Russ) was obviously wrong (or I've got them wrong ? ... anyway: they anc`d: "1700 Central European Time" which is hardly equal to 1700 UT). Their program is standing alone (i.e. Tune up tone noted at 1655+, off at 1730). More interesting: QRG is not coordinated (usually Moscow does it for this enclave). Co-channel CNR in Chinese (unID program closed, s. off time -1800*): Quiet music (instrumental European type), classic, M/W talks. ID "chung yang renmin quang po tien tai" before going down (V. Titarev, Ukraine, Nov 20, 2002 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DXLD) SW frequency presumably correct as before, 5960 Seems currently reported broadcasting at 1700-1730 UT. Heavy sidesplash from RNW Flevoland-HOL 5955. On upper flank poor signal of IRIB in Turkmen on 5965 kHz (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Nov 21, BC-DX via DXLD) ** NAMIBIA. Nach meiner Rueckkehr nach Windhoek habe ich mich heute erneut mich Joachim Duwe von der NBC-Sendertechnik getroffen. Der Modulationsausfall auf 3290 kHz hing mit einem defekten Dynamikkompressor zusammen. Joachim hat das Geraet ausgetauscht, so dass jetzt alles wieder laeuft. Empfangsberichte werden von Joachim uebrigens gerne beantwortet. Allerdings sollte man sich beim Verfassen des Berichts etwas Muehe geben und vor allem keine Fake-Berichte schrreiben. Ich habe heute einen eMail-Bericht eines OM aus Nigeria gesehen, den haette ich ehrlich gesagt auch nicht beantwortet. GANZ WICHTIG: Die NBC kann nichts mit IRCs anfangen. Bitte legt als Rueckporto einen US-Dollar bei, keine IRCs. Es lagern ganze Buendel von IRCs in Joachims Buero und niemand kann etwas damit anfangen :-( Hier nun noch die Frequenzbelegungen der NBC-Kurzwellensender. Achtung: Alle Zeitangaben in Ortszeit Windhoek, also zurzeit UTC plus zwei Stunden (1200 Uhr Ortszeit Windhoek 1000 Uhr UTC): Programm 1 at 0700-1800 Uhr 6175, 1800-0700 LT 3290 kHz. Montag und Freitag 0000 Uhr National Radio 0700 Uhr Deutsch 0800 Uhr Afrikaans 0900 Uhr National Radio 1000 Uhr Afrikaans 1200 Uhr Deutsch 1300 Uhr Afrikaans 1700 Uhr National Radio 1800 Uhr Deutsch 2000 Uhr Afrikaans 2100 Uhr National Radio Dienstag bis Donnerstag 0000 Uhr National Radio 0700 Uhr Deutsch 0800 Uhr Afrikaans 0900 Uhr National Radio 1000 Uhr Afrikaans 1200 Uhr Deutsch 1300 Uhr Afrikaans 1700 Uhr National Radio 1800 Uhr Deutsch 2100 Uhr National Radio Samstag 0000 Uhr National Radio 0600 Uhr Afrikaans 1200 Uhr Deutsch 1400 Uhr Afrikaans 1800 Uhr Deutsch 2100 Uhr National Radio Sonntag 0000 Uhr National Radio 0600 Uhr Afrikaans 1000 Uhr Deutsch 1100 Uhr Afrikaans 1700 Uhr Deutsch 2100 Uhr National Radio Programm 2 laeuft derzeit rund um die Uhr auf 6060 kHz, nominell wird nachts von 1800-0700 LT auf 3270 kHz gesendet. Montag bis Freitag 0000 Uhr National Radio 0700 Uhr Otjiherero 0800 bis 1000 Uhr nominell Sendepause [break] 1330 Uhr Damara/Nama 1700 Uhr National Radio 1800 Uhr Otjiherero 1930 Uhr Damara/Nama 2100 Uhr National Radio Samtag und Sonntag 0000 Uhr National Radio 0600 Uhr Otjiherero 0730 Uhr Damara/Nama 1200 Uhr Otjiherero 1500 Uhr Damara/Nama 1800 Uhr Otjiherero 2100 Uhr National Radio (Markus Weidner, Germany, on tour in Namibia A-DX Nov 20, via BC-DX via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. Re: NEW ZEALAND BASE TO HOUSE US AIR FORCE TRANSMITTER This is very interesting. I doubt that the site to be chosen would be Whenuapai. That is the site of the Royal New Zealand Air Force's Transport and Maritime Patrol squadrons north-west of Auckland. The base is about 10 km from Mairangi Bay where I live and we are under the flight path to it. It is about 5 km from the RNZ AM transmitting stn at Henderson. Currently the local papers are full of stories predicting the closure of Whenuapai with the two squadrons moving to the one (!) remaining Air Force base at Ohakea in the lower North Island about 150 km north of Wellington. Christchurch is a possibility. It is in the South Island and is the main support base for the US & NZ Antarctic scientific programmes. There are HF facilities there already. However the most likely place I would think is Waiouru in the centre of the North Island. The main NZ Army training base is there along with the associated main HF communications for the NZ Defence Forces. The transmitting facility is located right alongside State Highway 1, the main route throughout the country running from north to south. Log Periodic, Rhombic and other antennas are clearly visible as you drive past. The Royal New Zealand Navy's receiving station called "HMNZS (meaning Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship, believe it or not!) Irirangi" is also clearly visible about 1 km off State Highway One. I suspect it is the primary receiving station for the other armed services as well. As these facilities already exist, I would think Waiouru is the likely site, unless communications with the Antarctic are the main objective, which would make Christchurch a strong contender. There is an Army base there too (Barry Hartley, NZ, BC-DX Nov 22 via DXLD) see PORTUGAL ** NICARAGUA. 5770 USB + carrier, R. Miskut, Nov 23 2340-0010* Talk by YL DJ, pop music and ballads. ID heard over Harry Nilson's "Without You" during closing announcements. Thanks Henderson tip. 23232 (George Maroti, Chamberlain, Maine DXpedition, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 5770U, R. Miskut: finally caught them in the morning. 1216 Nov 26 with VOA Spanish // 9480. In to their own music program when rechecking at 1232. Still seems irregular, hung on channel the 27th from 1158-1205, untraced. Rechecked at 1248 and they were on with Christmas music (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. ZAMFARA STATE PRONOUNCES "FATWA" PRESCRIBING DEATH FOR JOURNALIST | Text of report in English by French news agency AFP Kano, Nigeria, 26 November: A mainly Muslim state in northern Nigeria has pronounced a "fatwa" urging believers to kill the author of an article on the Miss World pageant which was seen as insulting to the Prophet Mohammed, a state spokesman told AFP Tuesday. Zamfara State information commissioner Umar Dangaladima told AFP by telephone that the fatwa - an Islamic religious decree - had been confirmed against fashion writer Isioma Daniel, whose article sparked three days of bloody sectarian riots. "The state government did not on its own pass the fatwa," he said. "It's a fact that Islam prescribes the death penalty on anybody, no matter his faith, who insults the Prophet. "Therefore the state government has retained this verdict as it applies to Isioma. This is our position," he said. Zamfara's deputy governor Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi said late Monday [25 November] in a speech to religious leaders in the Zamfara State capital Gusau and rebroadcast on state radio: "Like Salman Rushdie, the blood of Isioma Daniel can be shed." "It is binding on all Muslims wherever they are to consider the killing of the writer as a religious duty," he said, adding that the fatwa had been decided at a meeting between the state government and 21 Islamic youth organizations. A "fatwa" is a legal statement in Islam, issued by a mufti or a religious lawyer after reference to precedents to decide on an issue of jurisprudence. It is not binding in Nigerian state law, but can be influential among Muslims. Zamfara is one of 12 mainly Muslim states in northern Nigeria which have reintroduced the strict Sharia Islamic legal code since the country's return to civilian rule in 1999. Nigeria's federal government regards Islamic criminal law as unconstitutional, but the issue has never been resolved in court. Daniel resigned from the newspaper This Day after fury erupted over an article she authored on November 16 on the Miss World beauty pageant, in which she suggested that the Prophet Mohammed might not have opposed its being held in Nigeria. "The Muslims thought it was immoral to bring 92 women to Nigeria to ask them to revel in vanity. What would Mohammed think? In all honesty, he would probably have chosen a wife from one of them," she wrote. This Day apologised for the story the next day, claiming that an editor had tried to cut the offending passage before publication and had been let down by technology, but the damage was done and many Muslims were furious at the perceived slur. On Wednesday a group of Muslim youths burned down This Day's local offices in the religiously mixed northern city of Kaduna, an attack that proved to be a prelude to three days of sectarian violence which left around 220 people dead. At the weekend the contestants and organizers of the Miss World pageant left Nigeria under a storm of disastrous publicity surrounding the violence, and the show has now been moved to London. Last week the state security service announced it had issued arrest warrants for Daniel and her editor on the Saturday edition of the daily, Simon Kolawole. Late Monday, in an interview with CNN, President Olusegun Obasanjo blamed the This Day article for starting the riots and putting paid to Nigeria's ambition to host the pageant. The managing director for This Day, Victor Ifijeh, told AFP Tuesday that Kolawole was still in custody after his arrest but that the paper hoped he would be freed soon. Daniel, he said, had voluntarily tendered her resignation and was believed to be at her home, not having surrendered herself to the authorities. Source: AFP news agency, Paris, in English 1146 gmt 26 Nov 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. 7275: Whether just due to favourable propagation conditions or because of transmitter activation due to the recent events in Kaduna, I believe it was FRCN Kaduna I hrd on 7275 at 0825- 0845 f/out, airing Vernacular (tentatively) programming with talks. Het wih an unID carrier on 7274.48 kHz. 15331 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Nov 22, via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. [Re Salama Radio, listed as 1900-2000 on 15365 via Sackville, but not heard Sat Nov 22; was it daily?] [Yes:] Previously on 12025: 1900-2000 46 WOF 250 kW 170 degrees. Salamaa R via Woofferton various ex-Rampisham 1900-2000 Hausa [Fulfulde] English 12025 WOF 1900 Ha, 1930 En Sun Mon Wed Fri 1900 Ha, 1920 Fulful, 1930 En Tue Thu Sat (Wolfgang Bueschel, BC-DX nov 26 via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. Radio Pakistan has submitted tentative requirements to use the 15 mb during B02, on a "as required" basis, from Islamabad: 18920 0800-1104 Urdu and English, to Eu 18920 0500-0700 Urdu NAf 18970 0800-1104 Urdu and English, to Eu 18970 0500-0700 Urdu NAf Requirements notified for B02 for the 13 mb are: 21460 0500-0700 Urdu NAf 21470 0500-0700 Urdu NAf 21520 0800-1104 Urdu and English to Eu 21520 0500-0700 Urdu to NAf 21650 0800-1104 Urdu and English to Eu (Bob Padula, EDXP Broadcast Monitor Nov 27 via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. -Aún sin rastros de vida, Radio Nacional del Paraguay en 9737.1 kHz (Adán González, Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Nov 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PARAGUAY. 7737.1, R. América (tentative) 0045-0107 Nov 22. Carrier noted earlier, at S4 levels on the R8B's S-meter. Some music was audible at 0047, then talk by OM. Music selections were slow songs or ballads. Deeper voiced male heard at 0101. By 0107, ham [sic] QRM was too severe to follow. SINPO 13331. Although their carrier was detected 3 nights in a row, this was the only night that some audio could heard (George Maroti, Chamberlain, Maine DXpedition, Cumbre DX via WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DXLD) ** PERU. 5486.72, R. Reyna de la Selva, 0954-1005 Nov 22. Open carrier at tune-in, but missed their sign-on, as YL vocals were heard at 0957 re-check. 1004 announcements by OM, including ID, banda internacional, ...metros. Song by YL followed (George Maroti, Chamberlain, Maine DXpedition, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL/NEW ZEALAND, "Collision" between two antipode countries 11675 kHz mornings. As a matter of fact, I warned the RDP about this, explaining that Rangitaiki is beamed to the Pacific but also to WNAm during a certain period when both stns are on the air to the same region in NAm, i.e. the west coast. I notice this collision here in Lisbon too, with the R Portugal signal to WNAm dominating of course, but RNZI can still be perceived under-neath. I don't know how reception in the target area is like though. There's another collision: BBC CYP carries the WS (at least) on 15575 when the RDP is co-channel Sats+Suns 0800-1455 to Europe, zones 18+27+28. Noel says São Gabriel dominates, but the BBC is always audible underneath. For years, the RDP has no adequate monitoring site, the previous one having been dismantled and the sets put in storage. As far as I was informed, occasional HF monitoring is done with only semi-pro receivers (possibly "rx" only!) plus a rudimentary antenna right on the RDP house here in the capital. Consequently, reception evaluation consists of: - reception reports sent by listeners and/or DXers; or - monitoring carried out by other broadcast stations (e.g. RAI) whose broadcasts were in the past monitored at the RDP dedicated site; or then - accomplished upon request to the Portugal embassies or government staff stationed abroad, e.g. military forces. I don't know how's reception like elsewhere, i.e. ME+India, Africa, Venezuela or WNAm, because I don't correspond with people living in those places (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Nov 22, via DXLD) ** PUERTO RICO. T-E FM DX to Brasil: see PROPAGATION at bottom ** RUSSIA. OK re Mauno's logging of Yakutsk on 7140 - so the two I hear(?) could be this one and also the People's Paradise. Both are still too weak to identify here. I don't wish to "labour" the point, but would mention that 7200 was peaking to S9 at c0800 this morning with an echo - not bad if it is still Yakutsk and omnidirectional. Characteristics seem to indicate that it is coming from the east of Russia. Unfortunately, it is 0827 before I can hear 7345. Magadan 7320 was much weaker - this one doesn`t seem to have a lot of audio coming out of it currently. Regarding Russian station names - I checked this morning to see what I could be hearing in Chinese on 9530 c0750 today and find Xi`an 100 kW, 255 degrees, so maybe that one. It wasn`t strong, but still covered Magadan. I noted also that OKH is the HFCC registration for "Magadan" - I assume for Okhotsk, which is some way west/south-west of Magadan. I have also seen this station listed as Arman. Obviously I have lots to learn about Russia! It's their alphabet that defeats me - good luck to Kazan in changing theirs! (Noel Green, UK, Nov 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ST. LUCIA. T-E FM DX to Brasil: see PROPAGATION at bottom ** SIKKIM. INDIA 3390, AIR Gangtok (tentative) 1129-1136 Nov 22. Faint talk at tune-in, SC vocals at 1136. I need to review the tape on this one, this is the first time that I've ever heard audio here. SINPO 13331 (George Maroti, Chamberlain, Maine DXpedition, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SOMALIA. 7530 USB + carrier, R. Hargeysa (presumed), 1923-1958* Nov 22. Presumed to be them for now; I need to review my tapes. Talk by OM with tinny telephone-quality audio. Only audible in USB or USB + sync. Exchange between OM and YL at 1931. Group vocals at 1944. Possible mention of Hargeysa at 1945. YL wailing vocals, at 1952. After this, a brief announcement by a male, including the word "radio", then transmitter went off at 1958. Presumed to be on an hour later for Ramadan. SINPO 144441. Propagation to the East Africa was excellent today. Also Nov 23 at 1928-1959*. Not as strong as the previous day, but Horn of Africa music at 1952. Will have to check the instrumental music played at 1958 to see if it's an anthem or signature tune. Transmitter off at 1959 (George Maroti, Chamberlain, Maine DXpedition, Cumbre DX via WORLD OF RADIO 1158, DXLD) ** SPAIN. ESPANHA - Os ouvintes das ondas curtas e amantes da boa música têm uma boa opção. É o programa Nuestro Sello, da Rádio Exterior de Espanha, que divulga as gravações do selo RTVE Música. O programa abre espaço para diversos gêneros musicais, destacando-se a música erudita e a folclórica espanhola. De segunda à sexta, o programa vai ao ar, às 1010, em 11815 e 21570 kHz. Também às 1605, em 15125, 21570 e 21700 kHz. Já de terças à sábados, é apresentado às 0105, em 9620, 11815, 11945 e 15160 kHz. A apresentação é de Carlos Garrido. Os dados e a dica é do dexista e biólogo Paulo Roberto e Souza, de Tefé (AM). [via WORLD OF RADIO 1158] O idioma espanhol é o grande astro do programa Un Idioma sin Fronteras, apresentado pela Rádio Exterior de Espanha. Isabel Cavanillas e Susa Martínez trazem as novidades literárias, entrevistas com acadêmicos e autores espanhóis. De quebra, o programa sempre traz algum sorteio de prêmios para os ouvintes. Atualmente, em conjunto com o Instituto És Hablar http://www.eshablar.com sorteia cursos rápido de espanhol na Internet. Ouça o programa e manifeste seu interesse no sorteio, enviando mensagem para: idioma_ree.rne@r... [truncated] O programa vai ao ar, de segundas a sextas-feiras, às 1710, em 17715 e 21700 kHz. Confira! (Célio Romais, @tividade DX Nov 26 via DXLD) ** SUDAN [non]. CLANDESTINE from ERITREA to SUDAN 6985, Voice of New Sudan (See PWBR 2003 for background) 0400 Nov 27 open carrier, 0401 quick ID in Arabic and announcing 7 kHz in the 41 meter band. Fast talker with another ID and into program preview (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN --- Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: An "S-Files" repeat Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: EU Enlargement special Sunday: "In Touch with Stockholm" features ethnic discrimination and life in the 18th century (George Wood, SCDX/MediaScan Nov 27 via DXLD) ** SWITZERLAND. SWITZERLAND TRANSMITTERS STILL CLOSED You will recall that last year in The ACE we ran a photo of the wholesale milk barn that has been constructed on the former site of the Swiss Radio International transmitter in Lenk, Switzerland, located ten miles south of Zweisimmen, the ancestral home of the Zeller family of DXers. Once again this year, your editor visited Switzerland in early November, and although he did not discover any clandestine radio news in that country, he did come back with more photos of the notorious Lenk milk barn. As you see here, this year we have a photo of what remains of the driveway that used to lead to the entrance to the SRI Lenk transmitter. This transmitter site was always somewhat unusual, since the transmitter was housed in an underground bunker. It now turns out that the notorious Lenk milk barn was constructed precisely above this driveway, using the cement walls of the bunker entrance as some of the foundations of the barn building. Our view here shows what remains of this driveway. The area to the left has some milk cartons in temporary storage, while the area to the right of the door in the rear consists of some of the original cement foundations of the SRI transmitter bunker structure. The door in the rear used to lead to the transmitter itself, but it now goes to some unknown area of the newly constructed milk barn. I did not go back inside to open the door, so as to determine if SRI's Bob Zanotti was being held captive inside. In a related matter, I also visited the site of the long-closed Schwarzenburg transmitter of Swiss Radio International. A few years ago I was given a tour of this facility by SRI engineer Roland Anderau, and I was astonished to find that the building contained one of the best collections of antique radios that I ever saw. The large majority of these old receivers were by European manufacturers, several of which I had never heard of. In addition to this astonishing collection of receivers, the Schwarzenberg transmitter facility contained an antique medium wave transmitter that was the first medium wave transmitter used in Bern. In recent years I had heard rumors in Switzerland that there were plans to convert the Schwarzenberg site into a radio museum. But, during my visit to the site in November 2002, I saw no sign that these rumors were being converted to action. Unlike in Lenk, all of the buildings in the old Schwarzenberg transmitter complex remain standing, even with a Swiss PTT sign still on the front door. But, all of this remains under lock and key behind a perimeter fence, with no admittance to the general public. I have been told by Adrian Peterson of Adventist World Radio that the old Schwarzenberg transmitter has been purchased by AWR, and is currently in use from a site in Italy. The only thing remaining in Schwarzenberg that has even a remote connection with DXing is the Hauser's Antiques store in downtown Schwarzenberg. Since very few of us have ever seen this retail store, I'll also print a photo of what is not really the Schwarzenberg branch of DX Listening Digest. I did not visit DJ Stevie of Europirate Radio 510 International while I was in Switzerland, but Stevie has sent in e-mails since my return to the USA, and he says hello to his many North American DX friends, many of whom he met during various visits to the Winter SWL Festival in Kulpsville, Pennsylvania. Stevie reminds us that you can still check out the web site of his station at http://www.radio510.org on the internet. It contains no clandestine radio information at all, but it does profile Stevie's europirate in some detail, including their current schedule via a relay in Italy (George Zeller, Clandestine Profile, Dec the A*C*E via DXLD) [continued in DXLD 2-186]